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Kirkhill Farm
Burnt Mound (Prehistoric), Flint Scatter (Mesolithic), Structure(S) (Period Unknown)
Site Name Kirkhill Farm
Classification Burnt Mound (Prehistoric), Flint Scatter (Mesolithic), Structure(S) (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 77085
Site Number NY19SW 59
NGR NY 1041 9258
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/77085
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Johnstone
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NY19SW 59 104 926
At NY 1040 9257 a small strip of ploughed land at Kirkhill was walked leading to the discovery of a previously unknown mesolithic site on the border of glacial and alluvial deposits by the River Annan. This important discovery was the subject of a detailed assessment which revealed surviving structural evidence that had been protected from plough damage by flood deposits. The site is threatened by a proposed service station and large scale excavation will be required as a condition of planning permission.
M P Robins 1993.
NY 1041 9258. GUARD carried out the excavation of a Mesolithic flint scatter detected during survey carried out in advance of the M6 upgrade. Trial excavation had detected the presence of features surviving in the topsoil, apparently related to the lithics collected on the surface. Full excavation detected a silted river bank, which represented a former course of the River Annan which now flows some 50m to the E of the site.
Within the silt deposits the remains of a burnt mound were detected, though damaged by the cutting of a pit in modern times. Lithics, which included microliths, were recovered from the matrix of the burnt mound and so may suggest a Mesolithic date for this feature, though confirmation must await carbon dating.
To the W of the burnt mound feature, on fluvioglacial sands and gravels, were recovered the main concentration of lithics, which were dominated by snapped blades. Various raw materials, including flint, chert, mudstone, chalcedony and Arran pitchstone. Within this area the remains of several structures were also detected. These included at least three sub-rectangular structures represented by substantial construction slots. the dimensions of these structures appeared to be in the region of 5m by 2m. Various post holes, stake holes and hearths were also recorded in this area.
The site represents an important addition to the growing number of inland Mesolithic sites known to exist in Scotland. It is perhaps most noteworthy for both its substantial structural remains and the presence of what may prove to be the first example of a Mesolithic burnt mound to be identified in Britain. Post-excavation analysis of the recovered material is now on-going.
Sponsor: Texaco.
T Pollard 1993d.
NY 104 926. Noted as Kirkhill, flint scatter, burnt mound and timber structures.
RCAHMS 1997.
Field Walking (1993)
At NY 1040 9257 a small strip of ploughed land at Kirkhill was walked leading to the discovery of a previously unknown mesolithic site on the border of glacial and alluvial deposits by the River Annan. This important discovery was the subject of a detailed assessment which revealed surviving structural evidence that had been protected from plough damage by flood deposits. The site is threatened by a proposed service station and large scale excavation will be required as a condition of planning permission.
M P Robins 1993.
Excavation (1993)
NY 1041 9258. GUARD carried out the excavation of a Mesolithic flint scatter detected during survey carried out in advance of the M6 upgrade. Trial excavation had detected the presence of features surviving in the topsoil, apparently related to the lithics collected on the surface. Full excavation detected a silted river bank, which represented a former course of the River Annan which now flows some 50m to the E of the site.
Within the silt deposits the remains of a burnt mound were detected, though damaged by the cutting of a pit in modern times. Lithics, which included microliths, were recovered from the matrix of the burnt mound and so may suggest a Mesolithic date for this feature, though confirmation must await carbon dating.
To the W of the burnt mound feature, on fluvioglacial sands and gravels, were recovered the main concentration of lithics, which were dominated by snapped blades. Various raw materials, including flint, chert, mudstone, chalcedony and Arran pitchstone. Within this area the remains of several structures were also detected. These included at least three sub-rectangular structures represented by substantial construction slots. the dimensions of these structures appeared to be in the region of 5m by 2m. Various post holes, stake holes and hearths were also recorded in this area.
The site represents an important addition to the growing number of inland Mesolithic sites known to exist in Scotland. It is perhaps most noteworthy for both its substantial structural remains and the presence of what may prove to be the first example of a Mesolithic burnt mound to be identified in Britain. Post-excavation analysis of the recovered material is now on-going.
Sponsor: Texaco.
T Pollard 1993d.
Note (1997)
NY 104 926. Noted as Kirkhill, flint scatter, burnt mound and timber structures.
RCAHMS 1997.
