National Monuments Record of Scotland John Sinclair House, 16 Bernard Terrace, Edinburgh, EH8 9NX Tel: 0131-662-1456 Fax: 0131-662-1477/1499 E-mail rcahms.jsh@gtnet.gov.uk

LON MOR, GLEANN SHEILEACH

Location

Archaeology Notes

Excavation and survey work in 1992 revealed a lithic scatter and structural remains, which are assumed to be late Mesolithic, and a substantial structure of possibly domestic and later date.

Inf: Mr C Bonsall, Dept of Archaeology, Edinburgh University, 28 September 1992; NMRS MS/714/1

Lon Mor (Big Bog) is an expanse of peatland lying on raised marine deposits 1.3km SSW of Oban. A test-pit survey of higher ground at the margins of this former marine embayment revealed two lithic scatters, these occuring on either side of a narrow gully leading into the bog, at an altitude of 16m to 18m OD - several metres higher than that of the shoreline formed at the maximum of the mid-Holocene marine transgression. The larger of the artefact concentrations, lying to the N of the gully, occupied an area c.30m by 20m. A partial excavation of this area in 1992 recovered an assemblage of flaked stone artefacts which includes 'narrow blade' microliths, scrapers, bipolar and platform cores, and flint and quartz debitage. The bulk of the lithic assemblage was recovered from the ploughsoil. Below the ploughsoil was a thin, discontinuous, organic-rich horizon containing lithic artefacts and occasional fragments of burnt bone, charcoal and carbonised hazelnut shells.

The lithic artefacts and organic remains in this part of the site are interpreted as the residue of a refuse dump associated with Mesolithic occupation. An AMS C-14 date of 7385 +/- 60 BP (AA - 8793) was obtained from a carbonised hazelnut shell fragment.

Excavation to the NW of the lithic scatter uncovered an area of stone paving c.2m across, and a stone-lined hearth: these features may also relate to Mesolithic occupation of the site. Charcoal from the hearth has been submitted for AMS C-14 dating.

A trench located some 60m to 70m to the W of the lithic scatter uncovered part of a 'post-ring' structure of uncertain date. Finds from this area include occasional flint artefacts, fragments of burnt bone and a few sherds of pottery.

The test-pit survey and excavation were undertaken in advance of development, and the sites have now been destroyed.

C Bonsall et al 1993

Collection Summary

Bibliography