Reconstructing Deposits and Recontextualising Artefacts at Creag a' Chapuill Cave, Skye

This dataset contains a 3D model of Creag a' Chapuill cave, Skye, Scotland. The 1932 excavation at Creag a' Chapuill cave by W. Lindsay Scott revealed significant archaeological evidence with the potential to inform archaeologists about settlement and trading contacts along the western seaboard of Scotland. 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, Graphical Information Systems (GIS) and legacy data was used to virtually reconstruct excavated deposits and recontextualise artefacts. Volumetric analysis revealed a high density of worked-stone (225 artefacts per m3) in Region 4C and a high slag density in Regions 4B (17.2 kg/m3), 4C (5.6 kg/m3) and 2B (1.4 kg per m3). Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) was used to detect potential patterns of artefact distribution in order to investigate the degree and extent of disturbance at the time of excavation, chronological phases, and activity areas. Join count statistic indicated global spatial autocorrelation within the worked-stone (z-score = -2.144) and Bronze Age pottery (z-score = -2.109) data and Local Moran’s I statistic indicated local spatial autocorrelation within the worked-stone and slag data. The data can be used to confirm patterns recognised by the original excavator, as well as revealing new patterns which highlight the complex depositional and post-depositional formation of the cave deposits. This allows easier comparisons to be made with more recently excavated sites therefore increasing our understanding of the local prehistoric landscape and contributing to our knowledge of prehistoric cave use within Scotland.