Archaeology Notes

Event ID 831117

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/831117

NS06NW 87 02530 66835

NS 0253 6685 A possible short cist on Kildavanan Farm was reported to Bute Museum, and in August 2002 the site was visited to ascertain whether this was a newly discovered cist, or, possibly, the remains of a cist previously excavated in the same area. The site lies at 98m OD on level ground at the upper part of the field and NE of a grassy knoll known as Cnoc-na-mhanan.

The cist was found to be undisturbed. Internally it measured 0.85m N-S by 0.52m E-W, and 0.5m deep below the upper edges of the side stones. It had been placed within a carefully cut pit approximately 1.7m N-S and 1.2m E-W. A mineralised organic deposit extended over much of the base. At the SW, and in a deposit of yellow clay and gravel, a small, intact, cord-decorated Food Vessel was uncovered, lying on its side. A token amount of burnt bone was found near the mouth of the Food Vessel, and other fragments were scattered over the organic deposit. Below the organic deposit, the base of the cist comprised carefully laid fragments of schist. A lower layer of paving had been placed on the E to provide a level base. Samples of all the deposits were collected for study.

Glasgow University students carried out a geophysical survey to identify any potential cist sites in the adjacent area. The cist has been refilled and the capstone replaced. Permission to excavate was given by Mr Duncan Lyon of Kildavanan Farm.

Sponsors: HS, Buteshire Natural History Society, St Andrews Heritage Services, Mr D Lyon.

E Proudfoot, B Proudfoot, A Speirs 2002

NS 0253 6685 Magnetometry and resistivity survey were conducted in the immediate vicinity of a recently excavated cist at Kildavanan (DES 2002, 23). This revealed discrete dipolar anomalies and possible indications of a surrounding ditch feature.

Sponsor: University of Glasgow - Dept Archaeology.

N Finlay, L Sharpe 2003

All that is now visible of this cist is its capstone, which was found on the date of visit lying on the surface of a ploughed field some 290m NW of Kildavannan farmsteading.

Visited by RCAHMS (GFG, ARG) 17 March 2009.