Scotland’s First Settlers

Section 3

3.1 Geographical background to Sand | Karen Hardy & Caroline Wickham-Jones (with contribution by Mike Cressey)

• 3.1.1 Introduction
• 3.1.2 Geology
• 3.1.3 Geomorphology

---

3.2 Excavation at Sand, rockshelter | Karen Hardy

• 3.2.1 Introduction
• 3.2.2 1999
• 3.2.3 2000
  • 3.2.3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2.3.2 Method
  • 3.2.3.3 Results
• 3.2.4 Discussion

---

3.3 Excavation at Sand, the flaked lithic assemblage | Caroline Wickham-Jones

• 3.3.1 Introduction
• 3.3.2 Pre-excavation Lithics
• 3.3.3 Location of the 1999 Lithics
• 3.3.4 TheNature of the Lithic Assemblage
• 3.3.5 Significance of the 1999 Assemblage
• 3.3.6 The Excavated Assemblage
• 3.3.7 Stratigraphy
• 3.3.8 Raw Materials
• 3.3.9 Technology
• 3.3.10 Types
  • 3.3.10.1 Flakes and Blades
  • 3.3.10.2 Scrapers
  • 3.3.10.3 Edge Retouched Pieces
  • 3.3.10.4 Notched Pieces
  • 3.3.10.5 Awls
  • 3.3.10.6 Transverse Arrowheads
  • 3.3.10.7 Bifacial Point
  • 3.3.10.8 Miscellaneous and Broken Pieces
  • 3.3.10.9 Microliths
  • 3.3.10.10 Microburins
  • 3.3.10.11 Crescents
  • 3.3.10.12 Fine Points
  • 3.3.10.13 Backed Bladelets
  • 3.3.10.14 Scalene Triangles
  • 3.3.10.15 Rods
  • 3.3.10.16 Obliquely Blunted Points
  • 3.3.10.17 Miscellaneous Microliths
• 3.3.11 Function
• 3.3.12 Context
• 3.3.13 Chronological and Cultural Connections
• 3.3.14 Summary and Discussion
• 3.3.15 The Axe

---

3.4 Worked bone from Sand | Karen Hardy

• 3.4.1 Introduction
• 3.4.2 Distribution of Tools
  • 3.4.2.1 Sand
• 3.4.3 Tool Types
  • 3.4.3.1 Triangular points
  • 3.4.3.2 Fine points
  • 3.4.3.3 Indeterminate or broken
  • 3.4.3.4 Harpoon
  • 3.4.3.5 Possible Knife
  • 3.4.3.6 Bevel ended tools
    • 3.4.3.6.1 Standard bevel ended tools
    • 3.4.3.6.2 Non-standard bevel ended tools
• 3.4.4 The Production and Use of Bone Bevel Ended Tools | Steven Birch
  • Background
  • 3.4.4.1 Experimental replication and use of bevel ended bone and antler tools
  • 3.4.4.2 Primary reduction
  • 3.4.4.3 Secondary reduction
  • 3.4.4.4 Tool hafting
  • 3.4.4.5 Experiment 1 – Tree bark processing
    • Method
    • Tool Efficiency
    • Results
  • 3.4.4.6 Experiment 2 – Plant Processing
    • Method
    • Tool Efficiency
    • Results
  • 3.4.4.7 Experiment 3 – Shellfish Processing
    • Method
    • Experiment 3A
    • Experiment 3B
    • Experiment 3C
    • Experiment 3D
    • Tool Efficiency
      • Experiment 3A
      • Experiment 3B
      • Experiment 3C
      • Experiment 3D
    • Results
      • Harvesting limpets
      • Removing limpet meat
  • 3.4.4.8 Experiment 4 – Hide Preparation
    • Method
    • Tool Efficiency
    • Results
  • 3.4.4.9 The results of experiment: discussion
• 3.4.5 Use-Wear and Scanning Electron Microscope Detection of Residual Material on Bevel Ended Tools
  • Hand lens study
  • Scanning Electron Microscope work
  • 3.4.5.1 Method
  • 3.4.5.2 Organic residues
  • 3.4.5.3 Mineral residues
    • Sources of minerals
  • 3.4.5.4 Discussion of use-wear examination
    • Bevel ended tools as hide processors
    • Bevel ended tools as limpet processors
    • Use-wear traces
• 3.4.6 General Discussion

---

3.5 Worked and modified shell | Karen Hardy

• 3.5.1 Introduction
• 3.5.2 Method
• 3.5.3 Cowrie Shells
  • 3.5.3.1 Microscopic Examination
  • 3.5.3.2 The cowrie assemblage from Sand
• 3.5.4 Scallop Shells
  • 3.5.4.1 Scallop Core
  • 3.5.4.2 Scallop Edge (S8 surface find)
  • 3.5.4.3 Scallop Point (S9; B1A NE Spit 4, Context 13)
• 3.5.5 Limpet Shell
• 3.5.6 Shell as a Raw Material
• 3.5.7 Conclusion

---

3.6 Coarse stone tools from the excavations at Sand rock shelter, Applecross | Ann Clarke

• 3.6.1 The Artefacts from Sand
  • 3.6.1.1 Facially pecked cobbles
  • 3.6.1.2 Plain hammerstones
  • 3.6.1.3 Ground stone
• 3.6.2 Discussion: Coarse Stone Tools from Sand
• 3.6.3 Fractured Stone

