Cousland

A desk-based assessment and archaeological evaluation were undertaken by CFA Archaeology Ltd on a greenfield site in Cousland village. The proposed development site lies immediately to the south of Cousland Castle and a later walled garden. Eleven trenches were excavated, amounting to 595.5m2 (10% of the total development area). The evaluation revealed linear ditches, pits, stone drains and soil deposits containing exclusively medieval finds, where these can be dated.

Archive: East Lothian Council SMR and RCAHMS

Funder: Cruden Homes (East) Ltd

CFA Archaeology Ltd, 2010

Information also reported in OASIS (cfaarcha1-88743) 15 January 2013

An excavation was undertaken ahead of a small residential development following an early evaluation (DES 2011 -CFA) which had encounted a number of features containig 12th-14th Century White Gritty Ware and animal bone.

The excavation revealed two adjacent north to south aligned ditches which were cut along their eastern side by a series of later pit features, a stone drain and a stone well. Further to the east lay further pit features. The various features yielded a small assemblage of Medieval pottery, animal bone and oyster shell along with a copper alloy bowl.

The pottery assemblage after an initial assessment would seem to fit with the material excavated during the evaluation, namely 13th to 14th century in date. The pottery was scattered across the majority of features on site both the pits and the ditches some of which may relate to reworking of unstratified material into later contexts.

The ditches probably relate to boundaries or divisions of the landscape. The pits, well and small finds are indicative of settlement and domestic activities. While no features were found that denote directly to structures, it appears plausible that any buildings may have lain on the higher ground to the south-east of the excavation area.

Information from AOC Archaeology Group