Ness Farm

NJ 9559 0355 (centred on) The closure of the landfill site at Ness Farm and Tullos Hill required a programme of

groundwork operations across several phases to ensure a safe closure. Phase I was undertaken between May and October 2009 and as the area is rich in archaeological features an archaeological monitoring scheme was operated on groundworks in areas beyond the boundaries of the known landfill excavations.

The monitoring encountered a total of 57 features, two of probable modern origin, three of probable landfill origin (1960s or 70s), 36 of which dated to the mid 20th century, 15 of post-medieval origin, and one unknown and probably natural feature. The 36 mid-20th-century features largely related to the known site of a WW2 Ack Ack Battery, later converted into a POW camp. This is known from personal accounts, OS mapping and aerial photography, as well as excavations on the adjacent site (Peterseat, DES 2001, 7). The closure works provided a rare opportunity to record this area, with known features surviving, and some previously unrecorded hut

bases. In addition, many of the drainage and service features survived sub-surface. Where excavations were deep, up to 3m below the present ground surface, features relating to the Battery and Camp still survived, showing that the site was on a slope, and that despite more recent landfill operations, a strategic destruction and removal of the camp never occurred on this part of the site. Small features such as intact bolts and

internal drain features were revealed.

The post-medieval features largely related to both known and newly discovered remains, and varied from known dry stone dykes to sub-surface field drains and plough marks, showing agricultural use and improvement of this outlying area. A small number of flint finds was also recovered during the operations, and may relate to known prehistoric use of the area, already signified by the number of cairns on the hill; these have remained unaltered by the closure works and have been fenced.

Archive: Aberdeen City Council

Funder: Aberdeen City Council

Cat Peters – Aberdeen City Council Archaeological Unit

Between March and September 2010, representatives of Aberdeen City Council Museums and Galleries Service undertook a programme of archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with Phase II of developments relating to the closure of the landfill site at Ness Farm and Tullos Hill, Coast Road, Nigg, Aberdeen (NGR NJ 9559 0355). The area is rich in archaeological remains. The earliest, of prehistoric origin, are among the most important prehistoric archaeological features in Aberdeen, with other periods represented by features relating to post medieval agricultural improvements, and Second World War structural remains (Cameron 2008). Numerous features relating to these periods of land use were encountered during Phase I of the landfill closure operations (Peters 2009). The archaeologically sensitive nature of the site, combined with the need to close the landfill sites sensitively and safely, necessitated the archaeological monitoring of Phase II of the development works. All archaeological monitoring was undertaken in accordance with the relevant archaeological strategy appendix, outlined as a condition of planning consent, and approved by the Keeper of Archaeology at Aberdeen City Council, and in accordance with best practice and professional standards condoned by the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA 2002). The watching brief monitored the clearance and scraping of land for an attenuation pond and new pedestrian access track, clearances for the widening of existing track ways and the excavation of channels for drainage, recording any features uncovered during the groundworks. The watching brief monitoring encountered a total of six features, five relating to post-medieval agricultural land-use of the area. Two were dry stone walls, two drainage ditches, and the other was a stone gully. The other feature relates to modern use of the area and was a concrete post and wire fence.

Information from Oasis (aberdeen3-113468) 11 November 2011

NJ 9559 0355 (centred on) The closure of the landfill site at Ness Farm and Tullos Hill required a programme of groundwork operations to ensure a safe closure. A watching brief was undertaken March–September 2010, during groundworks occurring in areas beyond the boundaries of the known landfill excavations.

A walkover survey of the area to be most affected by the development revealed a total of six features. A concrete post and associated wire fence probably marked a 20th-century boundary. The other five features of probable 19th-century date consisted of two drainage ditches, a stone culvert drainage gully and two dry stone dykes, and reflected post-medieval agricultural land use. The concrete post, wire fence and the dry stone dykes were removed. No further archaeological features were encountered during the related excavations.

Archive: Aberdeen City Council

Funder: Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeen City Council Art Gallery and Museums Service 2010

NJ 9559 0355 (centred on) The closure of the landfill sites at Ness Farm and Tullos Hill required a programme of groundwork operations to ensure a safe closure. A watching brief was undertaken March–December 2011 during groundworks occurring in areas beyond the boundaries of the known landfill excavations. No archaeological features were recorded during the installation of a monitoring well pit, and the excavation of a cable trench, seven test pits and a surface water trench.

Archive: Aberdeen City Council

Funder: Aberdeen City Council

Cat Peters, Aberdeen City Council Art Gallery and Museums Service

2012