Excavation

Date 1989

Event ID 606738

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/606738

Excavation in 1989 showed that this consists of two rectangular ditches enclosing a series of round structures. The chronological relationship between the two rectangular ditches was unclear, though the inner ditch may be secondary as it cuts a series of post-trenches and gullies in the entrance area. A line of post-holes at irregular intervals was recognised in two places on the E side of the enclosure. This seems more like a fence than a palisade, and may possibly represent another enclosure phase, but it respects the inner ditch to such an extent that it is more likely to be contemporary with it. The NE quadrant of the inner enclosure contains a palimpsest of post-trenches, gullies and post-holes which represent between three and four round houses, none of which are contemporary with any of the others. Three of the houses have recognisable entrances, all facing E, towards the entrance of the enclosure. One entrance is formed by massive out-turned terminals, creating a porch. The southern house is cut by one of a group of shallow hollows containing large quantities of charcoal and in one case a large lump of slag. A melon head was found in a deposit sealing one of these features. The hollows are in turn cut by a deep V-shaped ditch which forms a penannular enclosure, 14m internal diameter, situated in the SE quadrant of the main enclousre. A large round structure stood in the interior, represented by a post-trench, nearly 1m deep, with an inturned entrance which, like that of the penannular enclosure, faces N. Two bronze brooches were found in the penannular enclosure; a fibula (illustrated in Johnston 1990a, fig. 15) from the upper fill of the ditch, and an unstratified penannular brooch of the 7th century AD from between the ditch and post-trench. Neither necessarily dates the enclosure.

D A Johnston 1989; D A Johnston 1990a.