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Regional Highland Archaeological Research Framework 8. Early Medieval 8.6 Religion and Ritual 8.6.6 Holy Wells

In This Section:

Regional

  • Highland Archaeological Research Framework
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Sources
    • 3. Land and Environment
    • 4. Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
    • 5. Neolithic
    • 6. Chalcolithic and Bronze Age
    • 7. Iron Age
    • 8. Early Medieval
      • 8.1 Introduction
      • 8.2 Environmental Evidence
      • 8.3 Settlement
      • 8.4 Daily Life
      • 8.5 Craft and Industry
      • 8.6 Religion and Ritual
        • 8.6.1 Burial Evidence
        • 8.6.2 Pagan Viking Burials
        • 8.6.3 The Coming of Christianity
        • 8.6.4 Pictish Stone Carvings
        • 8.6.5 Norse Runic Inscribed Stones
        • 8.6.6 Holy Wells
      • 8.7 Transport and Movement
      • 8.8 Conflict
      • 8.9 Research Questions
      • 8.10 Research Recommendations
    • 9. Medieval
    • 10. Post-Medieval
    • Highland Archaeological Research Framework: Case Studies
    • Bibliography
  • Regional Archaeological Research Framework for Argyll
  • South East Scotland Archaeological Research Framework
  • Scotland's Islands Research Framework for Archaeology
  • Perth and Kinross Archaeological Research Framework
  • Clyde Valley Archaeological Research Framework

8.6.6 Holy Wells

Holy wells have a long tradition in the Highlands, with speculation that they may date back into pre-Christian times (Map 3.2; Morris and Morris 1982). As with the Iron Age, there appears to have been a focus on underground, watery areas, with High Pasture Cave in Skye as the main example (Case study High Pasture Cave). However, there has been little detailed dating of holy wells, and further investigation of their early origins would be useful.

 

Case Study: High Pasture Cave

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