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Note
Date 9 April 2015 - 25 October 2016
Event ID 1044334
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Note
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1044334
Traditionally the site of a castle or vitrified fort, excavation on the promontory known as Green Castle on the seaward side of Portnockie revealed a complex history of occupation. Only short lengths of the defences were visible on the surface, but the excavation revealed a burnt timber-framed wall of early medieval date, with longitudinal beams exposed in its wall face, extending along the SE margin of the summit from the SW end overlooking the neck to enclose an area measuring a maximum of 120m from NE to SW by 30m transversely (0.28ha). This includes an area where the ground slopes down to the edge of the cliffs at the seaward end, the relatively level upper part of the summit measuring about 70m in length by 15m in breadth (0.09ha). This wall also overlay an earlier palisade trench. The entrance has not been located but is presumably towards the SW end of the SE flank. Stratified sequences of structures and floors were also excavated, the latest of which were post-medieval fish-drying platforms and a late medieval building, but at least one sub-rectangular building is probably contemporary with the defences and other floors predate them and seal earlier deposits. Some of these latter probably date from the Iron Age, but Late Bronze Age pits were also present. An extensive assemblage of artefacts was recovered, including pottery, mould fragments, jet bracelet and ring fragments, and a glass ring, and the remains of bowl furnaces were also found.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 25 October 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC2945
