Open AccessExcavation of a Bronze Age funerary site at Loth Road, Sanday, Orkney
Author(s) -
Paul M Sharman
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
scottish archaeological internet reports/scottish archaeological internet report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2056-7421
pISSN - 1473-3803
DOI - 10.9750/issn.2056-7421.2007.25.1-33
Subject(s) - excavation , archaeology , bronze age , radiocarbon dating , bronze , geography
Excavations in 1991 beside Loth Road, Sanday (NGR: HY 60553 34489), revealed a funerary site, including two cists, which contained cremated human bone, and several pits. The cremation burial in one of the cists was contained in a soapstone vessel. These features presented evidence for the sorting, selection and differential deposition of pyre remains. The cists and pits were surmounted by a kerbed cairn of unusual construction. Radiocarbon dates from the pits placed the site in the Early to Middle Bronze Age.