Challenging Classifications? Interpreting a “Difficult” Enclosure at Inchnadamph in Northwestern Scotland

ABSTRACT

This paper explores some challenges of archaeological interpretation and classification through an enclosure at Inchnadamph in Sutherland, northwestern Scotland, a site that has proven difficult to interpret. Despite a small number of archaeological interventions, including topographic and geophysical survey and excavation, the site remains enigmatic. We discuss the different interpretations suggested for the site in turn, concluding that the enclosure does not fit readily into existing classification schemes. This raises issues surrounding the use of classification systems, prior assumptions, and the need for critical thinking in interpretation. These are universal issues, applicable beyond the Scottish example chosen, and this paper highlights concerns and difficulties encountered by all who deal with the classification of sites and monuments. Ultimately, this challenges some of our preconceptions and sheds light on the limits of our knowledge, as well as the limits of our classification systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Classification
• interpretation
• archaeological record
• enclosure
• prehistoric
• Medieval
• post-Medieval
• Scotland

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Graeme Cavers, Rebecca Jones, Anne MacSween, Dara Parsons, and Allan Rutherford for their comments on various drafts of this paper. Thank you to Nick Hannon for his help with the interpretation of the geophysical survey results and to Georgina Brown for preparing Figure 1. We would like to thank Highland Council for giving permission to reproduce the resistivity results and AOC Archaeology for giving us permission to publish the radiocarbon dates. Thank you to Historic Environment Scotland for providing funding to make this paper open access.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Notes

1 This paper uses Scotland as its geographical focus, and throughout sites will be referenced by their Canmore ID, their unique reference number within the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) of Scotland. This can be accessed at https://canmore.org.uk/.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rory McDonald

Rory McDonald (M.A. [Hons] 1992, University of Edinburgh) is an independent researcher and archaeologist employed in the public sector. He is a heritage professional of 30 years’ experience in heritage protection, database management, and heritage interpretation. His research interests include Scottish Medieval archaeology, aerial archaeology, and how nature and archaeology interface. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4344-6614.

Kirsty Millican

Kirsty Millican (Ph.D. 2009, University of Glasgow) is an independent researcher and archaeologist working in the public sector. Her research interests focus on Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Scotland, aerial and landscape archaeology, archaeological interpretation, and the relationship between humans and the environment in prehistory. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5260-2204.