Midden in Horse Island

This is one of three middens (SL007-045----; SL007-046----; SL007-047----) exposed in section on the shoreline of Horse Island. It incorporates shells and animal bones. A sampling strategy (09E0174) was undertaken in 2009 as part of a radio-carbon dating programme (Sherlock et al. 2009). Sampling from this midden returned a date (from charcoal) in the Early Christian period. A larger midden (SL007-0046----) produced cattle, sheep and pig bone and included evidence for cereal: it also returned an Early Christian date (from charcoal). It is suggested that these middens may be part of a more extensive system along this stretch of the island shoreline (pers. comm. T. Kytmannow 2012). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of revised upload: 6 June 2016