 During the 1960's & 70's Northton became the subject of archaeological excavations by Professor Derek Simpson. The source of the interest was ancient Neolithic and Beaker settlements on the machair. Carbon dating estimates the earliest at 2461 +/- 79 bc. The image to the left (click for enlargement) shows the plan of one of the Beaker Houses, more details on next page.
For more info on the radiocarbon dates for Northton& other details click here....
The machair coasts of the Western Isles contain a wealth of settlement remains of various periods. The site at Northton / Toe Head peninsula contains evidence Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age occupatation, with a rich artefactual assemblage. Two successive occupation phases relating to the Neolithic period lay at the base of the sand deposits separated by windblown sand from the above layers. The earlier occupation lay directly on the boulder clay why underlies the machair (implying that the machair had not yet formed). As the sea level was lower during the Neolithic period it is possible that the machair lay further out and has long since been submerged. It is also possible that Harris was then linked to the surrounding small islands and North Uist. Artefacts from Neolithic I were scarce (scraps of plain pottery and bone fragments) but Neolithic II contained Hebridean and Unstan ware and some pieces of plain bowls. Although only a small section of drystone wall remains there is evidence that some of the stone was brought from elsewhere. During the Neolithic period most settlements were coastal and the abundance of resources in the Hebrides made it a most ideal place to settle. The sea provided plentifully, there were wild deer, areas to graze (bone fragments show that the inhabitants kept equal numbers of sheep & cattle) and the area at that time was forrested (see article on radiocarbon dating above).
| 
