Bothwell Castle Geophysical Survey

Date 3 April 2015 - 12 April 2015

Event ID 1158315

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1158315

NS 68834 59340 A geophysical survey was undertaken, 3–12 April 2015, as part of wider archaeological investigations of the site. A gradiometer survey was undertaken over the outer park area and over all available areas within the Property in Care (PIC) boundary. A resistance survey was carried out over all available areas within the PIC boundary and within four sample blocks in the outer park. A ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey was undertaken within the inner courtyard and limited areas to the N of the castle.

Although the gradiometer survey was severely affected by magnetic disturbance due to modern paths, fences etc, the data from the PIC area to the N of the castle suggest areas of possible ‘settlement’. The resistance survey detected a wealth of anomalies across the PIC area. The outer park area is dominated by extensive drainage with numerous alignments and phases of drainage having been detected. Within the PIC area, adjacent to the castle, the resistance data suggest the potential for extensive buried remains associated with the outer courtyard of the castle. Although anomalies possibly indicating the extent of the south range within the inner courtyard have been detected, interpretation is cautious due to numerous drains within the area. The GPR survey within the inner courtyard is dominated by responses from drains although anomalies potentially associated with the south range, complementing the resistance survey results, were also been detected. Although the GPR survey to the N of the Castle is dominated by responses from modern paths, several anomalies and areas of increased response have been detected which correlate well with the resistance survey thereby supporting interpretation of the potential for extensive buried archaeological remains in this area.

Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants

Funder: Historic Scotland

Susan Ovenden – Rose Geophysical Consultants

(Source: DES, Volume 16)