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Stony Hill
Farmstead (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Stony Hill
Classification Farmstead (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 156167
Site Number NJ25SE 7
NGR NJ 2540 5103
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/156167
- Council Moray
- Parish Rothes
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Moray
- Former County Morayshire
NJ25SE 7 2540 5103
NGR previously NJ 4005 5003, corrected to NJ 2540 5103
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 26 June 2006
A farmstead, comprising two unroofed buildings, one of which is a long building is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Elginshire 1874, sheet xviii), but it is not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1980).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 19 May 1999.
Field Visit (9 October 2020 - 5 November 2020)
NJ 24859 51300 (centred) A desk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out in advance of a woodland planting and regeneration scheme at the Moss of Rothes. The walkover survey recorded 14 archaeological sites comprising 1 prehistoric kerbed cairn, 3 prehistoric hut circles, and 136 prehistoric clearance cairns forming 3 field systems; a post-medieval farmstead, enclosure, field dyke and field system including at least 14 clearance cairns; and 3 sites relating to the use of the landscape by the Rothes Estate including 15 grouse butts and an estate wall. (See Canmore ID: 16444; 16445; 156171; 70990 for some of these).
While some of these sites had previously been recorded on the Moray Historic Environment Record, they had not previously been recorded in any detail and the survey carried out in respect of this project provides a comprehensive overview of the archaeological features focused on a prominent ridge of ground running SE from the Moss of Stonyhill. In particular, a significant number of clearance cairns and mounds were recorded within the prehistoric and historic field systems, along with a second hut circle.
A possible third hut circle and associated field system comprising clearance cairns and mounds were recorded in the SW sector of the survey area, within the area defined for planting.
Although a significant number of archaeological features were recorded during the survey, especially on the ridge running SE from the Moss of Stonyhill, extensive stands of heather created some difficulties in identification. This was further compounded while recording the prehistoric features due to their partial burial below the peat and sediment cover.
Archive: Highland Council HER and NRHE (intended)
Funder: Cawdor Forestry Ltd
Steven Birch – West Coast Archaeological Services
(Source: DES Volume 21)
