Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Castle Law Hillfort, Abernethy, Perth and Kinross: Archaeological Evaluation Data Structure Report
Date 22 June 2017 - 12 July 2017
Event ID 1089052
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1089052
NO 1829 1533 A community excavation was undertaken, 22 June – 12 July 2017, at the hillfort as part of the Tay Landscape Partnership, led by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust with local volunteers, and supported by AOC. The work aimed to increase understanding of the date and chronology of the hillfort structures, notably two ramparts. It was also hoped to assess any impact or damage to the monument after an earlier antiquarian excavation, which left wall faces exposed for over a hundred years, and to establish a monument care plan.
The inner and outer ramparts were monumental, stone built structures, with both walls showing some evidence for timber slots, utilised in the timber lacing. The timber slots were best exposed in the outer face of the outer rampart, which was protected by collapse and soil deposits.
The internal area of the hillfort underlay a mound of upcast and spoil from the original excavations to expose the inner face of the inner rampart. Removal of this material exposed a charcoal-rich original ground surface, with a curvilinear arrangement of stone, which has been interpreted as a paving feature. A quern stone was reused within this structure, and sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from, and above, this context. In addition, a small fragment of a crucible was discovered from this internal area, with residues indicative of copper alloy working, possibly bronze.
Evidence for manipulation of bedrock can be seen in the area between the ramparts, perhaps to create a steeper gradient or for use. A large pounder was found in this area, which may be indicative of the technology used for such activity.z
Archive: NRHE (intended)
Funder: Tay Landscape Project
Jamie Humble and Martin Cook – AOC Archaeology Group
(Source: DES, Volume 19)
Information from OASIS Id: aocarcha1-333444 (J. Humble) March 2018
