VIKING UNST PROJECT: FIELD SEASON 2008 - Nabo

close proximity of steatite outcrops in Unst, for example at Clibberswick would havefacilitated access to a more convenient local resource (Batey 2007).Steatite VesselsThere are 18 individual finds which have been identified as parts of steatite vessels. Threefinds (SF1101, SF1102 and SF1107 from context [1020]) are all from a single vessel whichis of a small square form with both interior and exterior smoothing. Examples of squarevessels of various sizes have been identified from Hamar House 2 in the 2007 assemblage(Batey 2007, 59) and a number of parallels were noted from Shetland site, such as Jarlshofand Kebister (Sharman 1999, 173). In the 2008 assemblage, SF1093 from context [1022] isalso from a squared vessel, forming the basal/wall junction. At least six sherds are fromheavy vessels, being thick and often with substantial internal and external tooling visible(eg SF1142 from context [404], SF1154 from context [387], SF1428 from context [449]and SF1129 from context [1003]). It is considered most likely that these are locallyproduced and seem to be generally of hemispherical vessel form. A single sherd mightindicate the presence of the tray-like form noted in 2007 from the site, SF1065 fromcontext [287] has a shallow curve, although there are traces of both internal and externalsooting. A limited number of sherds suggest the presence of smaller vessels, often withsmoothed surfaces, such as SF1089 from context [1021] and SF1135 from context [1036],but the vessel forms are not clear. A further two finds are classified as vessels, althoughwithout certainty (SF1108 and SF1109 from context [214]).WeightsThere were six possible weights in the Hamar assemblage. SF1091 from context [1035] issimilar to several of the examples from the Underhoull assemblage (e.g. SF1058).Alongside the weights perforation are two incomplete examples visible along one brokenedge. SF1156 from context [404] is a tear-shaped example similar to those seen in theassemblage from Jarlshof (Hamilton 1956, Figure 54 & 55). Two pieces of steatite vessel(SF1042, context [342] and SF1065, context [287]) have been reworked and perforated foruse as a weight. Two simple pebble weights, SF1104 from context [396] and SF1172 fromcontext [369], may have served either in a fishing context or for weighting a warp-weightedloom. The isolated nature of the finds does not really assist in resolving the identification.This object type is commonly noted from sites in the Northern Isles, and has been discussedby Clarke and Sharman in relation to Scalloway (1998, 147-149) and more widely by Batey(1987, 179).Line sinkerSF1427 (figure 3.1c) from context [453] is an intact, carefully worked grooved line sinker.It has close parallels from material excavated at Jarlshof in South Shetland (Hamilton 1956,plate XXXIV)Miscellaneous Worked and Unworked FragmentsThere are 13 finds which are scattered across 10 separate contexts which appear to showsigns of tooling. Context [1022] and context [246] have three and two finds respectively.All other contexts have single finds only. The tooling is simple and limited in all cases topossible flattening or smoothing and may be a simple result of extraction at the quarry.43