The settlement at Bornais in the Western Isles of Scotland is one of the largest rural settlements known from the Norse period in Britain. It spans the period from the fifth to the fifteenth century AD when the Atlantic seaboard was subject to drastic changes. The islands were systematically ravaged by Viking raiders and then colonised by Norse settlers. In the following centuries the islanders were central to the emergence of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles, played a crucial role in the development of the Lordship of the Isles and were finally assimilated into the Kingdom of Scotland.
This volume explores the stratigraphic sequence uncovered by the excavation of Bornais mounds 2 and 2A. The excavation of mound 2 revealed a sequence of high status buildings that span the Norse occupation of the settlement. One of these houses, constructed at the end of the eleventh century AD, was a well preserved bow-walled longhouse and the careful excavation and detailed recording of the floor layers has revealed a wealth of finds that provides invaluable insight into the activities taking place in this building. The final house in this sequence is very different in form and use, and clearly indicates the increasing Scottish influence on the region at the beginning of the thirteenth century.
The excavation of mound 2A provides an insight into the less prestigious areas of the settlement and contributes a significant amount of evidence on the settlement economy. The area was initially cultivated before it became a settlement local and throughout its life a focus on agricultural activities, such as grain drying and processing, appears to have been important. In the thirteenth century the mound was occupied by a craftsman who produced composite combs, gaming pieces and simple tools.
The evidence presented in this volume makes a major contribution to the understanding of Norse Scotland and the colonisation of the North Atlantic in a period of dramatic transformations.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Illustrations
• Tables
• List of Contributors
• English–Gaelic glossary of place-names
• 1 Bornais and the Norse settlement of the North Atlantic
  • Introduction – N Sharples
  • The history of the excavations – N Sharples
  • A Norse settlement of Atlantic Scotland – N Sharples
    • History
    • Problems
    • Viking houses in Scotland
    • Viking houses in the North Atlantic
    • Late Norse houses
  • Cille Pheadair – N Sharples
  • Vernacular architecture in the North Atlantic – N Sharples
  • The research potential – N Sharples
  • The stratigraphic sequence in mound 2 – O Davis and N Sharples
  • The stratigraphic sequence in mound 2A – K Waddington and N Sharples
  • Site phasing – N Sharples
  • Excavation problems – N Sharples
  • Acknowledgements – N Sharples
• 2 The Late Iron Age and Early Norse activity on mound 2 – N Sharples and O Davis
  • The Late Iron Age occupation (BA)
    • Early sand deposits (BAA)
    • Floor layers (BAB)
    • Soil micromorphology – K Munro and K Milek
    • Infill layers (BAC)
    • Structural remains (BAD)
    • Peripheral occupation layers (BAE)
    • Layers and features under House 2 (BAF)
    • Cut and fill of hollow (BAG)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish Bone – C Ingrem
  • Summary of the Late Iron Age activity – N Sharples
  • The Early Norse occupation (BB)
    • House 1 foundation pits (BBA)
    • House 1 structure (BBB)
    • House 1 occupation (BBC)
    • Soil micromorphology – K Munro and K Milek
    • Spatial distributions – N Sharples
    • Animal bone and pottery distributions – N Sharples
    • Artefact distributions – N Sharples
    • Carbonised plant distributions – J Summers and J Bond
    • House 1 infilling (BBD)
    • Truncated remnants of Early Norse structures (BBE)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Summary of the Early Norse activity – N Sharples
• 3 The Early Norse activity on mound 2A – N Sharples and K Waddington
  • Introduction
  • The cultivation soil (GAA) and hearth GAB)
    • Soil micromorphology – K Munro and K Milek
  • The south hearth (GAC)
    • Soil micromorphology – K Munro and K Milek
  • The grey sand accumulation (GAD)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers, J Bond and N Sharples
  • Animal bone – J Best, A Powell, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 4 The Middle Norse house on mound 2 (BC) – N Sharples and O Davis
  • Introduction
    • House 2 foundation pits (BCA)
    • House 2 construction (BCB)
    • House 2 occupation (BCC)
  • Soil micromorphology – K Munro and K Milek
    • Pre-floor deposits
    • Hearth-rake deposits
    • Floor deposits
    • In situ hearth deposits
    • Secondary occupation and abandonment deposits
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – N Sharples, A Pannett, R Smith and F Taylor
    • Artefacts from the foundation pits (BCA)
    • Artefacts from the construction layers (BCB)
    • Artefacts from the floor layers and hearth/ash layers (BCC)
    • Distribution analysis
    • Distribution results
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Discussion – N Sharples
