Archaeology Notes

Event ID 812643

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/812643

NT17SW 90.02 centred 123 724

NT 123 724 (centre) An archaeological watching brief was maintained during topsoil stripping in advance of the construction of an industrial estate. A number of features were identified ranging in date from Neolithic to modern. The prehistoric features included pits, post-holes, a human cremation, a group of ring-ditches and an Iron Age cart burial. The cart burial is of exceptional interest; it is the first example recorded in Scotland and the closest parallels are in NE France and Belgium where burials of complete carts are quite common. The Newbridge find contrasts with the only other known area of cart burials in the UK, in Yorkshire. Here, almost all burials are of dismantled carts.

The proximity of the site to Huly Hill (an Early Bronze Age mound; NMRS NT17SW 8) enhances the interest of these features, as they possibly formed part of a ritual landscape around this monument. A group of large pits of probable medieval date were also identified. These were associated with cultivation remains and are of unknown function.

Full report lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Muir Construction.

L Baker and F Hunter 2001

The Glasgow Herald, 5th April 2001, discusses the archaeological significance of the Newbridge cart burial in further detail, highlighting its construction and design.

Information from RCAHMS (GJW) 17 April 2002.