Images of the excavation site at Brora

2007 excavation: The ruins of the Saltman's House

The Saltman's House | The Pan House? | The Girnel? | Building with floor


Trench 2 was laid out over what was thought to be the Saltman's House; this appears on Farey’s 1813 map when it is shown as in ruins. It is located near the ‘New Salt House’ and may have been the building where the supervisor of the salt works lived and worked. Prior to excavation, the building was visible only as a slight depression in the ground, but removal of the overlying rubble and midden material revealed a very substantial, mortared building, orientated NE-SW. The eastern half of the building had a cobbled and partially flagged floor, though this did not extend across the whole of the building. The entrance lay in the centre of the long south east wall and was enhanced by decoratively laid bricks. It seems likely that, when the building went out of use, most of the stone was taken away for use in other buildings in the area; the floor area was probably also extensively disturbed at this time. The finds from the site include broken brick and glass, glazed pottery, animal bones, shells and lobster claws. Only half of the building was excavated in 2007 and the function of the building has not yet been determined.

This photograph shows the scant visible evidence above ground of a possible building at the site of the Saltman’s House in 2005. Two volunteers excavating at the first trench to be opened above the Saltman’s House during the 2007 excavation. Archaeologist Cathy Dagg and one of the younger volunteers in the process of uncovering a linear pile of rubble.
The scant visible evidence for the Saltman's House, prior to excavation. Meg and Nick starting to clean back, following deturfing. Cathy and Hannah uncovering the linear pile of rubble overlying the south wall of the Saltman’s House.
The first structural evidence of a wall just beginning to appear from underneath a pile of rubble. A substantial, mortared building, with a partially cobbled and flagged floor. A group of volunteers and archaeologists having a closer look at the newly unearthed cobbled floor in the Saltman’s House.
The wall just beginning to appear from underneath the rubble. When fully revealed, the walls enclosed a partially cobbled and flagged floor. Intense excitement over the newly uncovered cobbled floor!
A group of volunteers and archaeologists proudly standing at the back of the NE gable end of the ruins of the Saltman’s House. Two members of the excavation team carefully removing a large sherd of pottery from the floor area of the Saltman’s House. Members of the excavation team drawing plans of part of the Saltman’s House that were uncovered during the excavation.
The team proudly admiring the freshly exposed cobbled floor. Cathy and Nick carefully removing part of a large pottery jug from the floor of the building. John, Anne - and Cathy’s head - recording the Saltman's House.
A group of visitors being given a tour of the excavation site. A group of visitors assembled around the Saltman’s House. The age range of the group was from 2 to over 90! The partial extent of the Saltman’s House that was revealed during the 2007 excavation.
A group of visitors being given a tour of Trench 2. Visitors assembled around the Saltman's House. The age range of the group was from 2 to over 90! The Saltman's House from the north at the end of the excavation.
The partially revealed SE wall with doorway, and NW wall of the Saltman’s House.
The floor area of the Saltman's House, following excavation. The doorway lies in the background. The doorway with its threshold of decoratively laid bricks. The robbed out floor, just inside the doorway; yellow clay can be seen sealing the deposits.

© The SCAPE Trust 2008 | Company Number SC216091 | Scottish Charity Number SC031678       Valid HTML 4.01 TransitionalValid CSS!