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Bosta (Iron Age settlement)

Bosta Iron Age settlement
Native name Traigh Bosta; Traigh Bostadh; Bostadh
A reconstruction of an Iron Age roundhouse based on the houses excavated on Bosta Beach
Location	Great Bernera, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Coordinates	58.2572°N 6.8814°W / 58.2572; -6.8814
Architectural style(s)	Roundhouse, Norse structure
Governing body	Historic Environment Scotland
Owner	Comunn Eachdraidh sgire Bhearbaraidh (Bernera Historical Society)
Shown within the Outer Hebrides

The Bosta settlement (also known as Traigh Bosta; Traigh Bostadh; Bostadh) is a settlement of houses located on Bosta Beach The Bosta Iron Age settlement is located on the island of Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The settlement originally dates to the Late Iron Age, about 400-800 CE. A later Norse structure was built on top of the Iron Age settlement. The settlement was located in an advantageous area; it had easy access to a freshwater stream to the south, and its proximity to the ocean provided easy access to fishing waters.

The Bosta Iron Age settlement is a scheduled monument. It is monitored by Historic Environment Scotland and is managed by the Comunn Eachdraidh sgire Bhearbaraidh (Bernera Historical Society).

Archaeology

Prior to excavation there was a variety of evidence indicating the presence of a settlement on Bosta Beach, including artefacts and signs of the presence of structures.

As early as 1966 the presence of midden deposits and stone structures have been recorded. Records state that the middens and the structures were being eroded at the base of the dunes.

In 1968, the settlement was further exposed by erosion. The artefacts found include what is likely Iron Age pottery sherds, stone implements and pieces of corroded iron. At least two similar floors were found nearby, and they appreared to be more or less undisturbed. Inside of a structure demarcated by large stones, a flint flake, a small, thick pottery sherd, an antler tine of a red dear with evidence of use as tool, and a fragment of whale bone tool were found. These objects are currently held in Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum.

In 1969 an arc of set stones and a series of shorter sections of walls was found. These walls were likely the remains of houses. The midden material was also exposed a few yards to the west of the structures. The midden was found to contained shells, bones, fragments of broch-type pottery, and a piece of decorated bone that was perforated for use as a comb.

In 1983 a rusty metal object of twisted metal that was bent into ring of 114 millimetres was found in an eroding sand dune.

In January of 1993 storm force winds and high tides caused significant erosion. The storm resulted in the erosion of at least one metre of dune face and lowered the level of the beach approximately one metre. A series of stone buildings were revealed underneath an eroding sand dune over a stretch of 30 metres. The total height of eroding dune ranged from 2 to 5 metres.The buildings had been buried beneath a sand dune. The buildings are bordered by exposed rock to the north, a stream estuary to the south, and Bosta Cemetary in the east. Most of the walls were over a metre thick. The walls consist of drystone facings on both the inner and outer surfaces and are filled with a sand core. The walls were constructed on dark brown sand deposits.

Finds include a significant number of pottery sherds including 160 rims and 50 bases, Beaker pottery, fish and animal bones (some of which displaying signs of butchering), antler, shells, worked bone tools, fragments of up to three combs, and a lead weight.

In 1994 more artefacts were revealed as a result of further erosion. These artefacts included a broken red hammerstone, a broken quartz hammerstone, a pot boiler, two quartz cores, and a pottery rim decorated with a stab pattern.

In 1996 a rescue excavation was carried out on the settlement. The excavation revealed five structures from 1st millennium as well as the associated middens. Another later Norse building was also revealed. Excavations were carried out by CFA Archaeology with the University of Edinburgh with the assistance of students and local community volunteers. The excavation revealed the layout of the village, which was recorded in detail.

Houses 1-3 date from 1st millenium CE and share a number of architectural features. They are all stone roundhouses with south-facing entrances and at least one annex. The walls have drystone inner and outer faces and are filled with cores of sand and midden. The central hearths in Houses 1-3 are constructed using stones and take the form of a three-sided, open ended rectangle. Evidence of inhabitation after the buildings had been abandoned was found. There is a consistent stratigraphic sequence that is observed between the Houses 1-3, showing that at least these three of the five structures were in use in the same period. House 3 was constructed in a substantial midden spread. This layer was not excavated due to time constraints. A protection strategy was developed over the course of the excavation in order to preserve the site.

Artefacts uncovered during the excavation include pieces of pottery and animal bone, carved bone implements, the remains of composite bone combs, hammerstones, querns, and some metalwork. An example of decorated pottery that has been tentatively dated to some time from the third to fifth centuries CE was found in House 5. The preservation of palaeoenvironmental evidence in the settlement is excellent.

