South Brideswell

NJ51SW 31.01 centred 508 101

Five hut-circles (CRAIG94 65-69) and an enclosure (CRAIG94 70) are situated within a scatter of small cairns in a semi-improved field to the WNW of South Brideswell steading.

Four of the hut-circles measure between 8.4m (CRAIG94 65) and 10.5m (CRAIG94 67) in diameter within grass-grown stony banks up to 2.4m in thickness and 0.3m in height. The fifth hut-circle is larger (CRAIG94 69), measuring 12.5m in diameter within a stony bank spread to 2.6m in thickness. The entrances are all on the eastern arc of bank, and three of the hut-circles (CRAIG94 67-69) are levelled into the slope. The northernmost two hut-circles (CRAIG94 67, 68) are conjoined, forming a figure-of-eight on plan.

The enclosure (CRAIG94 70), which may be the remains of a hut platform, is oval and has a slightly sloping interior; it measures 11.6m from E to W by 7.4m transversely within a stony rim 0.3m in height, and the entrance may be on the ESE. A reverse C-shaped bank to the E of the enclosure defines the edge of an oval depression, measuring 20m from N to S by 15m transversely, which may have been a yard.

At least 140 grass-grown small cairns, measuring up to 5m in diameter and 0.4m in height, are scattered across a semi-improved field to the WNW of South Brideswell. Towards the N end of the field, and extending into the plantation, there is a roughly oval enclosure, measuring about 180m from NW to SE by 115m tranversely. The S and W sides are formed by a stony bank, up to 3m in thickness and 0.6m in height, with the E side overlain by a drystone wall, and the N end marked by a lynchet up to 2m in height. On the W, there is a marked break of slope along the line of the bank, suggesting that the ground on both sides may have been cultivated. Within the scatter of cairns there are other stretches of stony banks and lynchets, measuring no more than 50m in length, which in two cases are overlain by cairns.

Cairns and banks are visible at the edges of the plantations which bound the site to the N, W and S, and the field-system may extend into the trees (see also NJ50NW 17). There is a large heap of recent clearance at the E edge of the field, and several mounds of grubbed-out tree-stumps are probably the remains of a plantation shown on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire 1869, sheet lxxi).

(CRAIG94 65-70)

Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 7 September 1994

The following site was identified over the winter flying season by aerial reconnaissance undertaken by the Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service. Full information is held in the archaeological SMR.

NJ 508 101 Hut circles and field system with stone clearance heaps; also possible patch of cord rig.

Sponsors: RCAHMS, Aberdeenshire Council.