Uamh an Ard Achadh
Also known as High Pasture Cave
Excavation
UCLSS, 1972; GSG, 2002-2010.
Curation
National Museum of Scotland.
Burials
MNI: 7 (2 adults, 5 juveniles)
Finds
Beaker, Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery, stone artefacts, worked antler and bone, worked wood, copper alloy and iron artefacts.
Dates
| Period | Reliability |
|---|---|
| Iron Age | 14C date obtained directly on human remains |
14C
2503 bp (SUERC-66382) to 1857 bp (SERC-66370) on human bone*
(There are now 17 separate dates on human bone that are listed in Birch & McKenzie, 2503bp and 1857bp are the earliest and latest dates in the sequence)
External References
Bibliography
Birch, S. (2002) Uamh an Ard Achadh (High Pasture Cave): deposits of bone breccia and anthropological indicators from a limestone cave on the Island of Skye. GSG Bulletin 1 (3): 12-27.
Birch, S. (2013) Strath, High Pasture Cave and Environs Project, Post-excavation analysis, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 13: 116.
Birch, S.A., Mackenzie, J.T. & Cruickshanks, G. (2018) Footsteps in the Dark: Ritual, Memory and Identity at the High Pasture Cave Complex, Skye. Oxford, Oxbow.
Birch, S. & MacKenzie, J. (2025) High Pasture Cave. Ritual, Memory and Identity in the Iron Age of Skye. Oxford, Oxbow.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2004) ‘Uamh an ard Achadh (High Pasture Cave). Skye. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 5: 80.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2005) ‘Uamh an Ard Achaidh (High Pasture Cave). Skye. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 6: 88-89.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2006) ‘Uamh an Ard Achaidh (High Pasture Cave). Isle of Skye. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 7: 102.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2007) ‘Uamh an Ard Achaidh (High Pasture Cave). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 8: 124.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2008) ‘Uamh an Ard Achaidh (High Pasture Cave). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 9: 115.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2009) ‘Uamh an Ard Achaidh (High Pasture Cave). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 10: 114-115.
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2010a) ‘Uamh an Ard Achaidh (High Pasture Cave). Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 11: 103-4
Birch, S. & Wildgoose M. (2010b)The High Pasture Archaeological Project.
Dulias, K., Birch, S., Wilson, J.F. et al. (2019) Maternal relationships within an Iron Age burial at the High Pasture Cave, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Journal of Archaeological Science 110>: 104978.
Jeffreys, A. (2004) Uamh an Ard Achadh. Descent 179: 17.
Ryder, P.F. (1995) The Limestone Caves of Scotland, Part 5: Caves of Skye. GSG Occasional Publication No. 7. Edinburgh.
Article Author Graham Mullan