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Carradale

Pit(S) (Period Unassigned), Organic Material (Charcoal), Unidentified Pottery (Bronze Age)

Site Name Carradale

Classification Pit(S) (Period Unassigned), Organic Material (Charcoal), Unidentified Pottery (Bronze Age)

Alternative Name(s) Auchnasavil; Achnasavil; Carradale Water

Canmore ID 38844

Site Number NR73NE 9

NGR NR 791 386

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

C14 Radiocarbon Dating

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/38844

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish Saddell And Skipness
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Argyll And Bute
  • Former County Argyll

Archaeology Notes

NR73NE 9 792 386

In December 1985 charcoal layers and pits were noticed in the river bank where a loop of the Carradale Water has been enlarged and altered in shape over the past 20 years. Site 'A' presents a solid black layer of charcoal sloping steeply down from the present ground level for more than a metre and leveling out just above boulder clay. Following the same direction is a broad band of brown soil containing charcoal and fragments of human bone. A hammer-stone and part of a flat centrally pierced stone disc were retrieved from tha brown layer and from the clay below it enough sherds to complete the profile of a 14cm. diameter plain, flat-based vessel, probably late Bronze Age. One rim sherd of a larger pot was found in a fall of earth. Site 'B' is about 50m distant and separated by a fast eroding neck of land and consists of two pits, one U-shaped and the other tilted bowl-shape. Both contain heat split stones in a matrix o f soil and charcoal. The limits of the second appear to be defined by unburned s tones and there is a deposit of similar rubble in the middle with pieces of charcoal up to 1cm. in size amongst it. A third layer is just appearing between the two.

G Siggins 1986.

Four hearths eventually appeared at Site B and evidence of iron making, though no visible smelter yet identified. Erosion over winter 1986-87 and since, has revealed a scatter of charcoal continuing northwards from the hearths and round a newly formed promontory where a pile of large stones was exposed on a broad terrace of iron stained gravel which overlies clay beds containing an abundance of well-preserved vegetation - leaves, twigs, nuts, etc., 2m-3m below present ground level. A similar pile of stones was lifted by JCB during drainage operations two fields away to the N this summer. At present these piles of stones, though suggesting a collapsed structure can only be described as 'interesting'. Pit 5, recently located, differs from the others. It seems disturbed; there are concentrations of charcoal and stones at one side and pink-red burned clay in the centre. A forked branch passes through the pit (cf Pit B3).

G Siggins 1987.

The Carra Water has continued to destroy two sides of this field. This year a third area of interest 'C', has been added to 'A'. 'A' still yields charcoal and fragments of calcined bone - human and animal - and last December a sherd of coarse, brownish-grey pottery was found on a gravel bank in front of it. Of a total of six features at 'B' between December 1985 and December 1987 only a hearth and a large pit remain. The latter, B5, is roughly V shaped and contains a mixture of debris such as decayed wood, stones and patches of burned soil and charcoal.

It is unlike the more structured pits and hearths, now destroyed which were associated with ironmaking. A C14 date of 2370+- 100 bp (GU2410) was obtained from B5. 'C' has appeared in the crumbling river terrace to the east of 'A' and consists of a dark line, 3-4cms thick, running some 30cms below the surface of the field. A small trench, dug well away from the edge of the river cutting showed that a compacted layer containing a few flakes of charcoal and fragments of iron continues under the field. The layer is interrupted by old drainage ditches from an adjoining field.

G Siggins 1988.

Grid reference of NR 792 386, quoted in DES is erroneous; it should read NR 791 386.

Information from G Siggins to Dr J N G Ritchie, 8 May 1989.

NR 792 386 There have been no developments at parts 'A' and 'C' but in October 1988 rough weather with flooding completely covered 'B' with sand almost levelling it with the field that overlies the occupations. At the same time new features appeared in section in the riverbank on a third side of the field where a large promontory had been washed away the previous spring, 'D'. These consist of a v-shaped pit of brown soil with some charcoal and a few stones; a 3m long horizontal band of irregular depth containing charcoal scatters and pockets, and a very dense scoop-shaped deposit of blackened soil with large pieces of charcoal and projections above and below as if wooden stakes had been burned in situ. There is also an intrusion of soft red clay some 2m wide at its top which interrupts the otherwise undisturbed layers of terrace material. Though this appears natural (red clay occurs in quantity further down river and was used for various purposes in the recent past), flecks of charcoal can be seen on close inspection throughout the deposit and a substance like slightly hardened clay runs through it in two places to the bottom where it spreads as if poured and set.

