Magnetometry

Date 2001

Event ID 1168209

Category Recording

Type Magnetometry

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1168209

NJ 7792 1967 The henge and the rest of a field to the S of the monument (NMRS NJ71NE 6) have recently been acquired by Aberdeenshire Council; this formed the area of investigations. Two standing stones and a re-erected Pictish symbol stone are located inside the henge. A stone avenue leading into the henge was reported to have stood to the S. The stones of the avenue were broken up using gunpowder in the 19th century, although one monolith remains standing.

An area to the S of the henge, measuring 120 x 60m, was surveyed using magnetometry. A series of anomalies were recorded including the sites of possible stone holes of the avenue. The henge was surveyed using resistivity at a spacing of 25cm. No anomalies that could represent a timber or stone circle were observed.

Trench 1 (2 x 2m) was excavated on the S side of the remaining avenue monolith in order to establish the nature of its socket. The base of the stone itself appeared to be flat, and the whole monolith had been set into a relatively shallow socket. No artefacts were recovered from this trench.

Trench 2 (3 x 3m) was excavated about 30m S of the henge, around the central point of a magnetic anomaly. This proved to be a stone socket similar in nature to that recorded in Trench 1: shallow with steeply cut sides and flat-bottomed. A large piece of stone was recovered from below the turf that may be part of a broken monolith, and a retouched flint blade came from the base of the ploughsoil.

Sponsor: Historic Scotland

R Bradley, J Creighton and T Philips 2001