A Scottish Iron Age Wetland Village Built from Nature’s Bounty: Understanding the Formation of Plant Litter Floors

J. Robertson and L. M. Roy

Environmental Archaeology, 2021, vol. 26, issue 2, 222-237

Abstract: The ongoing excavations at Black Loch of Myrton in south-west Scotland have revealed the existence of an Iron Age wetland village, preserved through both waterlogging and charring. Of particular interest is a single roundhouse (Structure 2) from which a large macroplant assemblage has been recovered. Dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating have revealed that this roundhouse was in use from 435 BC for approximately 30–40 years. However, very few artefacts were found within the structure and its function remains unclear. By employing a range of sampling techniques and analytical methods to study the macroplant assemblage, it has been possible to more fully understand the role of plant material in the construction and development of this building. Analyses undertaken at both the macro and micro scales, coupled with excavation of stratigraphically distinct floor layers observed within monolith samples, have allowed for identification and arrangement of the plant materials used for construction and as floor coverings. In addition, differential activity areas within the roundhouse have been identified.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1080/14614103.2019.1618650

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