Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 99

A study in depth of a small, well-defined area in which monuments of Neolithic to EIA date are correlated with their physical background and a quantitative analysis is provided. The contrasting geological regions of Durness make it particularly suitable for such a pilot study. Detailed survey produced maps of solid and drift geology on which the field monuments, many hitherto unrecorded, were plotted. Early settlement concentrated markedly on the light soils of the limestone areas and avoided the inhospitable gneiss and quartzite almost entirely. The sandy soils were not used until EIA and then probably kept for grazing. There are two possible Neo and twelve BA cairns, and some ?field clearance heaps. EIA monuments include a promontory fort, souterrain, two duns and a round house. Numerous hut circles are discussed in detail. Appendices list the eighty-two ancient monuments of Durness and the round houses and "wags" of a much wider area (Outer Hebrides, Northern Isles and Caithness); correlation tables compare archaeological sites with physical features.

Three collections are described. 1) The Brackmont sandpit finds of 1954-8 comprise cordoned and collared urns with cremations and a corded beaker covered by a plain bowl without cremation. In an adjoining field a surface scatter of beaker and cordoned sherds suggested a plough-destroyed domestic site and further burials. 2) The Brackmont pit, 4ft across by 3ft deep, contained Late Neolithic sherds, stones, flint and burnt material. The high proportion of rim-sherds suggests deliberate selection. Biconical and cordoned vessels, conical bowls with bevelled rims and open bowls are represented; the collection is related to, but distinct from, the Glenluce and Hedderwick sand-dune series. The Beaker-derived traditions and the varied forms foreshadow the ceramic range of the full Bronze Age. 3) The collection from Tentsmuir sand-dunes indicates intermittent settlement in NE Fifeshire from the Late Neolithic through much of the Bronze Age. Grooved ware (Rinyo 1), Beaker, Food Vessel, collared, cordoned, biconical and coarse wares are all represented.