Archaeology Notes

Event ID 689532

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/689532

NO49NW 16 4397 9964

(NO 4397 9964) Castle (NR) (Site of) Bronze Jug found AD 1832

OS 6" map, Aberdeenshire, 2nd ed., (1902).

See also NO49NW 34.

For (associated) chapel at NO 4407 9891, see NO49NW 19.

The site of this castle on an island in Loch Kinord can still be traced in a dry season by the withered grass and vegetation (J G Michie 1910) Some large dressed stones line the edge of the island, which it is sugge ted may be partly or wholly artificial, similar to, and contemporary with, the crannog on the loch (See NO49NW 17) (J G Michie 1910; W D Simpson 1943; A Jervise 1875-9). As late as the mid-18th century parts of the timber causeway connecting the island to the N shore were in situ, and large numbers of oak piles have been removed (J Stuart 1868). The castle is first mentioned when used as a refuge for the Earl of Atholl after the battle of Culblean AD 1335 (W D Simpson 1929). In 1646 it was restored but in 1648 it was ordered to be slighted (W D Simpson 1929).

Finds from Loch Kinnord include:-

(1) 5 canoes (see NO49NW 30-2), one of which remains in the loch about 30 yards SE of the crannog (NO49NW 17). Of the remainder pulled out of the loch, only one is preserved, and this is at Aboyne Castle.

(2) A Medieval bronze jug (as shown on OS 6"map) probably the vessel aquired by the NMAS in 1900-1 (PSAS 1901).

(3) A small bronze cup 2" high and 2 1/2" diameter presented to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) in 1912 (PSAS 1913).

(4) A 13/16th century AD woodman's or carpenter's iron axe now in Inverurie Museum (PSAS 1950).

(5) Oak piles, spearheads (including a bronze spear head - ? NO49NW 22) and various unclassified objects.

J Stuart 1868; A Jervise 1875-9; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1901; J G Michie 1910; W D Simpson 1929; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1913; W D Simpson 1943; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1950; C M Piggott 1955.

A large natural island, c 3.0m high, on which no remains of the castle can be seen. The causeway too has disappeared. There is no canoe at Aboyne Castle, which is a ruin, and there is no knowledge of its present whereabouts. The Medieval axe was not seen at Inverurie Museum.

Visited by OS (N K B) 15 November 1968.

Listed.

Scottish Castle Survey 1988; N Bogdan and I B D Bryce 1991.

There are no visible remains of this castle. It was possibly built in the 1400's as it is mentioned in 1505 and was the mansion of the Earl of Huntly in 1511. It was restored and garrisoned in 1646 but was razed by act of Parliament in 1648.

NMRS, MS/712/19.