Archaeology Notes

Event ID 736265

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/736265

NX19NE 47 1870 9900

See also NX19NE 43.

For Girvan Mains, East camp (NX 1900 9915), see NX19NE 24.

NX 183 990. In November 1993 GUARD undertook a two-day assessment on the line of the proposed rising main which is to form part of a new sewerage scheme designed to serve Girvan. The pipeline was identified as having a possible impact upon this camp. Though the full extent of this camp remains unclear, it was thought likely that the pipeline would dissect its defensive perimeter at some point along its SW side.

An eleventh hour decision to alter the pipeline route led to the placing of the two trenches very close to the mean high water mark at the edge of Girvan Golf Course, potentially beyond the corner of the camp. The first was located over a linear grassmark at Strathclyde Sewerage's request. This 'feature' could be seen on the ground and was not known to correspond with any modern pipelines; it also followed an alignment commensurate with a projection of the known length of the SW side of the camp into the area occupied by the golf course. Excavation, by hand, revealed this to be non-archaeological in origin.

The second trench was located some 1Om-12m from the coastline and measured 20m by 1m in extent. Also excavated by hand down to the natural sand subsoil, one probable archaeological feature was recorded. It appears to be a pit, at least 1.20m deep and filled with water-worn cobbles. Time restrictions prevented the full excavation of the feature, though it was determined that its N edge was steep sided and sloping, and that it possibly had a rounded base. The S edge was far less clearly defined and in plan appeared to dissipate gradually towards the S end of the trench. There were no finds.

Although no traces of the defences of the small marching camp were encountered during the assessment, the ultimate location of the trenches precludes any authoritative judgement on the presence or absence of the camp within the land now occupied by the golf course.

Sponsor: Strathclyde Sewerage.

S Bain and A Leslie 1994.