Hirta the largest island in the remote Scottish archipelago of St Kilda was inhabited 2,000 years ago, evidence from pottery sherds has revealed.
Experts from Guard Archaeology conducted excavations on Hirta from 2017–2019, ahead of the refurbishment of the Ministry of Defence tracking station in Village Bay.
Radiocarbon dating of food remains found on the pottery fragments indicated there has once been intensive inhabitation at Village Bay between the 4th–1st Century BC.
The team also uncovered a pottery fragment which they suspect could possibly date back to the Bronze Age teasing the potential for even earlier occupation on Hirta.
Hirta the largest island in the remote Scottish archipelago of St Kilda was inhabited 2,000 years ago, evidence from pottery shards has revealed. Pictured, excavations in Village Bay