---

3.7 Pigment resources report: excavations at Sand, Applecross | Ann McSween

• 3.7.1 The Finds And Their Context
• 3.7.2 Possible Origins
• 3.7.3 Modification
• 3.7.4 Possible Applications
• 3.7.5 Conclusion

---

3.8 Sand, Report on the Coarse Pottery | Arlene Isbister

• 3.8.1 Surface, Molehill
• 3.8.2 TP7, Spit 3
• 3.8.3 B4B SE, Spit 6, Context 7/8
• 3.8.4 Sand, coarse pottery from sorting (all very abraded)
• 3.8.5 Sand, glazed pottery

---

3.9 Metal, slag and glass from Sand | Andrew Heald & Fraser Hunter

(with contributions by Stuart Campbell & Dawn McLaren)

• 3.9.1 Introduction
• 3.9.2 Metal Finds
  • 3.9.2.1 Copper Alloy
  • 3.9.2.2 Iron
• 3.9.3 Glass Beads with Dawn McLaren
• 3.9.4 Other Glass
• 3.9.5 Vitrified Material
• 3.9.6 Slag
• 3.9.7 Discussion

---

3.10 Report on human teeth from Sand | Rick Schulting

• 3.10.1 Introduction
• 3.10.2 Permanent Maxillary Central Incisor
• 3.10.3 Deciduous Mandibular First Molar
• 3.10.4 Dating And Stable Isotope Data

---

3.11 The Zooarchaeology of Sand | Rachel Parks & James Barrett

• 3.11.1 Introduction
  • 3.11.1.1 The zooarchaeological record of Mesolithic Scotland
• 3.11.2 Recovery and Methods at Sand
• 3.11.3 Results
  • 3.11.3.1 Mammal bone
    • 3.11.3.1.1 Preservation
    • 3.11.3.1.2 Taxonomic abundance
    • 3.11.3.1.3 Element representation
    • 3.11.3.1.4 Butchery evidence
    • 3.11.3.1.5 Age at death and seasonality
    • 3.11.3.1.6 Bone fragmentation
  • 3.11.3.2 Small mammal and amphibian bone
  • 3.11.3.3 Bird bone
    • 3.11.3.3.1 Preservation
    • 3.11.3.3.2 Taxonomic abundance
    • 3.11.3.3.3 Element representation and butchery evidence
    • 3.11.3.3.4 Seasonality
  • 3.11.3.4 Fish bone
    • 3.11.3.4.1 Preservation
    • 3.11.3.4.2 Taxonomic abundance
    • 3.11.3.4.3 Element representation
    • 3.11.3.4.4 Fish size
    • 3.11.3.4.5 Method of capture and seasonality
• 3.11.4 Discussion
• 3.11.5 Summary

---

3.12 Mesolithic middens and marine molluscs, procurement and consumption of shellfish at the site of Sand | Nicky Milner

• 3.12.1 Introduction
• 3.12.2 Sampling
• 3.12.3 Species found within each midden area
  • 3.12.3.1 Description of species
  • 3.12.3.2 Relative proportions of species
  • 3.12.3.3 Comparison of trenches A and B
• 3.12.4 Limpet size and morphology
  • 3.12.4.1 Comparison of average length
  • 3.12.4.2 Morphology
• 3.12.5 Dogwhelk size and morphology
  • 3.12.5.1 Comparison of average length
  • 3.12.5.2 Dogwhelk morphology
• 3.12.6 Periwinkles
• 3.12.7 Summary and discussion
  • 3.12.7.1 A critique of the methodologies employed
  • 3.12.7.2 Procurement and consumption
• 3.12.8 Conclusion

---

3.13 Consumption of crabs in the mesolithic, side stepping the evidence? | Nicky Milner

• 3.13.1 Introduction
• 3.13.2 The evidence
• 3.13.3 A picture of procurement, processing, consumption and deposition
• 3.13.4 Conclusion

---

3.14 Pearls | Karen Hardy

---

3.15 The wood charcoal macro-remains from Mesolithic midden deposits at Sand, Applecross | Phil Austin

• 3.15.1 Introduction
• 3.15.2 Methodology
  • 3.15.2.1 Recovery and sub-sampling
  • 3.15.2.2 Identification
  • 3.15.2.3 Quantification
• 3.15.3 Results
  • 3.15.3.1 Relative frequency of taxa
  • 3.15.3.2 Fragment properties
• 3.15.4 Discussion
  • 3.15.4.1 Context and taxon representation
  • 3.15.4.2 Elements of the contemporary vegetation
  • 3.15.4.3 Wood acquisition: selection / avoidance, wood and fuel properties
• 3.15.5 Summary

---

3.16 Palynological studies at Sand, Applecross | Fraser Green & Kevin Edwards

• 3.16.1 Introduction
• 3.16.2 Description
• 3.16.3 Methods and presentation of results
• 3.16.4 Discussion

---

3.17 Geophysical survey at Sand, Applecross | Nyree Finlay & Lorna McAllan

• Introducion
• Methodology
• Results
• Sand: Interpretation & Discussion

Published by The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, in association with
the Council for British Archaeology and Historic Scotland.
Available free of charge in HTML format (see Terms & Conditions of Use).

Use http://www.sair.org.uk/sair31 to cite this page.
ISSN 1473-3803; ISBN 978 090390361 5