![Potsherd, rim and body](https://vernonbrowser.historicenvironment.scot/records/images/xlarge/6647/f4c401982a3cd2fa35c3c8aab51b240b1f5fea23.jpg)
Potsherd, rim and body
This fragment of ceramic pot was found near the Castle of Old Wick. The way it has been made suggests it is from the medieval period and may have been part of a small jar. It is what archaeologists call a ‘stray find’, meaning that it was found by chance. This can happen when objects buried in the ground are disturbed by things such as construction works, farm ploughing, and animal activity.
Castle of Old Wick
The history of Castle of Old Wick remains obscure and enigmatic. It was traditionally thought to have been built by Earl Harald Maddadson in the 1100s, but the surviving structure seems to date to the 14th century or later.
Documentary evidence shows that it was associated with the powerful Sutherland and Oliphant families, and was besieged during the Sutherland-Sinclair feud of the 16th century.
The Old Man of Wick
The four-storey tower dominates the castle complex. The seaward side collapsed long ago, and the castle is in an advanced state of ruin, but some features still survive:
- narrow window slits
- ledges for supporting timber upper floors
- a fireplace on the second floor
Remains of other structures lie behind the tower, though these have not been archaeologically excavated.
Details
- Dimensions
- l 68mm (l 2 11/16")
- Material
- Ceramic/BM Processed
- Time Period
- Medieval
- Property Information
- Castle of Old Wick
- Object Number
- E159
- Access Status
- Storage