Neolithic House, Cata Sand, Sanday, 2018

3D Model

Excavations of an early Neolithic house at Cata Sand, Sanday

This 3d model shows the second 2018 season of excavation at Cata Sand, which were directed by Dr Vicki Cummings (University of Central Lancashire), Prof Colin Richards, Prof Jane Downes and Chris Gee (University of the Highlands and Islands).

The model shows the remains of an early Neolithic house. The northern wall of the house can be seen next to the standing dune. Within the stucture you can see various stone division and rectangular stone hearth settings.

There are also two large rectangular pits cut through the site which contain the remains of articulated whale bones. These are likely to date from the 19th century and may result from the practice of driving of pods of whales ashore for their valuable blubber.

The dune that once protected the site has been heavily eroded in recent decades and the seas inudates much of the site at high tide. This site exceptionally vunerable and may be lost to coastal erosion within a few years