The Cairns - South Ronaldsay – 2023….
by Bernie Bell - 09:09 on 29 June 2023
The Cairns - South Ronaldsay – 2023….
The excavation at The Cairns resumed this year - and we were very pleased to be able to go to it.
Fact is – the heat we’ve been having in Orkney for the last couple of weeks doesn’t agree with either of us and we didn’t fancy a long-ish drive in a hot car. So, when the weather broke and the air freshened we were relieved and thought we’d go while the going was good.
It’s easy to spot the dig site as there’s a big white-ish tent which stands out in the soft green of the landscape…
After putting some dosh in the donations bucket, we approached what is now known to have been a village associated with the broch….
This area was also where various workshops were situated – there is evidence of textiles and metalworking. We were joined by Ole - an archaeologist from Germany – who gave us a very informative tour, pointing out things which wouldn’t have meant anything to the casual observer – such as some stones which bear the marks of rubbing or sharpening….
Ole pointed out a small area in which some evidence of Norse involvement has been found – including a fragment of a Soapstone vessel. The nearest source of Soapstone to Orkney is Shetland and Ole told us of a site there where Soapstone (aka Steatite) can be found in a cliff-face and there is evidence that some of these outcrops were being worked - then maybe a mistake was made - there would no doubt be some swearing, and the carver moved on to a different area of the outcrop…
https://www.archaeologyshetland.org/post/2016-1-16-in-depth-steatite-in-shetland
What a wonderful, direct connection with the ancient peoples. It reminded me of Langdale Pike where there are the remains of a Neolithic axe making site…
https://cumbriansun.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/the-multiple-journeys-of-the-langdale-axes/
….and even Rapa Nui (Easter Island) where there are stones left in the quarries which had been partly formed into statues.
A piece of Soapstone vessel has been found at the Swandro dig this year and, as also mentioned in this piece…
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16369
…. some remains of Norse Soapstone vessels have been found eroding from the cliff at Kirkhouse, South Ronaldsay.
Moving on from the village area, the Broch began to emerge…..
…then – full reveal…..
A stone, with a hole, directly opposite the entrance/exit of the souterrain – hmmmm…..
Ole let me hold a replica of the bowl which was found in the ‘well’ in the broch, which I previously wrote of in this piece…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/07/11/the-cairns-on-a-sunny-sunny-open-day/
I was delighted, as this is the nearest I’ll get to holding what I consider to have been a very meaning-full object for the people of the Broch. I held it up, and it held the view of The Cairns - and from The Cairns…..
The people in the tour group then, very appreciatively, passed the replica bowl from hand to hand, then back to Ole – much as the folk of the Iron Age Cairns might have done as part of a ceremony – I’m reminded of the tradition of a Bride’s cog…
http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/weddings/cog.htm
Ole then pointed out to us three steps which will have been part of the internal structure of the Broch wall – just about discernible in the upper central section of this pic…
This gives a glimpse into the life of the people who lived there – going up and down those steps to reach the higher levels.
One of the most striking finds of the dig so far this year has been the discovery of a huge midden of shells, mostly periwinkles which are edible, though small. I was thinking it would take a lot of them to be worth eating – possibly how the Iron Age folk saw it too. I wondered how they were cooked, so I ‘Googled’ and found this, very informative, article…
https://monicawilde.com/how-to-cook-winkles/
Wild Garlic could be good with them – or maybe Garlic butter - did Wild Garlic grow near The Cairns back then? There’s plenty of it about in Orkney now - so - maybe so? I asked The Man As Knows – Martin Carruthers, who said that traces of Wild Garlic would be unlikely to show up in the archaeological record as it’s soft, and so would perish completely. Still – a pleasing thought…..
I’m reminded of the ‘Winkle pickers’ worn by Teddy boys in the 1950’s…
Images of 'Winkle Picker' Shoes
....named thus because they had long pointy toes – like the pickers used to eat winkles. Bone pins have been found at The Cairns – among other uses – maybe Iron Age winkle pickers?
The souterrain entrance to the main Broch…
…near where the big shell deposit was found - at the far right of this picture. The lass in the green T- shirt – Holly - is working on it – Holly was good enough to take some close-up pics. of the Winkle deposit for me - for which - Many Thanks!
Another hum-dinger of a find was the big Whale vertebral disc……
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2023/06/23/the-cairns-dig-diary-day-ten/
I was thinking what it might have been used for – what would I use it for…maybe as a serving dish? Maybe to stand something on to keep it off the mucky floor? Or simply decoratively?
Domestic life calls for much the same objects and approaches, right through time.
Whales played a big part in the life of the folk of The Cairns….
https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/02/21/whales-ancient-modern/
https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/03/17/the-cairns-broch-and-a-fin-whale-the-end-of-two-giants/
A recent dig diary…..
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2023/06/27/the-cairns-dig-diary-day-twelve/
..in which Amanda Brend mentions how much the hearth was the focus of the home, set me off remembering my auntie Bridie tending the open turf fire in the family home in Ireland years ago, and thinking of the traditions/rituals associated with setting, lighting, tending the fire and the hearth….
PRAYER OF SAINT BRIGID
Brigid of the Mantle, encompass us,
Lady of the Lambs, protect us,
Keeper of the Hearth, kindle us.
Beneath your mantle, gather us,
And restore us to memory.
Mothers of our mother,
Foremothers strong.
Guide our hands in yours,
Remind us how to kindle the hearth.
To keep it bright, to preserve the same.
Your hands upon ours,
Our hands within yours,
To kindle the light,
Both day and night.
The Mantle of Brigid about us,
The Memory of Brigid within us,
The Protection of Brigid keeping us
From harm, from ignorance, from heartlessness.
This day and night,
From dawn till dark, From dark till dawn
-author unknown-
And with that blessing on The Cairns – I finish the tale of our visit.
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