Arran, Lamlash, Arran High School

NS03SW 135 023 307

A programme of archaeological works was undertaken in July 2004 on 1.68ha of playing fields and green areas to be developed for the new high school. The evaluation comprised seven trenches covering approximately 5% of the ground. A number of relatively recent agricultural or playing field features which are not of archaeological significance were identified. These included pits, furrows, a single field drain and a number of concrete posts.

At the SE corner of the playing fields, an oval scoop and pit or post-hole complex was excavated, which contained charcoal, burnt bone and a single nodule of slag. This feature has been tentatively interpreted as a fire pit with an associated structure or windbreak. The date of the complex is uncertain, but is most likely to be later prehistoric.

Report to be lodged with WoSAS SMR.

Sponsor: Educational Services, North Ayrshire Council.

T Rees and R Shaw, Rathmell Archaeology, 2004.

NS 023 307 Cist cemetery. A programme of archaeological investigative works commenced with an additional evaluation in August 2005 (see DES 2004, 90) and concluded with the excavation in October 2005 of an area centred on a short cist located by the preceding evaluation. This excavation, on the playing field to be developed for the new

Arran High School, exposed a small cist cemetery.

The cemetery appears to be formed of a central heavily stoned cist surrounded by three close-in satellite inverted urns and a possible robbed-out cist (pottery and disturbed stones recovered). Another small cist was within 5m of the dominant cist. An inverted urn to the S and an emptied cist to the NE were at a greater distance from the centre. These are interpreted as outliers given the six central funerary features.

Cremated human bone survived well (from the inverted urns) but no unburnt human bone was identified on site. Four inverted urns were recovered and pottery funerary vessels were also recovered from two of the four cists. The large central cist also contained a retouched flint blade.

No surviving bounding feature was noted: either a topographic or vegetative marker may have been the focus of this burial group.

Report to be lodged with WoSAS SMR.

Sponsor: Educational Services, North Ayrshire Council.

R Shaw, Rathmell Archaeology, 2005.

The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.

HES Survey and Recording 30 October 2018