Title: |
Lady Kirk, Shapinsay, Orkney: Excavation Data Structure Report |
Series: |
Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
orkneyre1-135461_1.pdf (6 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Scottish Water Ltd. commissioned ORCA to undertake an excavation in Shapinsay, following the discovery of human remains and associated archaeological features on a watching brief. The site was located in the south west of the island of Shapinsay, Orkney, and is centred on NGR HY47025 16421. The excavation revealed what is likely to be the graveyard and boundary ditch of Lady's Kirk Chapel, which was known to be present in the vicinity. No structural remains were encountered of the chapel. A total of 10 machine truncated burials were excavated on the site. Two of the graves probably represent multiple inhumations, both of which contained an adult and a neonatal / infant burial interred together. Three further machine truncated burials were left in situ as they were overlain by undisturbed inhumations. Seven burials were identified which had not been affected by the development, and a further six probable grave cuts were identified. All of the burials (except one neonatal individual) were aligned broadly west to east, with the head at the west end of the grave, and were supine. The bone preservation was relatively good on the site, and none of the burials had grave goods present. There was no evidence of coffins within the graves, but a significant proportion of the inhumations had associated structural features. The alignment of the skeletons, lack of grave goods, typological dating and archaeological evidence for the site strongly suggests that these inhumations are Christian, and date to the medieval period. |
Author: |
D Reay
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Publisher: |
Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic Environment Scotland (OASIS Reviewer)
Orkney Islands Council (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2012
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Locations: |
Site: |
Lady Kirk, Shapinsay |
County: |
Orkney |
Parish: |
SHAPINSAY |
Country: |
Scotland |
Grid Reference: 347025, 1016421 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
orkneyre1-135461 |
OBIB: |
354 DSR |
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Note: |
Unpublished client Data Structure Report, 61 pages, including 7 illustrations and 14 plates, spiral bound, A4 black and white / colour.
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |