Watching Brief

Date November 1994

Event ID 559451

Category Recording

Type Watching Brief

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/559451

(formerly described under NS57SW 65.06)

NS 547 720

A watching-brief by P Robins of Strathclyde Regional Council, on the line of the Wall, revealed a spread of redeposited stonework overlying plough-soil from which post-medieval pottery was recovered. Some fragments of black-burnished ware were also retrieved.

L J F Keppie 1995

NS 5474 7209 SRC carried out a watching brief during excavation of foundation for an extension to the N and E of the existing house at 39, Roman Road, Bearsden. The OS 1:10, 000 map (dated 1985) shows the course of the Antonine wall running WNW to ESE passing the N side of the house whilst other maps held by the occupier and the Hunterian museum, indicate the wall passing the southern side of the house. The foundation trenches revealed a small spread of large stone consistent with the make up of the base of the wall in other areas nearby. There were no traces of kerb stones evident. This feature was overlying a plough soil from which nine fragments of post-medieval pottery were recovered. The first edition of the OS maps dated c. 1860 shows the area as fields and it is likely that the plough soil noted in the foundation trenches belongs to this date. The spread of stones may represent clearance from an agricultural field or be related in some way to the construction of the house or its garden. Six sherds of black burnished Roman pottery from two different vessels were found in a garden soil that may have been brought in from elsewhere to level the garden. A full report has been deposited in the Strathclyde SMR.

Strathclyde Regional Council and Strathclyde SMR, 1994; DES 1994, Vol 50, p 60