Archaeologists battle tide to save Orkney's ancient secrets
Its outer walls were added centuries after its original construction, giving it the appearance of a broch without the typical features.
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Historic 1800s Highland mill to get new lease of life after decades of lying derelict Carved sandstone head unearthed at Orkney archaeological dig
Dr Stephen Dockrill, co-director of the excavation and senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, said: 'This year, we finally cracked the puzzle.
'The outer wall is a later addition, built over midden layers dating to around 800-500 BCE.
"That means this building was in use for centuries, until it was carefully dismantled, likely by Viking settlers who reused its stones for their own longhouse nearby.'
The site is not only archaeologically rich, it is also a global case study in climate-threatened heritage. The Swandro team has documented how daily tidal action, not just winter storms, is actively destroying the site.
Dr Stephen Dockrill, co-director of the excavation (Image: Dr Stephen Dockrill)
Dr Julie Bond, co-director and Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bradford, said: 'The sea is literally sucking the ground out from under us.
'It's a stark reminder of what coastal heritage sites around the world are facing.'
Despite the challenges, the team made a striking find this season, a nearly complete Iron Age pot, decorated with a zigzag pattern, buried at the foot of a wall inside the roundhouse. It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of its ancient inhabitants.
The excavation is supported by the Swandro-[[Orkney]] Coastal Archaeology Trust, [[Orkney]] Islands Council, Historic Environment Scotland, and the University of Bradford, along with individual donors.
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BBC News
2 days ago
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Replica of Glenfield cauldron sheds light on Iron Age life
A replica of a 2,400-year-old cauldron has been forged to help archaeologists shed light on how people lived during the Iron said the vessel, made from copper alloy and iron, was a near-perfect copy of ancient cauldrons dug up in an excavation of a prehistoric site at Glenfield Park near remains of 11 fragile and corroded cauldrons were among a treasure trove of metalwork, including a sword, pins and a brooch, found by a team from the University of Leicester in who unveiled the replica cauldron on Thursday, said its creation had shed light on the feasting habits and metalworking skills of people who lived nearly two-and-a-half millennia ago. Delicate fragments of the cauldrons were examined in painstaking detail by a specialist from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) to help with forging the senior conservator Liz Barham said: "The conservation of the Glenfield Park cauldrons through detailed recording, sampling and integration with scientific analysis has revealed many new insights into their manufacture, repair and use in their working life, building on work with earlier cauldron discoveries. "Despite their crushed and corroded condition, conservators have been able to identify many details to contribute to research, to inform the making of a replica, and perhaps provide a glimpse of the Iron Age communities that made, used, and finally discarded them."She said the conservation and scientific work uncovered revealed the use of sophisticated techniques to shape the original thin copper also said patches on the cauldrons showed mishaps occurred during their production, but also that once in use, they were carefully maintained and had long lives, indicating their importance to the community that used them. University of Leicester Archaeological Services deputy director John Thomas said: "Cauldrons are substantial vessels associated with large gatherings and feasts, and the Glenfield examples are no exception, with capacities ranging between 15 and 57 litres, they could have catered for several hundred people if all used at the same time. "They must have been an important part of the feasting activities associated with this settlement, but after a long period of use, they were eventually buried in areas across the site for unknown reasons. "This is the first time we have discovered such clear evidence for ancient feasting in Leicestershire, and the results of the project will be important for understanding the social aspects of Iron Age communities in the Midlands and beyond.'' Archaeological ironworker Hector Cole was commissioned to forge the replica cauldron."The forging of the cauldrons was a steep learning curve for me to put myself into the minds of the people who made the original cauldrons," he technical skills they used were of the highest order and, in my opinion, they were specialist cauldron makers of their time. "Today it is so easy to mechanically punch or drill holes to a particular diameter, and yet they were doing the same in bronze and iron with great precision. "They were also fully aware of the fact that 'creep' needs to be taken into consideration when putting the two main parts together with so many rivets."Do it in the wrong order and you end up with a distorted shape that cannot be corrected. I was fortunate enough to know the correct technique to enable me to put the cauldrons together with no mistakes. "I have great respect for the Iron Age metalworkers and would like to think that my efforts came up to their standards of workmanship.'' The replica cauldron has been put on display at the Jewry Wall, which opened in July.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Archaeologists battle tide to save Orkney's ancient secrets
