Excavation

Date 2 August 2010 - 22 August 2010

Event ID 881326

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/881326

NO 0547 1685 Excavations from 2–22 August 2010 explored

two conjoined ‘Pictish’ square barrows, c0.5km S of the

northern cemetery (NO01NE 169), located just outside the

line of the prehistoric palisaded enclosure (NO01NE 28).

Unlike the square barrows explored in the northern cemetery

by SERF in 2007 these examples were almost half as small, at

around 5msq and, most notably, they did not have causeways

at the corners of their ditches.

Defined by a continuous ditch, the barrow to the W was

not a true square. The E (slightly smaller and squarer)

barrow appears to have been added at a later date. Although

these barrows have yet to be dated, their form suggests

they are early. Despite very poor preservation both central

burials yielded traces of wooden coffins, possibly log burials.

Both burials also produced remains of outer tooth enamel

from the inhumation. Rounded stones along the edge of the

western grave cut suggest the coffin was packed with stones.

A geophysical survey was conducted prior to the excavation.

The ditches of the square barrows were not identified, but the

central grave of the W barrow did correlate to an anomaly.

Archive: Currently University of Glasgow and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland, University of Glasgow and University of

Aberdeen