Watching Brief
Date 3 October 2014
Event ID 1013687
Category Recording
Type Watching Brief
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1013687
NJ 14205 57604 A watching brief was carried out on 3 October 2014 (by Lachlan McKeggie), ahead of a proposed construction to the immediate SW of Pluscarden Abbey on land previously occupied by gardens and greenhouses. A deskbased assessment of this area had suggested that there could be the remains of walls or other features relating to earlier
phases of the abbey complex in this area.
The excavation of a 19 x 8m area between the present retaining wall and access track recorded only modern features; including railing slabs, ephemeral greenhouse footings, and electricity and gas services. Some artefacts were retrieved from the topsoil, including the lower half of a relatively small green-glazed jug handle and a fragment of carved stone with decorative fluting, both may date to the medieval period. Modern finds included fragments of garden pots, part of a glazed vase, nails, and 19–20th century coloured and handmade glass.
Archive: HAS. Report: Moray SMR
Funder: Pluscarden Abbey
Lynne McKeggie – Highland Archaeology Services
(Source: DES)