The building, once thought to be a broch, a type of Iron Age drystone tower, is now understood to be a unique architectural hybrid. Its outer walls were added centuries after its original construction, giving it the appearance of a broch without the typical features. READ MORE: Shipwreck exposed by Orkney winter storms to be preserved in tank Historic 1800s Highland mill to get new lease of life after decades of lying derelict Carved sandstone head unearthed at Orkney archaeological dig Dr Stephen Dockrill, co-director of the excavation and senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, said: 'This year, we finally cracked the puzzle. 'The outer wall is a later addition, built over midden layers dating to around 800-500 BCE. "That means this building was in use for centuries, until it was carefully dismantled, likely by Viking settlers who reused its stones for their own longhouse nearby.' The site is not only archaeologically rich, it is also a global case study in climate-threatened heritage. The Swandro team has documented how daily tidal action, not just winter storms, is actively destroying the site. Dr Stephen Dockrill, co-director of the excavation (Image: Dr Stephen Dockrill) Dr Julie Bond, co-director and Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bradford, said: 'The sea is literally sucking the ground out from under us. 'It's a stark reminder of what coastal heritage sites around the world are facing.' Despite the challenges, the team made a striking find this season, a nearly complete Iron Age pot, decorated with a zigzag pattern, buried at the foot of a wall inside the roundhouse. It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of its ancient inhabitants. The excavation is supported by the Swandro-[[Orkney]] Coastal Archaeology Trust, [[Orkney]] Islands Council, Historic Environment Scotland, and the University of Bradford, along with individual donors.
The National
4 days ago
- The National
Archaeologists battle to save 1000-year-old Iron Age broch
Archaeologists on Rousay island are urgently excavating the unique Iron Age roundhouse at Swandro before it's lost to coastal erosion. The structure reveals a rare architectural evolution from Iron Age to Viking times, according to researchers. The building was once thought to have been a broch, a type of Iron Age drystone tower, and is now understood to be a unique architectural hybrid. Its outer walls were added centuries after its original construction, giving it the appearance of a broch without the typical features. READ MORE: Erin Brockovich joins forces with Scottish university to launch leadership course The Swandro team has documented since 2023 how daily tidal action, not just winter storms, is actively destroying the site as part of a global case study in climate-threatened heritage. The Knowe of Swandro was once a large settlement occupied from around 1000BC to AD1200 and consists of Iron Age roundhouses, Pictish buildings, a Viking settlement and a Norse Long Hall. Coastal erosion is the biggest threat to unearthing sites such as this excavation, which has recently uncovered jewellery, tools made from bone, pottery, a late Roman coin and a rare Iron Age glass toggle bead. Dr Julie Bond, co-director and associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bradford, said: 'The sea is literally sucking the ground out from under us. 'It's a stark reminder of what coastal heritage sites around the world are facing.' Despite the challenges, the team made a striking find this season, a nearly complete Iron Age pot, decorated with a zigzag pattern, buried at the foot of a wall inside the roundhouse. It offered the team a rare glimpse into the lives of its ancient inhabitants. Dr Stephen Dockrill, co-director of the excavation and senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, said: 'This year, we finally cracked the puzzle. 'The outer wall is a later addition, built over midden layers dating to around 800-500 BCE. That means this building was in use for centuries, until it was carefully dismantled, likely by Viking settlers who reused its stones for their own longhouse nearby.' The excavation is supported by the Swandro-[[Orkney]] Coastal Archaeology Trust, [[Orkney]] Islands Council, Historic Environment Scotland, and the University of Bradford, along with individual donors.
