VIKING UNST PROJECT: FIELD SEASON 2008 - Nabo

excavation season and a summary of the samples collected for analysis is provided in tables4.1 and 4.2.Sample number Context Description874 025/026 Pollen sequence through the purple/black peat layerswithin the southern extension of the site896 172/174/166 Sample through possible in situ orange-red ash fromthe putative hearth [166] in the southern annexe, andcontaining a concentration of barley grains907 181 Dark peaty material to the north of the fieldboundary, possibly relating to colluvium/an oldground surface abutting wall [182]909 183/186 Material associated with the field boundary, possiblyrelating to an old ground surface/amended soil,external to wall [182]Table 4.1: Summary of the samples collected from the excavation of the Upper House,Underhoull for assessment using soil micromorphologyThe collection of Kubiena samples from the Upper House at Underhoull sampled a range ofdeposits, including internal ashy layers and deposits associated with the field boundary tothe south of the main structure. All of the samples were collected by Dr M. Church. Thearea sampled during the 2007 season within the southernmost area of the site (McKenzie2007; 80), was reopened to allow further samples to be collected for dating andenvironmental analysis. A block sample SF874 was collected from contexts [025/026] toinvestigate the pollen sequence through the peat, and can be directly related to the samplesthat were collected in the previous season.A small trench was placed to the south of the site in order to investigate the chronologicalrelationship between the external deposits contemporary to the paving and the potentialprehistoric field boundary (Area F). Two Kubiena samples were collected (SF907 &SF909) from the base of the section in this trench. SF907 was taken from the basal layers of[141] that abutted against the possible prehistoric boundary on the side of the Norsestructure. The sample was taken to assess the formation processes of this deposit and toestablish if the deposit related to an amended old ground surface or a colluvial soilaccumulating against the boundary. SF909 was taken on the other side of the boundary,through the interface of the lowest layers of [183] and the more peaty [186]. Again, thesample was taken to assess the formation processes of the soils and to assess anyamendment strategies in place for the different soils.The final Kubiena sample (SF896) collected from Underhoull, related to the deposits withinthe southern annexe. An orange-red spread of ash and a putative hearth were recordedwithin this area. The ash appeared to contain in situ ears of barley, but it was not clear ifthis material could be classified as a surface or a dump of ash. Sample SF896 wascollected, which sampled contexts [172], [174] and [166] and related to the material sealingthe hearth/ash deposits, context [166]. The ash layers directly sealed an area of flagging,58