Excavation

Date 22 May 2008 - 30 June 2008

Event ID 575649

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/575649

NJ 6758 2851 The development of a site incorporating the moated manor of the medieval bishops of Aberdeen at Old Rayne required a 10% evaluation of the area outwith the moat. The area inside the moat will not be developed, with the exception of the corridor for a mains sewer cutting across the side of the manor site. The sewer corridor was fully excavated.

The evaluation of the area outwith the moat revealed vestigial traces of medieval or post-medieval rig and furrow but no indication of manorial buildings. The moat ditch, which was sectioned in three places, was over 6m wide and 2m deep. Excavation in the interior of the mound, on the sewer line, revealed an elaborate medieval water cistern with traces of a wooden lining. Parts of two substantial stone-walled buildings were excavated; these had dressed sandstone at the surviving doorways and demolition rubble included roofing slates and fragments of several ceramic roof ridge tiles, one being a finial of highly decorated N Yorkshire Ware which can be dated with confidence to the late 13th/ early 14th century. After the buildings had been

destroyed, a number of elaborate ovens were built within the ruins.

There was a some evidence for earlier, prehistoric, use of the site, including ard marks and some flints. Work was undertaken 22 May–30 June 2008.

Report: Aberdeenshire SMR and RCAHMS

Funder: Hamish McIntosh

HK and JC Murray (Murray Archaeological Services Ltd), 2008