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Vol. 4 No. 5 April 1987
THE SUMMER PROGRAMME
The
following summer Programme of outings has been arranged for members.
Sunday April 19
Outing by car to the Watten area. Cars leave Wick and Thurso at 10
am. Leader George Watson.
Weekend 15-17 May
Weekend at the Sutherland Arms Hotel, Lairg. Bookings should be made
through Allan Abernethy, Tel. Wick 2702.
Sunday June l4
Outing to Helmsdale gold burns. Leave Wick and Thurso at 9.30
a.m. and meet at the Helmsdale tourist office at 10.15. Leader, David
Oliver.
Sunday July 19
Coastal walk south of Wick. Leader Nick Roberts. Leave Thurso
9.30 and Wick 10 a.m.
Sunday August 16
Outing to Loch Brora. Leader ken Butler.
Sunday September 13 Walk
along Thurso River from Westerdale to Dirlot. Leader Geoff Leet.
Members are advised to look for the notices advertising
the above outings. These will be displayed in the usual shop windows.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
This will be held following an illustrated lecture "Round
About The Three Firths: Loch Fleet to Beauly" by Dr. J. S. Smith to be
given in Halkirk School on TUESDAY 28th APRIL at 7.30 p.m. This lecture
is in association with the University of Aberdeen.
INVERNESS FIELD CLUB
Inverness Field Club have organised a symposium and study
tour in association with the Council for British Archaeology Scotland.
The theme will be Our Vanishing Heritage and study the effects of present
and future land use on the face of Scotland. The dates are Friday 24 -
Saturday 25th April. Bookings may be made through Mrs J. Anderson, Mo
Dhachaidh, Glen Urquhart, Inverness. Tel. 045 64 230
FIELD CLUB CONSTITUTION
Included in this edition of the Bulletin is a copy of the
Field Club constitution. Although this document was produced in the early
days of the Field Club and some members may still have a copy, it has
never before been published in the Bulletin. Members may therefore be
interested to read it.
THE COUNCIL FOR BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND
The 41st Annual Report of the Council for British
Archaeology Scotland, recently published, includes reports on a number of
local societies and institutions, including Caithness Field Club which is
a subscribing member. It is interesting to note how many of the local
societies are actively involved in recording and survey work which is
worthwhile work that local societies can undertake. Abertay Historical
Society are engaged in recording grave-stones as also are Hawick
Archaeological Society. Arbroath Antiquary and History Club have
completed a survey of cup-and-ring marked stones which is now being
prepared for publication. They are also continuing a survey of deserted
settlements. A similar project was carried out by the Caithness Field
Club at Broubster but not mentioned.
An important annual publication of the CBA Scotland is
Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. It gives a useful annual survey of
Scottish Archaeological discoveries excavation and field work together
with a detailed Scottish archaeological bibliography. Associate
membership is open to individuals at a very modest sum. Details are
available from the Secretary, CBA Scotland, c/o Royal Museum of Scotland,
York Buildings, 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 IJD.
A
CIST BURIAL AT RANGAG (Map ref. 177446)
On 18 February 1987 during operations involving a JCB
excavator adjacent to the eastern side of the A895 at the site of an old
quarry a cist burial was unearthed. The cist was orientated east-west
with the skull of the skeleton at the east. The cist was unusual in that
it had been excavated from the frost-shattered bedded Old Red Sandstone
and the excavation had then been lined with pieces of flagstone with a
flagstone cap. A few inches of clay and peat lay above the cist and there
was no evidence of any cairn having been raised above it.
Near to the skull the workmen found a very fine example
of a bell-shaped earthenware beaker of the type usually associated with
the early Bronze Age. The beaker was decorated with rings and incised
lines and must rank among the finest of its kind.
(J. Saxon)
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