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Land Parcel 4 – Echline Fields, South Queensferry
Date 30 August 2010 - 16 September 2010
Event ID 966978
Category Recording
Type Trial Trench
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/966978
NT 11422 78220 (centred on) LP4 – Echline Fields, South Queensferry A total of 189 trenches (17198m²) comprising a 7.5% sample were excavated across LP4. Trenches were targeted following assessment of the results of a geophysical survey undertaken 30 August–16 September 2010. The evaluation identified archaeological features in several trenches across the land parcel. Subsequently four areas of excavation with a total area of 16032m2 were opened located around the features of archaeological interest.
The majority of the excavated remains related to Mesolithic occupation of the site with the most significant find being a probable sunken-floored house structure, measuring 6.96 x 5.92m with a W-facing entrance. Around the edge of the structure were nine postholes forming an oval that represent the main structural element of the house. A possible inner post ring was identified and this may also be part of the structure of the house. Internally the structure had a cobbled surface to the S and a number of hearths and pits. A second possible Mesolithic structure consisted of an oval-shaped arrangement of posts with associated hearths. Alongside these two structures were numerous pits many of which are currently undated.
While the only definite evidence of Neolithic activity was a single pit containing Grooved Ware pottery, a structure consisting of a series of inter-cutting curvilinear ditches appears to date to the Neolithic, indicated by the presence of naked barley. Many features are currently undated and these include a heavily truncated roundhouse. Medieval activity comprised a large pit, dating from the 13th to 14th centuries. Post-medieval agricultural remains in the form of furrows alongside a system of field boundary ditches were also present.
Jamie Humble and Edward Bailey (headland Archaeology) January 2011. OASIS-id: headland1-88326
