Rink Farm

NT43SE 14 4850 3224.

Nine centres of concentration of artifacts, each covering an area of 20 to 30 square yards, have been identified at Rink Farm (NT 4850 3224 - see NT34SE 1). They are at the top of steep banks, which yield mesolithic material, presumably the result of erosion. Two of the concentrations are at the foot of the bank on flat ground only 3 ft above the present river level.

Trial excavations over an area of 25 square yards were carried out. A layer of stones was noted at a depth of between 10 ins and 3 ft, being nearer the surface on the highest part of slopes, and deepest on the edge of the banking. The flints are found in the soil above this layer and among the stones, only occurring below the stones where the presence of mole runs or other disturbance explains their presence. Only 6 flints were found below the stony layer, 153 pieces were among the stones, and over 800 in the upper soil. These have been donated to the N M A S.

It seems likely that the Mesolithic land surface was just above the stony layer and has been destroyed by erosion or agricultural activity. The majority of the material used is locally occurring pebble flint and chert deriving from glacial deposits.

Only 3% of the material is of Neolithic type, the remainder being Mesolithic. A date of about 4500 BC is suggested for the beginning of this flint-working site.

H Mulholland 1970; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1978