The next phase of the Whithorn-MAP project is live!
Our focus now turns to three sites on the West Machars coast: Port Castle, Back Bay and Mary Mine at Tonderghie.
Survey at Back Bay
Back Bay is one of the most impressive prehistoric coastal fortifications on the Machars. With deep defensive ditches and an imposing rampart, this site would have been occupied in the Iron Age, over 2000 years ago. Excavations at the nearby site of Carghidown found evidence for timber roundhouses within the interior, with occupation dating to the last two centuries BC.
We will be carrying out a new survey of Back Bay, with the opportunity to learn techniques of archaeological measured survey, photography, drawing and description.
Excavations at Port Castle
Port Castle occupies a shoulder of coastal shelf overlooking Port Castle bay at Physgill bay, near St Ninian’s Cave. The nature of the site is uncertain, but its position might suggest it was first constructed as a promontory fort in prehistory. Substantial stone walls, still visible now, indicate that the site was used in the historic period, but no more is known and it is not clear whether a ‘castle’ ever stood at this location. Our investigations will explore this intriguing site and aim to obtain some evidence for when it was in use.
We will be carrying out small-scale excavations to explore the remains of the site, hoping to recover artefacts or datable samples that will give us some clues as to the history of Port Castle.
Excavations at Mary Mine
Mary Mine at Tonderghie is known for being the site of copper extraction in the 18th and 19th centuries: the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map (surveyed in 1849) depicts extraction shafts, but by the time of the second edition (surveyed in 1894) the mine is marked as disused.
The mine has been considered likely to have been a source of copper since much earlier periods, however, perhaps even since prehistory. Earlier surveys, including geophysical surveys, have provided some clues about where earlier activity may have occurred, and this block of work will explore some of those areas. Our excavations will explore features of the industrial period mine, as well as some of these earlier possibilities.
Get Involved!
Would you like to take part in the Whithorn-MAP field school? Places are open to anyone, and you can sign up using the link below:
