An archaeological field evaluation was undertaken by ORCA Archaeology on behalf of Orkney Builders (Contractors) on a site of Greens, Toab, Deerness, Orkney prior to the construction of two domestic properties. In 1923 a Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (CANMORE ID 3064) was recovered close to the buildings on the Site. This flagstone bears incised decoration comprising a circular disc and rectangle with square indentation, crescent and V-rod with a mirror below. Following consultation with the Local Authority Archaeologist and in line with best practice, the field evaluation consisted of a programme of trial trenching with attendant building recording. The results of the fieldwork show that much of the Site had been disturbed during the Modern Period with a number of buildings being modified or demolished, with the rubble material used for levelling, and many of the deposits were heavily disturbed and mixed with material dumped on the Site, and redistributed across the Site. Much of this material was seen to directly overlay the glacial till. Small, machine-excavated pits containing standing water were littered across the Site emphasising the disturbed nature of the ground. No features or material of archaeological significance were identified during the programme of archaeological works, and no reused material relating to earlier occupation of the Site, or the Pictish Symbol Stone, was identified within the fabric of the existing buildings on the Site.
Sean Bell (Wed,) studied this question.