Cookies

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue.

Uig Landscape Project

Project Team

Publication details for Dr Mike Church

Ascough, P L, Church, M J, Cook, G T, Dunbar, E, Gestsdóttir, H, McGovern, T H, Dugmore, A J, Friðriksson, A & Edwards, K J (2012). Radiocarbon reservoir effects in human bone collagen from northern Iceland. Journal of Archaeological Science 39(7): 2261-2271.

Author(s) from Durham

Abstract

Human bone collagen from a series of Icelandic human pagan graves was radiocarbon (14C) dated to aid understanding of early settlement (landnám) chronologies in northern Iceland. These individuals potentially consumed marine protein. The 14C age of samples containing marine carbon requires a correction for the marine 14C reservoir effect. The proportion of nonterrestrial sample carbon was quantified via measurement of carbon stable isotopes (δ13C) using a simple mixing model, based on δ13C measurements of archaeofaunal samples. Nonterrestrial carbon was also quantified in six pig bones from the archaeofaunal dataset. Assuming all non-terrestrial carbon in human and pig bone collagen was marine-derived, calibrated age ranges calculated using a mixed IntCal09/Marine09 calibration curve were consistent with an early settlement date close to landnám, but several samples returned prelandnám age ranges. Measurements of nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N) strongly suggest that many of the human bone collagen samples contain freshwater diet-derived carbon. Icelandic freshwater systems frequently display large freshwater 14C reservoir effects, of the order of 10,000 14C years, and we suggest that the presence of freshwater carbon is responsible for the anomalously early ages within our dataset. In pig samples, the majority of non-terrestrial carbon is freshwater in origin, but in human samples the proportion of freshwater carbon is within the error of the marine component (± 10%). This presents a major obstacle to assessing temporal patterns in the ages of human remains from sampled graves, although the majority of grave ages are within the same, broad, calibrated range.

Dr Simon Gilmour, MA(Hons) PhD FSA FSA Scot MIfA

Director of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

Telephone: +44 (0) 131 247 4115

Contact (email at director@socantscot.org)

Biography

RESEARCH
My research area focuses on the archaeology of the first millennia BC and AD across the Atlantic Seaways.  I have co-directed excavations and landscape surveys in the Western Isles and Argyll, with colleagues in various universities and worked abroad in Syria, Romania and France on excavations.  I am currently an Honorary Fellow of the University of Edinburgh where I have taught various courses in Archaeology.

BACKGROUND
After completing my PhD I worked at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) as the Aerial Survey Liaison Officer in the National Monuments Record for Scotland (NMRS) from 2001 to 2005.  During this period I was also Secretary of the Scottish Aerial Archaeology Group, and a member of the Aerial Archaeology Research Group (AARG).

From 2001 to 2004 I was elected to the Board of Archaeology Scotland (then the Council for Scottish Archaeology) as Honorary Secretary, and served as elected Vice President from 2004 to 2010.  I am currently the elected Vice Chair of the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) and convener of their Historic Environment Working Group (HEWG) and Historic Environment Bill taskforce.

I am currently Director of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the oldest antiquarian Society in Scotland, and second oldest in the UK, founded in 1780.  Further information on the Society is available through the website www.socantscot.org.  As Director I manage the Society with a small staff team, servicing over 3000 Fellows across the world.

SELECTED CURRENT PROJECTS:
'Uig Landscape Survey Project', Lewis, Western Isles (UK). Co-directed four seasons of landscape survey and excavation of four archaeological sites across the Uig Peninsula, Lewis from 1995 to 1998. Post-excavation nearing completion. Principal funding bodies: Historic Scotland (UK), University of Edinburgh (UK), Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (UK), Uig Estate and the Gearing family (UK).

'Glashan Dun', Argyll (UK). Co-directed a season of excavation and survey at this Iron Age roundhouse adjacent to the Glashan crannog.  Post-excavation nearing completion.  Principle funding bodies: Historic Scotland (UK), University of Nottingham (UK).

