Archaeology Notes

Event ID 860656

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/860656

NJ54SW 97 517 425

NJ 517 425 Forestry Commission mounding operations revealed slight traces of possible remains that were not previously visible. Members of Strathbogie Archaeological Group carried out a 'scrape and record' survey and were helped by members of OFARS who conducted a resistivity survey of the area. This survey was undertaken between May and September 2007. The overburden of brash and the topmost layer of turf were removed from an area of 364m2. At this layer stone concentrations were encountered and planned. They were left in situ and recovered.

The aim was to try to determine the type and date of the remains and to aid the Forestry Commission in planning their management strategy for the area. The method employed was chosen in an attempt to gain those answers whilst avoiding causing damage to sealed archaeological layers.

One cairn was encountered and drawn and a further one located but not stripped. Further concentrations of stone to the

S of the cairn suggest possible settlement activity, though this would require confirmation. The only finds to come out of the turf layer were a barbed and tanged arrowhead, a thumbnail scraper and two small fragments of possibly Bronze Age pottery.

The site is important for, amongst other things, demonstrating how an area of mature woodland can completely mask all trace of quite substantial underlying archaeology and preserve them in relatively good condition.

Archive deposited with Aberdeenshire Forestry Commission, Aberdeenshire SMR and at www.scottish-heritage.org.uk.

Colin Shepherd, 2007.