    • General distributions
    • Conclusion
• 5 The Middle Norse transition phase on mound 2 (BD) – N Sharples and O Davis
  • Introduction
    • Initial structural modifications (BDA)
    • Occupation associated with the BDA (BDB)
    • Constructions within the BDA structure (BDC)
    • Building a new structure (BDD)
    • Occupation of structure BDD (BDE)
    • Infilling of the House 2 hollow (BDF)
    • Ephemeral structures (BDG)
    • Final infilling of the House 2 hollow (BDH)
    • Activity below House 3 (BDI)
    • Deposits around the edge of House 3 (BDJ)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 6 The Middle Norse activity on mound 2A – N Sharples and K Waddington
  • Introduction
    • The central structure and early activity (GBA)
    • The construction of the south kiln (GBB)
    • Deposition in the south kiln (GBC)
    • The construction of the north kiln (GBD)
    • Deposition in the north kiln (GBE)
    • Occupation associated with the kilns in the central area (GBF) .
    • Deposition associated with the kilns on the edge of the mound (GBG)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers, J Bond and N Sharples
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 7 The Late Norse activity on mound 2 – N Sharples and O Davis
  • Introduction
  • House 3 construction (BEA)
  • House 3 pre-floor features (BEB)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • Soil micromorphology – K Milek and K Munro
  • House 3 early occupation (BEC)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • The distribution of artefacts – N Sharples
    • The distribution of animal bone – N Sharples
    • The distribution of the carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • House 3 reconstruction (BED)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • House 3 secondary occupation (BEE)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • The distribution of artefacts – N Sharples
    • The distribution of animal bone – N Sharples
    • The distribution of the carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • House 3 abandonment (BEF)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • House 3 soil micromorphology – K Milek and K Munro
  • Deposits in the entrance passage (BEG)
    • Sampling – N Sharples
    • Soil micromorphology – K Milek and K Munro
  • Deposits outside the entrance (BEH)
  • Deposits associated with House 3 (BEI)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Measurements – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
    • Artefacts from BEA and BEB
    • Artefacts from BEC
    • Artefacts from BED
    • Artefacts from BEE
    • Artefacts from BEF and BEG
    • Artefacts from BEI
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond .
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 8 The Late Norse activity on mound 2A – N Sharples and K Waddington
  • Introduction
  • The southern houses (GE)
    • The construction of House 12 (GEA)
    • The occupation of House 12 (GEB)
    • Post-occupation infilling of House 12 (GEC)
    • The construction of House 13 (GED)
    • The occupation of House 13 (GEE) .
    • Post-occupation infilling of House 13 (GEF)
    • The construction of House 14 (GEG)
    • The occupation of House 14 (GEH)
    • The construction of ancillary building 3 (GEI)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
    • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
    • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
    • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • The ancillary structures (GC)
    • The construction of ancillary building 5 (GCA)
    • The occupation of ancillary building 5 (GCB)
    • The construction of ancillary building 6 (GCC)
    • The occupation of ancillary building 6 (GCD)
    • Soil micromorphology – K Milek and K Munro
    • The construction of House 15 (GCE)
    • The occupation of House 15 (GCF)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
    • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
    • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers, J Bond and N Sharples
    • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
    • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • Midden accumulation (GD)
    • Midden on the west side (GDA)
    • Midden on the north side (GDB)
    • Midden on the east side (GDC)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
    • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
    • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers, J Bond and N Sharples
    • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
    • Fish bone – C Ingrem
  • A structure in the eastern middens (GGA-GGC)
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • Pottery and artefacts – N Sharples, A Pannett and R Smith
    • Carbonised plant remains – J Bond and J Summers
    • Animal bone – C Ingrem, A Powell, J Best and J Mulville
  • Conclusion
    • Sampling data – N Sharples
    • Animal and fish bone – C Ingrem, A Powell, J Best and J Mulville
    • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
    • Measurements – N Sharples
    • Artefacts – N Sharples .
