Excavation

Date 18 February 2019 - 20 February 2019

Event ID 1108833

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1108833

NT 6030 8483 Nine small trenches were excavated, 18-20 February 2019, on an isolated sea stack targeting a site first identified by antiquarian investigation in 1870 when a sub-rectangular building with extensive animal bone deposits was located (Canmore ID: 57866). Finds included a decorated bone comb and an almost completed Roman amphora. The sea stack is 65m from the coast, but it is possible the site was either a promontory fort or a coastal settlement that has seen significant coastal erosion separate the stack from the mainland. There are no obvious archaeological features on the summit surface area which measures 45m E-W by 18m N-S.

Trench 1, located at the northern edge of the stack found evidence for a possible enclosing wall, though the upper parts of the trench were disturbed and included partially preserved modern timbers. Within the wall a sandstone bead was found and beneath the wall, shell, bone and charcoal deposits were located. Trench 2 was located towards the southern edge and identified extensive midden deposits. The midden included frequent charcoal, animal bone and shell deposits. Trench 3 was located on the SW side of the stack and was excavated with the goal of identifying the wall of the large structure revealed in Laidlay’s excavations. Nothing apart from backfill from the previous excavation was found. A groove in the bedrock was discovered in a 1 x 1m sondage under 0.1m of silt, which may have acted as a drain for the buildings that formerly stood on the stack. Other trenches identified possible stretches of walling of uncertain function, but Trench 9 identified a more substantial dry-stone wall, some 0.64m wide and 0.54m high, running E-W within the trench. The wall sat directly on the bedrock and was made of both angular and water-worn stones. Some animal bone from the core of the wall was retained for dating.

Overall, despite antiquarian excavation, The Gegan presented some well preserved in-situ archaeological features indicating habitation in the form of occupation surfaces, midden deposits, and possible stone walled structures. The surviving archaeology will allow for more precise dating of the features and provide a more rigid framework for the previously uncovered artefacts.

Archive: University of Aberdeen

Funder: University of Aberdeen

Gordon Noble, James O’Driscoll and Zachary Hinkley - University of Aberdeen

(Source: DES Vol 20)