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Aberdeen, Shiprow, Abc Cinema Site
No Class (Event) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Aberdeen, Shiprow, Abc Cinema Site
Classification No Class (Event) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 173326
Site Number NJ90NW 1222
NGR NJ 9436 0624
NGR Description Centred NJ 9436 0624
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/173326
- Council Aberdeen, City Of
- Parish Aberdeen
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District City Of Aberdeen
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ90NW 1222 centred 9436 0624
(Locations derived from published plan). Aberdeen City Council dug archaeological trial trenches within the area of the demolished ABC cinema and its car park in October and November 1999 in advance of the construction of a multi-screen cinema.
Trenches 1 (NJ 9435 0624), 2 (NJ 9435 0624) and 8 (NJ 9436 0625) revealed cellaring of 19th century and (probably) earlier date. Trench 3 (NJ 9437 0621) revealed a gravel-filled V-section ditch (aligned N-S) in phase 1 and three pits (one of them a kiln or oven) in phase 2; this latter feature is attributed to the 12th century AD. Trenches 4 (not indicated on plan) and 5 (NJ 9437 0622) revealed no significant deposits, but trench 6/7 (NJ 9436 0622) yielded charcoal which has been radiocarbon-dated to the 1st or early 2nd century AD.
No artifacts are specifically mentioned but the evidence for industrial activity in the 12th century is considered significant.
[A historical account is incorporated in the report].
Sponsors: Craiglair Properties (Aberdeen) Ltd and John Mowlem Construction plc.
Information from Alison Cameron, Assistant Archaeologhist, Aberdeen City Council, 21 September 2000.
NMRS, MS/712/97.
NJ 943 062 Excavation of a small undisturbed area in Shiprow revealed a 12th-century oven or kiln and rubbish pits. The oven was set in a large pit and was clay-lined. Many repairs had taken place and the complete structure replaced at least four times. Charcoal samples from a shallow cut feature have been dated to the 1st century AD.
A Cameron 2000.
