Battle Of Bannockburn

During March 2007, Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) undertook a metal detector survey of two sites at Ladywell Park and New Line Road, Bannockburn, Stirling, both of which are proposed to be used as cemeteries. An archaeological evaluation was also undertaken at New Line Road. The work was carried on behalf of Stirling Council in order to fulfil a condition placed on the

proposed works by the Stirling Council Archaeologist. Both sites are within the area where it is suspected that the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn took place, and this resulted in the recommendation that a metal detector survey was to take place prior to any development to ensure that any significant artefacts relating to the battle were recovered from the topsoil.

An archaeological evaluation was also undertaken on the second site. There, a Roman Road is depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1865-6, running across the proposed development area, and

the southern end of the site borders Milton Bog, where a series of ‘stakes’ were recovered in the nineteenth century and presumed to represent spikes placed at the bottom of pits which related to the

battle. The stakes, however, show no evidence of sharpening or burning and radiocarbon dates obtained from them put them in the Mesolithic, suggesting that they may not relate to the battle as was first

suggested (Pollard & Oliver 2003, 62).

All but one of the finds from the metal detector survey of the Ladywell Park site date to the very late nineteenth century and the twentieth century; most are coins. The only find of potential earlier date is a large pewter spoon head, possibly dating to the eighteenth century. None of the artefacts recovered can be assigned definitely to the Battle of Bannockburn.

The metal detector survey of the New Line Road site also recovered a series of nineteenth and twentieth century artefacts. In addition, a series of coins, buttons and two musket balls which may date to the

eighteenth century, were found. It is known that there was Jacobite activity in this area in 1746, relating to the siege of Stirling Castle and the battle of Falkirk. It is possible that these eighteenth-century artefacts recovered from the New Line Road site relate to this activity. None of the artefacts recovered can be

assigned definitely to the Battle of Bannockburn.

Twenty eight trenches, representing 8% of the total area proposed for development at New Line Road, were opened there and examined to establish whether or not significant archaeological remains were

present.

No features deemed to be of archaeological significance were located by the trial trenching, indicating that

the Roman road depicted on the first edition OS map represents a suggested route rather than a known one.

Given the absence of any archaeological sites of significance, GUARD would recommend that no further archaeological work is required on either of the two sites.

Information from OASIS Id: guard4-44556 (Sneddon, D.) 2007

The cultural heritage baseline study presented below was undertaken in November 2012 by CFA Archaeology Ltd and the Department of History, Stirling University, to assess the suitability for a masterplan development near Polmaise Junction, Stirling (centred at 28130 69160; Figure 1). This study takes into account comments and information provided by Stirling Council Archaeologist.

A reconnaissance field survey (RCAHMS Level 1) was undertaken (21 November 2012) of the proposed development area.

The proposed development site lies within the designated Historic Battlefield boundary of the Battle of Bannockburn, which is a designation of national importance. The research carried out for this report has drawn into question the previously preferred possibility that engagements of day two of the battle occurred on the Carse lands, and it is suggested that it is unlikely that the proposed development area played a key role within the events of the battle.

Seven other cultural heritage sites and features have been identified within the proposed development area. They are all considered to be of local importance, and any direct impacts could be offset either by avoidance or by a scheme of recording mitigation to be agreed with the Stirling Council archaeologist.

The investigations at Cambusbarron and Redhall involved 44 volunteers in a metaldetecting survey, a geophysical survey and in the excavation of 24 targeted hand excavated 1 m² test pits. This work was carried out as part of ongoing work leading up to the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in June 2014, in collaboration with The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, The National Trust for Scotland, Stirling Council and BBC Scotland.

The metal-detecting survey retained a total of 560 finds. The discard included post imperial coinage, agricultural machinery debris and modern refuse. The retained finds included 12 coins ranging from a hammered copper alloy (pre-seventeenth century) coin. There were coin identifiable to the nineteenth and twentieth century although most of the milled coins bore no unidentifiable marks. Other finds included equestrian items such as 26 horse shoes (or fragments) and one spur fragment. Also recovered

were six copper alloy buttons, two lead buttons and four buckles (2 iron, 2 copper alloy). The remaining majority of finds are as yet unidentified.

The geophysical survey did reveal several anomalies using resistivity. Unfortunately on this occasion none of the test pits targeting the anomalies uncovered built remains, human remains or features that could be definitively related to the Battlefield of Bannockburn or the site of the chapel. However the anomalies found in the common area did correspond to early attempts at terracing the slope at Cambusbarron. These topographic modifications may well be contemporary with the use of this site for the medieval chapel.

The material culture recovered from the test pits included medieval ceramic dating from thirteenth through to the fifteenth century. The assemblage at Cambusbarron included one sherd of white gritty ware, some Scottish red ware sherds and reduced green-glazed pottery as well as considerable amounts of late medieval 14/15 th C green-glazed pottery sherds. Finds from the test pits at Redhall also included pottery of similar 14/15th C date, a copper alloy tool and a small lentoid copper alloy object

with a pointed end.

Information from Oasis (darc1-172403) 10 March 2014

NS 77846 92514 (Cambusbarron) and NS 81712 91148 (Redhall) The investigations undertaken 22–30 August 2013 involved 44 volunteers in surveys and the excavation of 24 targeted hand excavated 1m² test pits. This work was carried out as part of ongoing work leading up to the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in June 2014, in collaboration with The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, The National Trust for Scotland, Stirling Council and BBC Scotland.

