Excavation
Date February 2010
Event ID 880211
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/880211
NG 8812 2583 A watching brief was carried out in February
2010 during excavations for a new sewer pipe and pumping
station. The majority of the sewer trench did not encounter
archaeological remains. Four archaeological features that
related to the medieval castle were recorded in the area
approaching the modern bridge. A length of substantial
curtain wall foundation was exposed and may have been
associated with two areas of lime mortar surface. A large
spread of demolition material may have represented a
possible former building stance. The pipe trench was diverted
to avoid the in situ remains of the curtain wall.
An open area excavation was undertaken in September
and October 2010, continuing the excavation work of
2009 (DES 2009, 104). Work focused on the NW tower
and associated curtain wall. A further c3m of curtain wall
was revealed to the E of the NW tower. Differences in
construction showed that a thinner, c2.5m wide wall had
been thickened to double its width. An associated buried
soil showed that this had occurred during the late medieval
period. This alteration might be attributed to the second
half of the 15th century, when the castle seems to have
been fortified to withstand bombardment, and remodelled
to accommodate early artillery. A domestic hearth and an
assemblage of pottery and metalwork, including a copperalloy
stick pin, where found in association with the buried
soil. The medieval deposits overlay a possible demolition
layer, which directly sealed bedrock. A single posthole was
found cutting into the bedrock and a further deposit was
partially exposed underlying the thickened curtain wall. An
earth-bonded rubble wall which is thought to post-date the
castle’s main occupation phases was recorded to the N of
the curtain wall.
Report: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: Conchra Charitable Trust