Evaluation of suspect Bronze Age site in Sanday start next week

February 27, 2016 at 7:30 am

Prof Jane Downes examines one of the house structures revealed on the beach. Other houses represented by dark spreads of stone can be seen in the background, extending as far as the last visible sand dune. (Picture: Colin Richards) — Professor Jane Downes, of the Archaeology Institute UHI, examines one of the house structures revealed on the beach. Other houses represented by dark spreads of stone can be seen in the background, extending as far as the last visible sand dune. (Picture: Colin Richards)

An archaeological evaluation of a Bronze Age site in Sanday is due to get under way next week.

The site of an extensive prehistoric settlement, at Cata Sand, was uncovered late last year.

Next week’s preliminary investigation, co-ordinated by the Archaeology Institute UHI, will use a variety of techniques – including survey, geophysics, surface collection, auger and test pits – to ascertain its nature, extent and level of preservation or survival.

A plan for further work will then be formulated based on these findings that will be part of a wider research programme being developed to examine the changes that occur at the end of the third and early second millennium BC – the end of the Neolithic/Bronze Age in Orkney – about which little is known.