Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 115

A survey of strengths and weaknesses stresses the high quality of the evidence and the variability of the attention paid to it. The transition Meso to Neo is like that of the rest of the British Isles, and certainly not derived from Yorks. Causewayed enclosures and field systems are not yet evident. Radiocarbon does not help much as yet. Diversity of mortuary practice is marked: a model for NE Scotland is proposed. In later Neo, power symbols are arriving and power is being centralized. Grooved Ware decoration is an encoding of role and status (nationwide), and tombs are being elaborated. Pottery handlist and discussion.

Grant cleared and consolidated the Broch of Midhowe, Rousay and also examined other Orkney monuments; his chief memorial is the sites he conserved for the national interest.

Records a microlithic industry of c 5000 bc with 137 retouched and 4700 other fragments, in an occupation level sealed by two marine transgressions and other buildup. Insufficient sites are known for comparability.

The core was from a kettle hole 300m from a complex of ring ditches, henge, and barrow; it indicated the arrival of cereal pollen and weeds at c 5600 bp and before the elm decline (one of few such in Britain). The pollen profile covers the ring ditch and henge construction, but not the barrow period.

Excavation ahead of motorway construction revealed four phases: a Class I henge with nine pits in a circle, Beaker sherds in ditch, cremation outside entrance; a small cairn with peristalith and monolith ring (virtually destroyed); a ring of eight graded monoliths with recumbent stones around a ?ring cairn and cremations; a workshop for iron and leaded bronze. Pottery and stone finds are catalogued.

An area between two souterrains contained several occupation phases separated by hillwash. In early 1st millennium BC ard tillage was followed by a round house and earth bank, more tillage, and the construction and firing of a post-structure. Hill-wash accumulated, and later in the millennium settlement was re-established on the hillwash surface, only to be covered in its turn. Two postmed buildings were also seen. There were quantities of pottery in ten fabrics and three main styles, and carbonized plant materials including cereal; a peat column from 2km away is also reported. Several phases were 14C-dated.

The rediscovery of pottery thought lost from the 1950s excavation allows reassessment of the fort site in its general Hebridean context. Dating still depends on the beads, 100 BC -AD 300.

The hoard is argued to be the product of repeated payments to a barbarian force for keeping the peace north of the Antonine Wall, 160-230.

The lost hoard of 1840, not fully discussed previously, contained silver vessels and ornaments, amber, and Viking gold. Documentary references are cited.

The first archaeological evidence was obtained of medieval Leith, Edinburgh's port. An extensive midden was laid in second half of 15th century to reclaim a tidal zone area of the Firth of Forth . An important hoard of 15th century billon pennies was found and there are structures from late 15th; little imported material.