Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/56

 broch, while the name Berg-grave points to the same conclusion; besides, this quarry gives easy access to the Holm—transport downhill. The sound separating the Holm from the shore is here at its narrowest, and shipment could be easily effected at a natural landing place called the Noost o’ Kurkaby. Now, in the neighbourhood of the quarry of Berg-grave I observed what appeared to be heaps or mounds of débris or refuse of the ancient working; but on removing the green turf by which it was overgrown, I was surprised to find nothing but fragments of soap-stone—the same as is found at Scraers. We are left to conjecture the purpose to be served by the clamal from the Gill o’ Scraers found at Berg-grave. Perhaps this knowledge might lead to the recovery of a lost art. It should be mentioned that there is a tradition in Unst to the effect that the Picts used clamal, or soap-stone, for blasting purposes. Thus it will be observed that the traditions Rh