Excavation
Date 7 April 2008 - 8 May 2008
Event ID 576833
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/576833
NY 025 656 The hand excavation of an electricity cable trench was undertaken from 7 April–8 May 2008 in the grounds of the castle. A total of 285m was excavated of which c140m was inside the scheduled area. A small section of post-medieval wall was uncovered near the current Greenhead Cottages. The wall, which was two courses high, was constructed directly on top of the natural bedrock, which had been cut to form terrace-like steps. A probable return was located but it appeared the stone here had been robbed away. This robbed-out return also appeared to be the terminus of the wall, but the narrowness of the trench prevented any further to investigation. Although the main wall appeared to be running to the south-eastern corner of the existing cottages it was on a slightly more northerly alignment than the cottage wall. The finds from the fill of the cut for the wall indicate a later postmedieval date. A lead cannonball was recovered from a layer just to the SW of the current stone gate. It measured 45mm in diameter and weighed 630g. Several sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the trench along with a silver George III half crown dating to 1819.
Archive: Historic Scotland. Report: Dumfries and Galloway SMR, RCAHMS and Historic Scotland
Funder: Scottish Power
David Sneddon (GUARD), 2008