Catpund steatite quarry, just south of Cunningsburgh at HU 42382 26981, is the largest soapstone quarry in Britain and one of the largest in the world. The surrounding area contains evidence of use from the Neolithic, although this earlier quarrying was likely to have been destroyed by later quarrying. HES (1987 SM2541) describes how the ‘main period of exploitation appears to have been the Norse period, and Catpund was the main source of steatite west of the North Sea’. There was clearly large-scale activity here.

 

Steatite, also known as Soapstone or Kleber, was especially important during Viking and Norse times. It has interesting thermal properties; it expands little on heating so can be used for tempering clay. It is soft when freshly exposed and easily carved and worked. When fired at high temperatures it becomes enstatite, a much harder material which can then be used for cooking.

 

Norse settlers to Shetland produced a range of steatite items. Some of these have been found in other Norse settlements throughout Britain and Ireland, suggesting there was a thriving trade. There was even a 1.2m steatite hogback tombstone found on St Ninian’s Isle. It is probable that this was transported in a finished state across land. The manufacturing process took place in situ at Catpund because the imperfections in the steatite meant that the chance of breakage was high. The steatite here breaks along natural cleavage lines and so the distinctive rectangular and square shaped vessels, that are unique to the late Norse period in Shetland, were easier to produce than rounded bowls.

 

The site at Catpund is accessed from the main road by a track that runs west along the side of the burn. It is impressive, and very visually and viscerally enables the visitor to imagine the life and industry that was taking place here in the Viking and Norse period. The steatite workings are immediately obvious as they extend all the way up the burn and along the parallel tributaries onto the hillside. It is fascinating to walk through the site and look at the tool marks and discern the shapes of the bowls and stones hewn out a thousand years ago. Many workings have been left in situ including broken bowls, or pieces that shattered while being made. The chiselled hollows, depressions and protruding boss marks are very conspicuous and densely situated on all the areas of bedrock. The worked stone has the smooth, soapy quality that is characteristic of this rock.

 

In 2003 the area was affected by landslides. This resulted in a change in the topography, with some archaeology being covered and some new areas becoming exposed as the burn adjusted its course downhill. Despite this, there is so much to see as you explore and enjoy this unique site.