Background...
The excavation of the Bagh nam Feadag wheelhouse and other structures on the island of Grimsay was conducted from 1993 to 1997 by a retired engineer, Roy Ashworth. The information presented in this website is based upon the data generated by that excavation and supplemented with a survey of the standing remains and review of the finds by myself (Alasdair McKenzie).
excavation...
Following the departure of Roy Ashworth from Grimsay in 1997 the artefacts recovered from his work were submitted to the local museum and a survey was completed by the Association of Certified Field Archaeologists (Glasgow) in October 1998. The purpose of that survey was to ‘record the excavated wheelhouse and place it in its environment before deterioration set in, as no record drawing existed and no conservation measures had yet been agreed’ (Wood 1998, 3). The wheelhouse and surrounding area was mapped by theodolite and detailed drawings were produced using the taped offset method.
Although excavated relatively recently and with good intentions, the site has suffered through the lack of scientific excavation and recording the recovered artefacts by context. Given the importance of moorland wheelhouses and their relatively rare existence, when compared with their machair counterparts, it is unfortunate that certain research questions, specifically relating to ceramic sequencing, cannot now be developed to any great extent. However, the wealth of material recovered and its state of preservation, along with the standing remains of the wheelhouse structure itself, does enable other aspects of wheelhouse construction and function to be addressed. In addition, the multiple phases of occupation at the site, from structures underlying the primary wheelhouse to those constructed above and around, marks the locality as a definable and sustainable prehistoric/historic landholding. Little information is available regarding the condition of the site before it was excavated. Another possible wheelhouse site to the north lies beneath a grass and fern covered mound with some indications of walling. The walling visible at the top of the mound is clearly relatively recent compared to whatever lies below it.
Although excavated relatively recently and with good intentions, the site has suffered through the lack of scientific excavation and recording the recovered artefacts by context. Given the importance of moorland wheelhouses and their relatively rare existence, when compared with their machair counterparts, it is unfortunate that certain research questions, specifically relating to ceramic sequencing, cannot now be developed to any great extent. However, the wealth of material recovered and its state of preservation, along with the standing remains of the wheelhouse structure itself, does enable other aspects of wheelhouse construction and function to be addressed. In addition, the multiple phases of occupation at the site, from structures underlying the primary wheelhouse to those constructed above and around, marks the locality as a definable and sustainable prehistoric/historic landholding. Little information is available regarding the condition of the site before it was excavated. Another possible wheelhouse site to the north lies beneath a grass and fern covered mound with some indications of walling. The walling visible at the top of the mound is clearly relatively recent compared to whatever lies below it.
Finds...
Finds recovered during excavation
A rough sketch plan by the excavator made in the early stages, and the profile of the existing parts of the mound, would suggest that some internal walling was visible before any soil was removed, perhaps being the reason that this site was chosen over the other. The excavator worked on his own at the site, removing a large amount of stone from the central area of the wheelhouse which may have included fallen rubble from corbelled cells. Middens associated with any period of occupation at the site were not excavated and have yet to be located.
The curving dry stone wall with incorporated site hut surrounding the western flank of the site was constructed from the rubble from within the site (Hothersall pers. comm.). The excavator also established a grid over the site by using letters and number to identify one metre squares.
The curving dry stone wall with incorporated site hut surrounding the western flank of the site was constructed from the rubble from within the site (Hothersall pers. comm.). The excavator also established a grid over the site by using letters and number to identify one metre squares.