Sand, Applecross

Sand is a small archaeological site on the Applecross Peninsula in Wester Ross, Scotland. It lies on the Inner Sound coast, just north of the village of Applecross. The area was chosen for detailed excavation because of known Mesolithic traces. The Scotland’s First Settlers project surveyed 104 new sites nearby, mostly caves and rock shelters. Test pits confirmed Mesolithic activity at Sand and other locations. The rock shelter at Sand faces west towards Skye and Raasay across the Inner Sound. Around 7,500 BCE its first users shaped antler and stone into tools. They gathered stone from Rùm, 30 kilometres south, and Staffin on Skye, 10 kilometres west. A large midden of limpet shells built up over time. Fragments of stone pot-boilers and bevel-ended bone tools show how shellfish were cooked. Bones of red deer, birds and an antler harpoon indicate a varied diet. Fine shell beads and ochre pigment suggest interest in decoration. A particular dog whelk may have been used for purple dye. Nearby, a British naval base monitors underwater activity. Submarines are often seen in the waters between Applecross and Raasay. The site offers a quiet place to imagine early coastal life.