Watching Brief

Date January 2021 - September 2021

Event ID 1138482

Category Recording

Type Watching Brief

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1138482

NJ 81749 08324 From 2017 to 2020, archaeological monitoring has been carried out for works associated with the construction of a reservoir and replacement of a water pipeline on behalf of Scottish Water. The development is located on Keir Hill, Westhill, adjacent to Berryhill Enclosure, a prehistoric Scheduled Monument (SM12334).

In June 2020, a member of the public reported to Historic Environment Scotland that a significant quantity of stone had been deposited on the monument, and that the spoil heaps resulting from the Scottish Water development works were encroaching into the Scheduled Monument area.

The stones were thought to have been taken from the nearby spoil heaps and placed on the monument by persons unknown. AOC Archaeology Group carried out an inspection of the site with a photographic recording of the interior and exterior of the monument in January and September 2021. Comparison with pre works photos from 2017 aided in identifying the areas where the monument had been recently affected, and also noting observations of modern but pre-2017 ‘additions’ to the monument. Discernible new stones were removed by hand and mechanical excavator under constant supervision in order to preserve the integrity of the site. A post-works photographic recording was then carried out. The development’s spoil heaps were also removed under archaeological supervision to ensure no further encroachment and inadvertent impact to the Scheduled Area.

Archive: NRHE

Funder: Scottish Water

Sam Williamson – AOC Archaeology Group

(Source: DES Vol 22)