Excavation

Date May 1989 - July 1989

Event ID 606376

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/606376

The renovation of a building initially necessitated the disturbance, and the subsequent levelling, of the fluvio-glacial ridge on which the monument stood. An assessment trench dug in May 1989 was followed in June-July 1989, by the complete excavation of the cairn.

Ring-Ditch: The V-shaped ring-ditch had an average width of 50cm and an average depth of 60cm. The ditch enclosed an area 8.50m in diameter containing patches of residual ground surface. Several post pipes were identified in the northern section of the ditch.

Sherds of Late Neolithic grooved ware were recovered from deposits immediately outside the ring-ditch.

Cist 1: This was located outside the ring-ditch on its SW side. It consisted of a deep pit, its long axis aligned NW-SE. It contained a large quantity of cremated bone sealed by a capstone and large boulders.

Cist 2: This was located W of the ring-ditch and was structurally identical to Cist 1. Its long axis aligned N-S. It contained a large quantity of cremated bone.

Cist 3: This was located within the ring-ditch, in an area of recent disturbance. Its long axis was NW-SE. It consisted of a substantial boulder-lined pit, with capstone absent, and containing a food vessel. Cist4: This is located near the centre of the ring-ditch enclosure. It has an EW long axis. Its southern part has suffered recent disturbance and the capstone is missing. It contained a food vessel.

Cist 5: This cist cuts the ring-ditch. It consists of a deep pit,

with an EW long axis. It is constructed of fine sandstone side slabs, covered with a massive capstone, and was sealed by boulders. It contained an inhumation accompanied by a food vessel.

The Cairn: Twelve kerb stones remain in situ on the N and NE periphery where they overlie the fill of the ring-ditch and in places, the old ground surface. Elsewhere, the kerb has been removed by recent dsturbance. Its estimated diameter was c8.50m. The surviving cairn material within the kerb consisted of fist-sized water-rounded stones. The deposit was severely disturbed by root action and had been extensively robbed. The original depth of the cairn could not be determined.

Sponsor: SDD HBM-AOC

S Stevenson 1989.