Research Interests

  • Archaeology of Iron Age Atlantic Europe
  • Aerial Survey

  • Management, Protection and Presentation of the Historic Environment

Publications

Gilmour, S (2005) 'Complex Atlantic Roundhouses - chronology and complexity', in Turner, VE, Nicholson, RA, Dockrill, SJ, Bond, JM (eds.) Tall Stories? - 2 millennia of brochs Shetland Amenity Trust, Lerwick, 78-96

Cowley, DC and Gilmour, S (2005) 'Some observations on the nature of aerial survey' in Brophy, K and Cowley, DC (eds.) From the air: understanding aerial archaeology, Stroud: Tempus, 50-63

Gilmour, S (2005) Review of 'The Iron Age in Northern Britain: Celts and Romans, Natives and Invaders' by D W Harding, Routledge, in Scottish Archaeological Newsletter 47, Council for Scottish Archaeology, 14

Gilmour, S (2005) Review of 'Facing the Ocean: the Atlantic and its peoples 8000BC-AD1500' by Barry Cunliffe, Oxford University Press, 2001 in Scottish Archaeological Journal 25.2, Edinburgh University Press, 188-9

Cowley, D C and Gilmour, S (2005) 'Discovery from the air: a pit-defined cursus monument in Fife' Scottish Archaeological Journal 25.2 (2003), Edinburgh University Press, 171-8

Fraser, S, Gilmour, S and Dawson, T (2003) 'Shorewatch: Monitoring Scotland's Coastal Archaeology' in Dawson, T (ed.) Conference Proceedings on Coastal Archaeology and Erosion in Scotland Historic ScotlandTechnical Conservation, Research and Education Division, 197-202

Gilmour, S (2002) 'Mid-first millennium BC settlement in the Western Isles?', in Ballin-Smith, B and Banks, I (eds.) In the Shadow of the Brochs a Festschrift to Dr. Euan MacKie, Tempus, 55-66

Gilmour, S and Henderson, J (2003) 'Archaeology at Loch Glashan in Argyll' Scottish Archaeological Newsletter 43,Council for Scottish Archaeology, 10-11

Redhouse, D I, Anderson, M, Cockerell, T, Gilmour, S, Housley, R, Malone, Cand Stoddart, S (2002) 'Power in Context: the Lismore landscape project' Antiquity 76, 945-6

Gilmour, S and Church, M (2002) 'On the edge of the World?: excavations at Uig, west Lewis' Scottish Archaeological Newsletter No38,Council for Scottish Archaeology

Gilmour, S (2002) 'Hot Bananas!' Review of the Rhind lectures by Barry Cunliffe, Scottish Archaeological Newsletter No39, Council for Scottish Archaeology, 3

Gilmour, S (2000) 'First Millennia Settlement Development in the Atlantic West', in Henderson, J (ed.) The Prehistory and Early History of Western Europe British Archaeological Reports, International Series 861, Oxford, 155-170

Gilmour, S (1998) 'Recent Excavations in Lewis' Historic Argyll No.3, LAHS, 14

Gilmour, S and Cook, M (1998) 'Excavations at Dun Vulan: a reinterpretation of the reappraised Iron Age' Antiquity 72, 327-37

Gilmour, S and Henderson, J (1998) 'Excavation of a Cairn at Cleigh, Kilmore in 1996' Historic Argyll No.3, LAHS, 13

Gilmour, S and Henderson, J (1997) 'Cleigh, Kilmore Parish, by Oban' Historic Argyll No.2, LAHS

Burgess, C, Gilmour, S and Henderson, J (1997) 'Recording Archaeological Excavations using GIS' Archaeological Computing Newsletter 46 Autumn 1996, Oxford, 2-9

Monograph

Harding, D W and Gilmour, S (2000) The Iron Age settlement at Beirgh, Riof, Isle of Lewis: Excavations, 1985-95 - Volume 1: The structures and stratigraphy Calanais Research Series No.1, Edinburgh University Department of Archaeology

Reports

Gilmour, S and Henderson, J (200) 'Survey and excavation at Loch Glashan Dun', Final Interim Report for Historic Scotland

Gilmour, S and Henderson, J (2005) 'Survey and excavation at Loch Glashan Dun Preservation Report', Final Preservation Report for Forest Enterprise and Forestry Commission Scotland

Burgess, C, Church, M, and Gilmour, S (1998) Uig Landscape Survey unpublished Interim Report in the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

Bonsall, C and Gilmour, S (1994) Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief at the former Auction Mart site, Lochavullin, Oban: Report to William Low plc. unpublished report lodged in the NMRS

Gilmour, S (2001) Shorewatch: Recording Scotland's Coastal Archaeology, Pilot Phase 3, Final Report unpublished report for the Council for Scottish Archaeology and Historic Scotland

 

Over 20 reports in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland published by the CSA (Archaeology Scotland)

Could not find a record for this staff member in this department