Farming and feasting in Iron Age Orkney

: a comparison of livestock farming practices and dietary traditions at The Cairns, Mine Howe, Pool, and Howe, based on mortality profiles analyses of cattle, sheep/goat, and pig mandibles.

Abstract

The principal aim of this thesis is to address livestock farming and husbandry practices of
cattle, sheep, goats and pigs at four sites during the Orcadian Iron Age: The Cairns, Mine
Howe, Pool and Howe. The core methodology utilised in this research applies the methods
developed by Payne (1973) and Grant (1982) to record tooth eruption and wear in cattle,
sheep, and pigs to generate mortality profiles for each species at each site. Those mortality
profiles are then utilised for inter and intra-site comparison of domesticated species from
each case study site. Original data for cattle, sheep and pigs were recorded at The Cairns,
along with pigs from Pool and Howe. In the frame of this study, tooth eruption and wear
previously recorded at Mine Howe, Pool, and Howe were reinterpreted. In addition, in order
to facilitate the intra-site comparison, a new phasing has been utilised for Mine Howe cattle,
sheep and pigs. Arable farming and environmental conditions during the Iron Age in Orkney
are also considered in the discussion. However, some biases limit the interpretation, such
as sample size and the limitation of using the mortality profile to determine female-to-male
ratios.
This research discusses the intensity of dairying in the Iron Age as well as other secondary
products from livestock species such as meat, wool and traction. Along with the use of
domesticated species’ primary and secondary products, this research also indicates the
sheep milking. This project has also highlighted the presence of feasting at The Cairns and
Mine Howe. Furthermore, this research also suggests that The Cairns and Mine Howe would
correspond to a community of ‘consumers’, while Pool and Howe would be associated with
‘producers’.

Date of Award	31 Mar 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of the Highlands and Islands
Supervisor	Ingrid Mainland (Supervisor) & Martin Carruthers (Supervisor)