Cults Loch

NX 1203 6058 Previous workers had recorded piles around the promontory, one of which has now been radiocarbon dated to the late 1st millennium BC. During August 2007 a 15 x 1m evaluation trench was excavated to determine whether archaeological deposits survived on the promontory. A line of stakes and collapsed planking were found near the neck of the promontory, which appears to have formed a barrier cutting off the promontory from the shore. Behind the barrier and extending into the centre of the promontory occupation deposits were found lying over a grid of horizontal timbers. Limited coring has established that the promontory is probably a man-made feature.

Archive to be deposited with RCAHMS.

Funder: Historic Scotland/AOC Archaeology Group/SWAP.

NX 1202 6057 A second season of excavation was carried out from 1–14 September 2008. A trench approximately 15 x 8m was excavated to the E of the promontory, in line with a row of vertical stakes recorded in the evaluation trench excavated in 2007. The area of possible horizontal planking encountered in the 2007 trench was did not continue, although a swathe of piles in a wide arc in the NE area of the trench may represent

the perimeter palisade of the crannog. To the S of the trench horizontal timbers had been laid in a rough lattice in a matrix of organic silts and peats, which in places contained highly compacted reeds and other plant matter, suggestive of the remains of flooring. Areas of burning were also identified but nothing resembling an in situ hearth was recorded. Areas of stone dumping did not appear to represent superstructure but may be levelling or consolidation deposits. Small finds were few but included a fragment of shale or cannel coal bracelet and whetstones. Further work is planned for 2009.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland

Anne Crone and Graeme Cavers (AOC Archaeology Group), 2008

NX 1202 6057 A second major season of excavation was carried out on the waterlogged promontory settlement in Cults Loch from 24 August–11 September 2009. Excavations concentrated on the NW side of the promontory, uncovering a range of wooden structural features and possible hearths. Several phases of activity were apparent, with inorganic sand / gravel deposits on top of what appeared to be a collapsed superstructure in the form of mortised timbers and collapsed piling. A possible main activity area was encountered in the SE of the excavated area. It consisted of a mound of sand containing a high proportion of ash, burnt bone and charcoal surrounded by a circle of wooden planks. Around this were highly compact but very well preserved laminar deposits of leaves and twigs, interpreted as a floor. Within these floor deposits was a very well carved wooden ard stilt, in fresh condition and apparently never used. Other artefacts from the excavation included a blue/white glass bead, a saddle quern and a range of hammer stones and grinders.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland, Leader+

Graeme Cavers and Anne Crone – AOC Archaeology Group

NX 1191 6052 Excavation was carried out on a range of sites surrounding Cults Loch, 16–27 March 2009. Geophysical survey and trial trenching over cropmarks surrounding the loch found evidence for a multi-phased promontory enclosure site (NX16SW 18) on the S side of the loch, with several massive ditches and at least three phases of enclosure palisade. The ditch enclosing the interior of the fort was particularly massive, being over 5m in width and over 3m deep, while the large ditch detected on aerial photographs to the S was over 5.5m in width and over 2m deep. Several features were recorded in the interior, including pits, postholes and linear gullies. No artefacts were recovered from any of the features.

A trench located over the large ditched and palisaded enclosure to the NE of the loch (NX16SW 24) found the well preserved remains of this site, and uncovered a range of pits, postholes and two ring-grooves. These features were not excavated but were recorded and covered with Terram. We will return to them in future seasons of work. A small trench to the N of the loch intended as a background control trench encountered a previously unrecorded series of large pits of uncertain function. No artefacts were recovered and further work will be required to clarify their purpose.

A fourth trench was located over parallel linear cropmarks in the fields surrounding the loch. These were shallow and the two iron objects recovered from the fill are of uncertain date.

The fifth and final trench was located over the neck of the artificial promontory on the N side of the loch and aimed to investigate the junction between this construction and the shore. Under a thick deposit of gravel and sand that appeared to have been laid down to provide dry access onto the site, timber piling, possibly representing a causeway, was encountered.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland

Graeme Cavers and Anne Crone – AOC Archaeology Group

NX 1203 6058 A fourth season of excavation was carried out 21 August–5 September 2010 at the artificial promontory site in Cults Loch. This season investigated an area linking the previous three trenches, and uncovered the other half of the structure encountered in 2009. A second structure was identified to the E of the trench, indicated by a hearth base and gravel flooring overlying roundwood logs. A possible trackway, indicated by aligned horizontal timbers and cobble stones, ran between these two structures. Finds included a

square carved wooden vessel, several possible vessel staves and a range of coarse stone tools.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland

Graeme Cavers and Anne Crone – AOC Archaeology Group

OASIS ID: aocarcha1-82717