The metal detector survey retained a total of 560 finds, including 12 coins ranging from a hammered copper alloy (pre-17th century) coin to 20th-century coins, although most of the milled coins bore no identifiable marks. Other finds included equestrian items such as 26 horse shoes (or fragments) and 1 stirrup fragment. Also recovered were 6 copper alloy buttons, 2 lead buttons and 4 buckles (2 iron and 2 copper alloy).

The geophysical survey identified several anomalies using resistivity. Unfortunately none of the test pits targeting the anomalies uncovered built remains, human remains or features that could be definitively related to the Battlefield of Bannockburn or the site of the chapel. However the anomalies found in the common area did correspond to early attempts at terracing the slope at Cambusbarron. These topographic modifications may well be contemporary with the medieval chapel.

The material culture recovered from the test pits included 13th- to 15th-century medieval ceramic. The assemblage at Cambusbarron included one sherd of white gritty ware, some Scottish red ware sherds and reduced green-glazed pottery as well as considerable amounts of late medieval green-glazed pottery sherds. Finds from the test pits at Redhall also included pottery of similar 14th/15th-century date, a copper alloy tool and a small lentoid copper alloy object with a pointed end.

Archive: RCAHMS

Funder: NTS and BBC Scotland

Warren Bailie, GUARD Archaeology Ltd, 2013

(Source: DES)

The investigations at the ‘Bannockburn Big Dig’ at Braehead, Balqhidderock Wood, Broomhill and residents’s gardens involved 250 volunteers in a metal-detecting survey, a geophysical survey and in the excavation of 139 targeted hand excavated 1 m² test pits. This work was carried out as part of ongoing work leading up to the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in June 2014, in collaboration with The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, The National Trust for Scotland and BBC Scotland.

The metal-detecting survey retained a total of 133 finds (78 from Braehead, 55 from Balqhidderock Wood). The discard included post imperial coinage, agricultural machinery debris and modern picnic refuse in the form of bottle tops and ring pulls. The retained finds included 21 coins ranging from an Elizabethan penny to coinage from the mid to late twentieth century with five as yet unidentified coins. Other finds included equestrian fittings and buttons. The remaining majority of finds are as yet unidentified.

The geophysical survey did reveal several anomalies on the resistivity and gradiometer plots. Unfortunately on this occasion none of the test pits targeting the anomalies uncovered features that could be directly related to the Battlefield of Bannockburn.

From the 139 test pits excavated across the three areas the material culture included medieval ceramic dating from thirteenth through to the fifteenth century. The assemblage included one sherd of white gritty ware, some Scottish red ware sherds and reduced green-glazed pottery as well as considerable amounts of late medieval 14/15 th C green-glazed pottery sherds. Finds from the test pits also included a copper alloy belt buckle fragments and a copper alloy button. One test pit at Braehead revealed a possible fire pit of unknown date.

Information from Oasis (guardarc1-154970) 11 February 2014

The investigations at the Braehead Community Garden was achieved with the help of volunteers from the local community, including 350 school children from the nearby Braehead Primary School and Nursery. The metal-detecting survey was conducted across the 1.5 hectare site by members of the Scottish Artefact Recovery Group (SARG) and Detecting Scotland working alongside GUARD Archaeology staff. 21 test pits were excavated during the course of the two day project. This work was carried out ahead of the construction of a Community Garden at Braehead.

The metal-detecting survey retained a total of 97 finds. The discard included modern picnic refuse in the form of bottle tops and ring pulls. The retained finds included a musket ball, a copper alloy decorative shoe/buckle piece, an iron plated button with crowned lion design, a copper alloy button and a small copper pointed object (possible part of a writing implement). Many of the corroded iron objects are unidentifiable but

are likely to be debris form post-medieval agricultural machinery.

From the 21 test pits excavated across the three areas the material culture included medieval ceramic dating from thirteenth through to the fifteenth century. The assemblage included one sherd of reduced green-glazed 15th Century pottery as well two unglazed sherds of similar date. A copper alloy thimble and a small blue glass bead were also recovered from the test pits.

Information from Oasis (guardarc1-173909) 10 March 2014

An archaeological evaluation and metal detecting survey was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group prior to the development of an Audi Workshop (Planning Application No. 14/00222/FUL) at Plot 12, Craig Leith Road, Stirling (NGR: NS 81366 88189).

Information from Yvonne Robertson and Kevin Paton (AOC Archaeology Group) 3 June 2016. OASIS ID: aocarcha1-253660

The metal detecting survey was conducted on 25th September 2015. Detecting conditions were good and full coverage of the area was achieved. The development area appears to have been waste ground

for some time and had previously contained large amounts of vegetation and contains some areas of made ground and underground services. The ground was contaminated with wire, nails, tin cans, ring pulls and other detritus. All finds were modern and were not recovered.  

Information from Yvonne Robertson and Kevin Paton (AOC Archaeology Group) 3 June 2016. OASIS ID: aocarcha1-253660

The archaeological evaluation was conducted on the 2nd June 2016. The workshop construction had almost been completed upon arrival on site with the areas to be evaluated at the N and NE edge of site left without tarmac. A single 15 m long trench was excavated through an area in the NE corner, encountering modern type 1 sitting upon a geogrid that overlay the 0.2 m thick former dark brown clayey topsoil. This in turn overlay 0.17 m of made ground consisting of grey and orange clay that directly overlay the natural orange clay subsoil.

Information from Yvonne Robertson and Kevin Paton (AOC Archaeology Group) 3 June 2016. OASIS ID: aocarcha1-253660