Excavation

Date 2 August 2021 - 30 August 2021

Event ID 1166277

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1166277

NS 47767 75109–NS 48205 74757 As part of the University of Glasgow field school, from 2–30 August 2021, work was conducted on Cochno Hill, with permission from Forestry and Land Scotland. This season students surveyed archaeological features and excavated a series of evaluation trenches. This work is one element of a longer University of Glasgow project investigating the rock art, historical archaeology, and antiquarian history of the area of Duntocher, Faifley and Cochno.

Most of the features targeted during the 2021 season had been identified through a previous survey conducted by FIRAT in 2008, in advance of planting by the then Forestry Commission. Our investigations sought to aid the classification of features and define their character in more detail. In the first two weeks we explored a shieling cluster on the western end of Cochno Hill (Canmore ID: 88768). Two shielings were surveyed using the plane table (F01 and F03). One shieling hut and three other possible shielding mounds were explored in four trenches (F02, F03, F10, F11). We also carried out some walkover survey and site recording round it, mainly focusing on a rectangular enclosure on the hill’s western flank.

In the second two weeks our attention shifted to a group

of mounds surrounding a probable prehistoric burial cairn (CANMORE ID: 43305) lower down the hill. Six test-pits were excavated to investigate four sites (F26, F31, F32 and F33) W of cairn (F30).

Enclosure and Structures

NS 47767 75109 As part of a day of reconnaissance survey, we recorded an enclosure and associated structures that had been noted by the FIRAT survey but not visited. The enclosure lies across a sloping bench left by the Carboniferous lava flows that constitute Cochno Hill. Its long sides run along the base of the talus on the E and along a cliff edge on the W, downhill side. It measures roughly 60–65m N/S and 40m E/W. It is clearly identifiable on the satellite and LIDAR images. The banks are composed of large, very overgrown stones, clearly taken from the talus deposit at the base of the cliff on its E.

There are small structures inside the NW and NE corners. The N side of the northwestern one is composed of the enclosure wall, and there may have been an open side facing E into the enclosure; it measures 1.6 x 3.9m. The structure in the NE corner is free standing, built of basalt fragments from the talus, measuring c3.5 x 6.0m. These may have been shelters or stores for the herders using the enclosure for controlling their stock during summer pasture.

Shieling Hut

NS 47960 75232 A shieling hut was investigated in a T-shaped trench with one arm measuring 8 x 2m and the other 3 x

1.5m. Two main phases of activity were identified during the excavation of half of the interior of this structure, and slots through the surrounding exterior mound. The first stage was a large roughly oval shieling hut, constructed of large boulder foundations and upper walls of drystone and turf, with an internal hearth nearby a possible entrance. Directly above the western end of this earlier structure a smaller circular structure was constructed with a significantly raised floor level. This second phase of activity may represent a dairy hut, or a subdividing of the space within the shieling hut at a later phase. The dividing wall for this structure lay over the interior floor of the earlier space, sitting above a corner of the hearth. Within this circular feature two floor layers were identified. Significant finds from this trench were limited to a worked quartz blade and two scrapers, which are likely, relate to an earlier prehistoric phase of activity within this landscape incorporated with the turf-built elements of the shieling.

Shieling Mound

NS 47930, 75263 A linear trench measuring 8 x 1.5m was cut across a possible shieling mound. A rubble bank of stones

1.8m was interpreted as the possible wall foundations for a structure defining a small sunken internal space. Roughly arranged stones within the interior may have defined divisions of space and an entrance facing the N. Thick deposits of soil with evidence of decomposing organics such as turf filled the interior. No clearly defined anthropogenic deposits or hearth material were recorded. Therefore, it cannot be concluded whether the site is a shieling.

Cochno Hill, Mounds

NS 48106 74751 A 1 x 2m test-pit was excavated at the southern slop of site F26, with a SE–NW orientation. Two deposits were identified with a total depth of 0.20m above the S sloping bedrock. Both deposits seemed that they were naturally formed. No evidence of any archaeological features identified.

NS 48267 74798 Two 1 x 1m test-pits were excavated at the S, SE and NW sides of site F31. In the NW test-pit, three deposits were identified with a total depth of 0.24m above bedrock. All three deposits seemed to be naturally formed. No evidence of any archaeological features were identified.

NS 48259 74785 Investigation started with a 1 x 1m test-pit but was extended to cover an area of 7m2 to explore a deposit of stones. The majority of the stones were concentrated around and below a large exposed stone and above a natural ditch. The ditch was most likely formed due to water activity. All deposits seemed to be naturally formed. No evidence of any archaeological features were identified.

NS 48205 74757 Two 1 x 1m test-pits were excavated at the S side and the centre of the possible mound. No archaeological features were identified in either of the test-pits in this area. All deposits seemed to be naturally formed soils on top of the bedrock.

Archive: NRHE (intended) Funder: University of Glasgow

Tessa Poller, Michael Given, Aris Palyvos, Eddie Stewart, Rebecca Younger – University of Glasgow

(Source: DES Volume 23)