Three sides of a later, likely Norse building was found overlaying the sand infill within House 1. This building survived to a maximum height of two courses high. The midden spread associated with this building spread downhill from the structure and overlays the sand infill of House 3. The presence of a steatite bowl fragment with rivet holes in the midden suggests that the rectangular structure dates to the Norse period.

Preservation

An initiative is underway to preserved Houses 1 and 2. The eroding face of the sand dune face covering Houses 1 and 2 has been reinforced and protected by construction of an artificially sculpted sand dune face, whcih was been reinforced and protected by the placement of a pre-seeded matting. This was funded by the Western Isles Council. House 3 was completely dismantled, and its footprint was demarcated with stones and the void that it previously occupied was backfilled. Houses 4 and 5 have been backfilled to protect and preserve them.

Reconstruction

The reconstructed roundhouse with a thatched roof based on the houses found on Bosta Beach

In 1998 archeological evaluations was undertaken to identify a location near the Bosta Beach settlement that was of a suitable size and free from archaeological remains to construct a replica of one of the excavated Iron Age houses. The geophysical survey utilized resistivity, electromagnetic, and ground penetrating radar was undertaken to investigate the subsurface in two areas. No archaeological features were recorded by geophysical survey or trial excavations.

In 1999 a life size roundhouse based on the houses found on Bosta Beach was constructed. The techniques that were used to build the reconstruction were based on those that would have been used historically.

At one point the reconstructed house's roof was thatched and secured with a series of ropes and stone weights. However, the building was re-roofed with turf. The system of ropes and stone weights is no longer used, but the wooden "horns" at either end of the houses ridge are still present.

In the summer months visitors can tour the house, learn about the settlement, and see experimental archaeology that is being undertaken at the house.

Abeer Eladany

Dr. Abeer Eladany
Occupation(s)	Archaeologist, curatorial assistant at the University of Aberdeen’s Museums and Special Collections
Academic background
Education	Cairo University Helwan University in Egypt University of Manchester University of Aberdeen
Academic work
Discipline	Egyptology, museology
Sub-discipline	Ethics and repatriation
Institutions	University of Aberdeen

Dr. Abeer Eladany FSAScot is an archaeologist.

uncovered (wording?) one of 3 objects to ever be removed from Great pyramid hidden in uni of Aberdeen's collection. removed in 1872 by Waynman Dixon, from pyramid's Quessns chamber. 2 housed at british musuem, third had been missing for over 70 years. piece of cedar wood, imporant becase gives possibility of radiocarbon dating. 2001, record was identified indicating may have been donated to uni of aberdeen collecitons due to connection between dixon and james grant. donated by daughter in 1946, never classified and despite extensive search was not located. end of 2020 eladandy was conducting review of items housed in uni's asia collection. was found in a cigar box with egypts former flag on it, prompted her to cross reference with other records. wood dates to 3341-3094 bce, puting dating of great pyramids much earlier than initially expected.

education

graduated from caio university and helwan university in egypt, worked for egyptian museum for over 10 years. then travelled to italy to study conservation of ceramics in florence. joined knh centre, uni of manchester to study biomedical and forensic studies in egyptology, achieved MSc and PhD. 2015, gained MLitt in museum studies at uni of aberdeen. currently works as curitaorial assistant at uno of aberdeen's msueum and special collection. promotes, advocate for accessibility of mseum collections.

curatorial assistant at uni of aberdeen, responsible for the Art Collection since 2018, curating art, planning and coorinating art installations across uno.

member of slavery, empire, and scotland's museum, group led by museum galleries scotland working on public consultation "to inform how scotlands existing and future museum collections and spaces can better recognise and represent a more accurate portrayal of scotland's colonial and slavery hsitory."

studied conservation and egyptian archaeo at cairo uni, develeoped interest in encient egyptian art and culture.

archeology

particiapated in mnay excavations n egypt and scotland.

east kirk of saint nicholas, helped reveal medieval parish church at east kirk. masonry potentially relating to earlier fransiscan friary or early colleges structures at Marischal College Quad. 13th c human remains at Robert Gordon College. neolithic site in eden country park. deer abbey, 1500 year old monaastery. old grammer school at kinds college. 2018, participated in excavation at neolithic complex at ness of brodgar in orkney.

supporter of Mesolithic Deeside, group of archaeos, students, local volunteers investigating hsitory of River Dee area 10 000 years ago, joins for fieldwalking events, supports public engagement, curates temporary exhibitions. advocates for imporance of diverse representation in museums and highlights efforts to address systemic inequalities in uk heritage and beyond.

external links

Empire, Slavery & Scotland's Museums: an interview with Abeer Eladany