Excavation
Date 5 August 2019 - 17 August 2019
Event ID 1104133
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1104133
NJ 4845 2930 Three trenches were excavated on or in the interior of the Tap O’Noth fort lower enclosure, near Rhynie (Canmore ID: 17169), on 5-17 August 2019. This was part of a larger programme of work looking at fortified sites in the region of the recent Craw Stane excavations to put the site in wider context (DES 2018, 20). The trenches in 2019 were located to investigate two of the platforms identified on the hill (Trench 5-6) and a section across the lower fort bank (Trench 7). The aim was to understand the nature, chronology and use of the lower fort and some of the platforms identified within.
Trench 5 - Excavation of a 3 x 4m trench was focussed on a small platform just below the summit enclosure. Excavation in this area was limited but identified a spread of tumble from the upper summit vitrified fort overlying an occupation or activity layer on a built platform. This layer was charcoal rich and contained animal bone, teeth and a piece of wheel-thrown pottery.
Trench 6 - Excavation of a 7 x 5m trench across another platform mid-way down the hill revealed another built platform that had been created by cutting back the hillslope and depositing material downslope to create a flat terrace. On the outer edge of the platform an arc of possible postholes was identified, presumably forming the framework of a roundhouse. Within this a multi-phase hearth was identified within an occupation or floor deposit. The lower hearth was larger and contained burnt animal bone, the upper hearth was a smaller rebuild and contained evidence of metal working including crucible fragments, fragments of clay moulds and several sherds of pottery.
Trench 7 - An 8 x 6m trench was excavated across the terminal of the lower stone bank by one of the entrances noted on the survey and LiDAR data. This revealed a roughly built stone bank comprising large angular boulders laid onto natural. Around the edge of the bank a collapsed kerb of upright stones was identified and the absence of stone bank beyond this confirmed that the gap was a real entrance. Beneath the slumped bank material a narrow slot was identified cut into the natural subsoil with several upright stones placed within it and along the edges. This formed the remnants of a timber palisade which would have defined the front of the bank or formed a previous free-standing palisade line. Inside the bank a flat terrace was visible at the top of the trench, upon which a charcoal rich occupation deposit and possible stone structure was identified.
A programme of post-excavation analysis, including radiocarbon dating will help define the chronology and possible phasing of the site.
Archive: University of Aberdeen
Funder: University of Aberdeen
Gordon Noble, Cathy MacIver, James O’Driscoll and Edouard Masson-Maclean – University of Aberdeen
(Source: DES Vol 20)
