Excavation

Date 28 May 2003 - 2 July 2003

Event ID 1034318

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1034318

NS 734 537 The third and final season of excavation in June and July 2003 concentrated on the Inner Ward and outer defensive ditches of this 16th-century castle. Excavation in the ditches showed that an earlier layout of ditches to the S and W of the stone castle was changed during the later 16th century. The new arrangement comprised an enlarged and extended S ditch extending well beyond the limits of the castle, and the recycling of the earlier W ditch as a drain for the new S cutting. Although much damaged by later plantation, it seems likely that the later ditch arrangement was revetted in stone on its inside face and was complemented by a low earthwork bank, also crudely faced in stone.

A large area was cleared of rubble in the NE corner of the Inner Ward revealing a two-phased building programme. The earlier arrangement appears to have comprised a roughly L-shaped plan for the principal structures within the outer defensive E wall presently defining the Inner Ward. To the W of the excavated area was the larger element - a building on three floors with a hall at the top. This was complemented by a narrow range also with three levels (ground, first, second), presently described as a gallery. The earliest layout so far discovered suggests that the area to the N of the gallery and E of the hall block was an open courtyard, and there was a further narrow range extending up to the curtain wall running alongside and parallel with the E curtain wall.

The later building work saw the infill of this earlier courtyard by the construction of at least five separate chambers on two floors. This later work was characterised by rather crude masonry and saw the introduction of a (possible) kitchen at ground level in the new layout. The latter was suggested by a large oven or hearth. The results of the work overall clearly show how the early 16th-century castle was adapted during the later 16th century to perhaps accommodate more people within a more substantial artillery work protecting its southern side.

A coin found in demolition debris associated with the destruction of the NE block post-dates 1575. This is in contrast with two other coins, one of which is probably a jetton (as yet undated) and the other a penny, which although not formally identified, appears likely to be of 15th-century date. The latter pair were found near the displaced flagged floor, thought to underlie the inserted vault, in association with some pins and other fastenings - possibly the remains of a now-rotted garment. Until specialists have formally dated the coins from the 2003 season, speculation on their importance for dating the building and collapse of the NE block must remain provisional. However, the later coin does imply the destruction of the range towards the end of the 16th century, very much in line with assumptions of damage in the attacks of 1579. Several elegantly carved and some inscribed masonry fragments were also found.

G Ewart 2003

Sponsor: Historic Scotland

Kirkdale Archaeology