• 9 The peripheral stratigraphic sequences (Areas A, H, I and J) – N Sharples and O Davis
  • Introduction
  • The south side of mound 2 (Area A)
    • Sampling data from Area A – N Sharples
    • Pottery from Area A – K Harding and N Sharples
    • Artefacts from Area A – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
    • Animal bone from Area A – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
    • Carbonised plant remains from Area A – J Summers and J Bond
  • The east side of mound 2 (Area H)
    • Sampling data from Area H – N Sharples
    • Pottery from Area H – K Harding and N Sharples
    • Measurements – N Sharples
    • Artefacts from Area H – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
    • Carbonised plant remains from Area H – J Summers and J Bond
    • Animal bone from Area H – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
    • Fish bone from Area H – C Ingrem
  • The northwest corner of mound 2 (Area I)
    • Sampling data from Area I – N Sharples
    • Artefacts and ecofacts from Area I – J Best, A Powell, C Ingrem and N Sharples
  • Area J
    • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 10 The final occupation of the settlement – N Sharples, O Davis and K Waddington
  • Introduction
  • The final occupation of mound 2 (BF)
    • Construction of an ancillary structure (BFA)
    • Use of the ancillary structure (BFB)
    • Rebuild and reuse of the ancillary structure (BFC)
    • Abandonment of the ancillary structure (BFD)
    • Contemporary activity in the north of House 3 (BFE)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Soil micromorphology – K Milek and K Munro
    • Earliest occupation layer
    • Occupation deposits
    • Later occupation deposits
  • Carbonised plant remains – J Summers and J Bond
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • The final occupation of mound 2A (GF)
    • Miscellaneous late features (GFA)
  • Sampling data – N Sharples
  • Artefacts – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Animal bone – A Powell, J Best, C Ingrem, J Mulville and N Sharples
  • The recent activity on mound 2 and mound 2A (BG, BH, GFB)
    • The enclosure wall
  • Unstratified objects – A Pannett, R Smith and N Sharples
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 11 The chronology
  • Radiocarbon dates – P Marshall, C Bronk Ramsey and G Cook
    • Methods
    • Sampling strategy
    • Results
  • Methodological approach
  • Mound 2 – The sequence
  • The chronology of mound 2
  • Mound 2A – The sequence
  • The chronology of mound 2A
  • The currency of Norse activity at Bornais
  • Key historical events – N Sharples
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 12 Comparative analysis of the assemblages from mounds 2 and 2A
  • Introduction – N Sharples
  • Pottery – K Harding and N Sharples
    • Distributions
    • Sherd size
    • Sooting
    • Typological considerations
  • Steatite – A Forster
  • Flint – A Pannett
  • Artefacts – N Sharples, R Smith, A Clarke and I Dennis
    • Material distributions
    • Functional categories
    • Object distributions
  • Archaeobotanical remains – J Summers and J Bond
    • Results
  • Charcoal – D Challinor
    • Results
    • Notes on taxa
  • Mammal bone – C Ingrem and A Powell
    • Major species: domestic resources
    • Minor species: domestic resources
    • Minor species: terrestrial wild resources
    • Minor species: marine wild resources
  • Small vertebrate fauna – A Powell
    • Methods
    • Results
  • Bird bone – J Best
    • Distribution
  • Fish bone – C Ingrem
    • Taphonomy
    • Data – mound 2
    • Data – mound 2A
  • Residue analysis – N Sharples
    • Above 10 mm data
    • 2 to 10 mm data
  • Conclusion – N Sharples
• 13 Discussion – N Sharples
  • Introduction
  • The size of the settlement
  • The early houses
  • The occupation of the early houses
  • The later houses
  • Resource requirements
  • Sequences
  • The ancillary buildings
  • The shelters
  • Conclusion
• Appendix 1: The context list from mound 2 – N Sharples
• Appendix 2: The context list from mound 2A – N Sharples
• References