Small finds at 'D' include a few fragments of iron and some slag plus other evidence of iron making activity and a sherd of worn, buff-coloured pottery. From shallow water where 'B' and 'D' conjoin the upper stone of a rotary quern was retrieved, much waterworn but complete with hopper and handle hole. It was supported on its edge against a heavy stone block which has one flat surface - possibly a saddle quern. On a gravel bank in front of 'B' a wedge-shaped fragment of a possible spindle quern was also found, a piece of iron still in place at what would have been the centre.

G Siggins 1989a.

There have been more episodes of severe flooding than usual over the past twelve months. Parts 'A' and 'C' have not been greatly affected, being more sheltered from the full onslaught of the weather, but the stretch of 'B' which had contained the most impressive and undisturbed evidence for ironmaking no longer exists. The features at 'D', including two post holes which appeared later, have also gone, though there is still a good deal of thickly scattered charcoal where 'D' merges with the remains of 'B'. A black line has now appeared in the northward continuation of the riverbank from 'D'; this is interrupted by a square sectioned possible socket, a pointed post hole, and a small pit of irregular shape and there is some charcoal at its furthest extent.

A geophysical survey by HBM shows that areas of possible archaeological interest may yet lie beneath the remainder of the field and it is hoped these will be investigated by excavation in due course.

G Siggins 1990.

A concentration of archaeological features at Achnasavil, Carradale, which has been recorded since 1985, is being rapidly destroyed by river erosion. Limited excavations were carried out in 1991 in order to date and characterise the nature of the site. Four periods of activity have been identified: cultivation in the Neolithic period; an occupation in the early Bronze Age; a domestic settlement in the late Bronze Age; and an Iron Age occupation. A programme of morphological mapping and dating of valley floor terraces in lower Carradale showed that the present day flood plain of the Carra Water was created by the early Neolithic period and the morphology of the valley floor has changed little since that time.

S Carter and R Tipping 1993.

Four small areas were excavated to investigate features revealed by river erosion over a number of years. A radiocarbon date of 2370 +/- 100 bp has been obtained from a previously recorded pit fill. Groups of plough truncated post holes and shallow pits were located but very few finds were recovered. A substantial though poorly preserved prehistoric site is indicated. Further charcoal samples have been submitted for dating.

Sponsor: HS.

S Carter 1991b.

Following excavations in the field overlying the occupation, and a riverbank fall, a post hole packed with stones and two irregular-shaped pits were exposed. A well-worn whetstone and a convex flint scraper were also found in tumble at this point.

G Siggins 1991a.

A stone-filled pit in the riverbank 13m N of the original 1985 find extends to 80cm beneath the field. The stones are packed in with small, thin ones filling gaps. One extra large stone is well-bedded and quite stable after several months of protruding from the riverbank. Among the stones is black soil with pockets of charcoal; a few bone fragments and a small sherd were also found. A band of dark soil with small stones is appearing 1.20m to the S - a quite separate feature.

Radiocarbon dates in 1991 (supra) show that the site was under cultivation in the Neolithic and occupied early and late in the Bronze Age; with the Iron Age radiocarbon date obtained from features now destroyed by erosion, the multi-period nature of the site is now established.

G Siggins 1992.

Activities

Excavation (1991)

Four small areas were excavated to investigate features revealed by river erosion over a number of years. A radiocarbon date of 2370 +/- 100 bp has been obtained from a previously recorded pit fill. Groups of plough truncated post holes and shallow pits were located but very few finds were recovered. A substantial though poorly preserved prehistoric site is indicated. Further charcoal samples have been submitted for dating.

Sponsor: HS.

S Carter 1991b.

Following excavations in the field overlying the occupation, and a riverbank fall, a post hole packed with stones and two irregular-shaped pits were exposed. A well-worn whetstone and a convex flint scraper were also found in tumble at this point.

G Siggins 1991a.

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