26 - Carrick, Mid Ross: A Viking Cemetery on Loch Lomond

Summary

Excavations were undertaken by GUARD (Glasgow University) between 2003 and 2005 in advance of a leisure development on the western shore of Loch Lomond in the Central Lowlands of Scotland (MacGregor et al. forthcoming) (Figure 26.1). As part of the multiperiod occupation of the loch-side, a substantial penannular ring-ditch (inner diameter a maximum 45m by 4m) with primary infilling dated to the 8th to 9th centuries was identified enclosing several burials (Batey forthcoming). Among these there are potentially fourteen Viking-Age burials, six with grave goods and eight related by orientation, the presence of single nails or radiocarbon dates. These are spread across the whole interior but are defined within an inner perimeter of postholes to the north-west, and to the south roughly clustered along the south wall of a post and trench-built structure, oriented east–west, and here identified as a 10th-century chapel. Beyond the ring-ditch, an antiquarian find of Viking weapons is noted from 1851 with an additional shield boss of Viking type recovered from the upper layers of the ring-ditch fill, assumed to have been redeposited by later agricultural activity.

An early discovery: Boiden

In 1851, a mound located at Boiden on the west side of Loch Lomond was disturbed and found to include a bent sword with lower and upper guard (but lacking the pommel), a dented domical shield boss and a spearhead. No mention was made of a skeleton. The finds are now lost and are only known from three 19th-century illustrations (Ms 498 Society of Antiquaries of Scotland) drawn by Hope J. Stewart (Anderson 1874: 569). Identified as a cenotaph, due to the lack of human remains (Graham-Campbell and Batey 1998: 99, 144), it is clear from recent work that local ground conditions do not permit bone survival.

The original report by Stewart notes the finds were recovered from the ‘top of a mound where a large cairn had formerly stood … all lying together within a space of 1½ or 2 feet square’ (Stewart 1854: 144).

The sword suggests a 9th-century type, originally with a pommel of triangular form (such as Kilmainham WK42, Harrison and O’Floinn 2014: 398; Petersen type H) or 3/5 lobate form (ibid. W78, 393; Petersen type K).