Background
Of the few sites from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age on the peninsula, the chambered tomb of Cladh Aindreis has been identified by the project as potentially significant for a number of reasons. It has received little prior work, however it was visited and surveyed by Henshall in the late 1960s, along with the other two Neolithic chambered tombs on the peninsula of Greadal Fhinn and Camas nan Geall. Henshall tentatively recorded the cairn as of Clyde type. However Henshall herself was able only to undertake basic survey work, which noted the irregular cairn shape, and suggested that this had been subject to some modification over time. She also noted the presence of shells emerging from a rabbit hole in the side of the cairn.
Within Argyll and Bute at least two other chambered tombs appear to have been built upon earlier shell midden deposits (Crarae and Glecknabae), and a number of people have suggested that the practice of shell midden accumulation in the later Mesolithic may have acted as a precursor for the building of chambered tombs in the Neolithic (Cummings 2003, Pollard 2000). As a result we would like to investigate the relationship between the cairn and any earlier shell deposits. Furthermore, many chambered tombs in Scotland, as well as the British Isles, have provided ample evidence of later Bronze Age reuse of such monuments. As such Cladh Aindreis has been selected as a site which may potentially provide us with information about all of the critical periods and transitions that the project hopes to investigate.
Cladh Aindreis and Swordle Bay, from the south east
Season One (2006)
Preliminary work at the site by the ATP in August 2006 has identified further areas for examination. Primarily the large-scale clearance of bracken from the cairn has led us to reconsider the construction phases of the cairn. Furthermore excavation outside of the scheduled area, within the forecourt of the tomb, has identified a series of pits with episodes of burning activity and reuse, and we now await the results from a radiocarbon date from burnt material from within one of these pits.
The activity at the cairn identified in the first season of work by the ATP, as well as Henshall’s previous observations, suggest that this site may provide a vital link for exploring the key transitions from Mesolithic to Neolithic and Neolithic to Bronze Age.
Data structure and interim reports of activity at the site in Season One are being prepared and links to these will be posted as and when they are available.
Planning tumble from the cairn in the forecourt area
Season Two (2007)
Between 24th June and 8th July 2007 a team of staff and students from CFA Archaeology Ltd (Edinburgh), and the Universities of Manchester, Newcastle, Central Lancashire and Cambridge excavated at the site of Cladh Aindreis. Following our preliminary excavations in Season One, we were granted Scheduled Monument Consent to excavate some of the areas of robber activity within the scheduled area of the cairn. Our full 2007 project design is available to download here and a full data structure report of our work will be reported online as soon as possible after our we complete our PhDs!
In summary our finds were highly exciting, and in some places very unexpected. In the areas of robber activity in the centre of the tomb structure we discovered evidence for a complicated sequence of cairn construction activity. At the front of (south of) the tomb, out with the scheduled area, we discovered an extensive ditch which appeared to have had burnt material and chipped stone debitage dumped in the bottom. We now await radiocarbon dates from this ditch and another pit in the centre of the tomb forecourt area, and we will report on these when we receive them.
We were also very lucky to have the expertise of Environmental Archaeologist Dr Mike Cressey from CFA Archaeolgy Ltd. (Edinburgh), and we are now in the process of developing a detailed sequence of the environmental changes within Swordle Bay and on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula more widely.
With the help of Trevor Potts we also did some very brief walk over survey to the west of Kilchoan and identified a series of caves for potential future excavation.
Season Three (2008)
Following the success of work in Season Two we are now in the process of developing a project design for Season Three and applying for scheduled monument consent to continue our investigation of the tomb construction sequence. We hope to investigate Cladh Aindreis and Swordle Bay further, but we will also begin to expand beyond the bay to investigate other areas of archaeological potential on the peninsula. The project design will be posted here when it has been completed.
In the meantime we are pleased to confirm that we will be excavating in Season Three between 17th August and 7th September 2008. If you are interested in volunteering please do not hesitate to contact us on our project email address.
Additionally we hope to be holding a two site open days at Cladh Aindreis in Season Three, provisionally on Sunday 24th and Sunday 31st August to which all are welcome. A map of the site location can be found by clicking here.
Future Plans
The site will be revisited in future seasons and further excavations will take place. Again, details of our plans will be posted as soon as they have been confirmed. If you would like to get in touch in the meantime, or be added to our mailing list for updates of our activities please feel free to email us.