Find Spot record MHG20134 - Pollen Analysis, Allt na Fearna

As part of an on-going multi-disciplinary research and archaeological excavation programme, sampling sites were sought which would supply evidence for research into the vegetational and environmental history of the area. In seeking to link the archaeological evidence for long histories of land-use to the vegetational history, three site types were investigated: 1 a regional scale site; 2 an intermediate or meso-scale site; 3 a local site. (For meso-scale site see NC50SE 96) The local scale site was located, c100m to the S of the Allt na Fearna prehistoric sites, excavated 1990 and 1991 (NC50SE 46). This small bog was 2.67m deep and is radiocarbon dated to 8376 BP. Preliminary work, involving use of X-radiography, has revealed bands of tephra from prehistoric volcanic eruptions in Iceland. The main aim of the project is to establish the scale of human impact on the natural environment throughout the Holocene. The local wealth of archaeolgical information will enable more positive links to be made between the impact of people and the vegetation history of the landscape.
Sponsors: Historic Scotland, SERC, AOC (Scotland) Ltd.
M Smith 1992