Excavation

Date 6 September 2018 - 20 September 2018

Event ID 1120416

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1120416

NH 5369 4933 (Gilchrist) and NH 5426 4902 (Balvattie) These excavations formed part of the Tarradale Through Time community archaeology project, and involved archaeological investigation of two sites revealed by cropmarks. The work took place 6-20 September 2018.

The fieldwork at the Gilchrist site involved the excavation of four evaluation trenches (Project Trenches 1, 2, 7 and 9), which were opened in agricultural land and adjacent rough ground. The trenches confirmed the presence of buried archaeological deposits and features consistent with an enclosure bounded on the E side by a series of four concentric ditches of differing sizes, three of which were previously indicated by aerial photographs, and marshland on the remaining three sides. A trench opened down the N flank of the enclosure, into the adjacent peat bog and wetland, revealed evidence for a further, lateral, ditch and the remains of an associated lateral boundary, probably a wall, indicated by cobblestones and rubble. Charred plant remains, pottery sherds and a schist quernstone were retrieved from behind this feature. Deposits of peat had accumulated against the outer face of the boundary feature. Excavation of the peat for the recovery of environmental columns revealed a large waterlogged timber tapered to a rough point, possibly a structural stake or pile.

A further small trench was opened towards the western end of the promontory to examine the location of a prominent cropmark visible on aerial photographs. The cutting revealed a shallowly buried layer of very well consolidated clay and small stones, the upper surface of which was scoured by plough marks. The deposit was tentatively interpreted to reflect the remains of a rammed clay floor. The presence of the deposit raises the possibility that a more extensive structure or structures, contemporary with the construction and use of the promontory enclosure, are preserved at that location.

Fieldwork at the Balvattie site involved the excavation of five evaluation trenches (Project Trenches 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8), each of which targeted separate cropmark features visible on aerial photographs. The trenches confirmed the presence of buried archaeological deposits consistent with aerial photographs at some locations although two of the five cuttings were archaeologically sterile. Excavated features included a recut ditch and a series of associated post-pits, postholes, a linear ditch and a spread hearth deposit in Trench 3, the former consistent with a large circular enclosure indicated by a well-defined cropmark on aerial photographs. Trench 4 was opened over the location of a large sub-circular cropmark and revealed a large pit up to 1.5m deep of unknown function. The pit contained a sequence of well-defined fill deposits which indicate that it may have been open for an extended period and filled with differing source material in a series of discreet episodes. Trench 6 revealed part of a deep straight-sided ditch with a squared terminal, which had a deep posthole directly adjacent to the terminal. The features recorded in Trench 3 produced just a few sherds of stratified later prehistoric pottery although most other features identified in the trenches were aceramic. The ditch recorded in Trench 6 also failed to produce any dating evidence. Deposits containing charred plant material were identified in Trenches 3 and 4. Evaluation Trenches 5 and 8 failed to locate any significant archaeological deposits.

The primary fieldwork evidence indicates that most of the archaeological activity identified on the site is likely to be of later prehistoric origin and associated with a series of circular or rectilinear enclosures, most likely agricultural, which appear to have been located some distance from the focus of associated occupation. Evidence for later, medieval and post medieval, activity on the site was restricted to a small collection of pottery sherds. No substantial evidence for intensive settlement-related medieval activity was identified.

Report: Highland HER Records and NRHE

Funder: Tarradale Through Time project (NOSAS) funded by HLF and HES

Andrew Young - Highland Archaeology Services Limited

(Source: DES Vol 20)