Excavation

Date 1998

Event ID 1109272

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1109272

NO 5885 6919 An archaeological excavation was undertaken on a scheduled cropmark enclosure site (NMRS NO56NE 26) in September 1998. The objectives were to examine the effects of agricultural attrition, rabbit erosion, tree root action and quarry erosion of the site. The aerial photographic evidence showed the enclosure to comprise three ditches encircling the northern part of the small hill. There were no indications of features within the enclosure, nor that the cropmark continued into the wooded area. Excavation confirmed the presence of the features noted as cropmarks to the S within a wooded area and uncovered a number of features inside the enclosure. The three ditches were shown not to run concentrically, nor did they symmetrically encircle the hilltop. The inner ditch displayed an entrance on the E side with several related structural components. The middle was the largest of the three ditches and significant deposits of burnt material were found in all sections of this ditch. It seems likely that the three ditches were not contemporaneous. Internal features included clay and stone-lined pits, a palisade slot, pits and post-holes. The ground level on the arable side of the hill was approximately 1m lower than its equivalent on the woodland side, probably as a result of horizontal truncation from ploughing. It was thought that the greater accumulations of hilltop deposits within the wooded area would provide a better preservation environment for underlying features. However, initial comparative analysis of the erosion patterns resulting from the different land-uses on the hilltop suggests that better preservation occurs on the farmed side of the hill. This is probably a result of tree root penetration and rabbit burrowing.

A detailed report will be lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, University of Edinburgh.

J Hamilton 1998