Black Stank

NJ 35027 45761 A programme of archaeological work was

undertaken 23 March–9 July 2010 on the site of a proposed

wind farm. A survey undertaken on a small area in the SW

of the development (the site of Turbines 1 and 2), located a

portion of trackway and a parish boundary shown on the 1st

Edition OS map. The remains were heavily overgrown and

in many places inaccessible or not visible due to modern

forestry. Two parish boundary markers (SMR NJ34NE0026 [NJ34NE 38]

and NJ34NW0025 [NJ34NW 40]) were also recorded. The location of

Hillhead Croft (NJ34NW 31) was visited but no remains were

visible A previously unrecorded, probably modern, trackway

was noted.

Three known sites were demarcated and fenced off to

prevent accidental damage during the wind farm construction

phase: Rosarie Forest buildings (SMR NJ34NE 0019 [NJ34NE 15]); Rosarie

Forest enclosure, farmsteads, lades and ponds (SMR NJ34NE

0019 [NJ34NE 15]); and a boundary marker.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Reports: RCAHMS and Scottish

Borders SMR

Funder: Renewable Energy Systems Ltd.

This project is part of the Forestry Commission’s management

strategy as described under Kirkhill Forest, Aberdeen City.

[NJ34NW 32] NJ 3345 4549 Shians A farmstead consisting of three

buildings as depicted on the 2nd Edition OS map of 1905.

One building, orientated N–S and partly covered by the

construction of a forest track, does not appear on the 1st

Edition OS map of 1872 and was presumably built between

these dates. The other two buildings, which are depicted

on the 1st Edition OS map, appear to have undergone

alterations with the mill end of one building built entirely

of bonded stone. Other parts of the buildings appeared

to have had stone foundations (of variable quality) and

turf walls, features which suggest that the buildings may

predate the 19th century. The enclosure banks which

formed the boundary between Shians and Greenhill were

constructed of earth with an external ditch and appear to

have been designed to exclude rather than enclose stock.

The corners of these banks were more curvilinear than

they appear on the OS maps. The dam was built between

1872 and 1905.

[NJ34NW 13] NJ 3373 4548 Greenhill The farmstead is constructed of

stone on a courtyard layout. It was presumably built during

the 19th century and has undergone some alterations. A

stone trough runs the length of the byre opposite a blocked

doorway.

[NJ34NW 33] NJ 3411 4517 Backshians 1 A small cottage depicted on 1st

and 2nd Edition OS maps survives as turf-covered foundations.

[NJ34NW 24] NJ 3418 4531 Backshians 2 Complicated series of

substantially built farm buildings which appear to have

undergone periods of redesign. Well preserved turf-covered

walls.

[NJ34NW 35] NJ 3450 4564 Backshians 3 Small cottage with enclosure

as depicted on 1st and 2nd Edition OS maps. It has quite well

preserved turf-covered foundations.

[NJ35NW 36] NJ 3431 4508 Backshians An isolated earth mound c5m in

diameter is located c50m inside the forest boundary.

[NJ34NW 37] NJ 3397 4506 Backshians Hollow mound, c3 x 3m

externally, made of earth with occasional small stones

(originally turf?). It may be the site of a still.

[NJ34NW 38] NJ 3375 4541 Greenhill Mill dam just above a track above

Greenhills farmstead. Not depicted on either the 1st or 2nd

Edition OS maps. A small, circular, concrete-bonded stone

structure of indeterminate function was recorded below the

dam.

[NJ34NW 31] NJ 3472 4581 Hillhead Croft Denuded footings of farmstead

as depicted on 1st and 2nd Edition OS maps.

Archive: Aberdeenshire Council SMR and Forestry Commission,

Aberdeenshire

Funder: Moray and Aberdeenshire Forestry Commission