Auchentorlie
Bracelet, Flake(S) (Flint)
Site Name Auchentorlie
Classification Bracelet, Flake(S) (Flint)
Alternative Name(s) Greenland; Sheep Hill
Canmore ID 89450
Site Number NS47SW 80
NGR NS 434 745
NGR Description Centred NS 434 745
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/89450
- Council West Dunbartonshire
- Parish Old Kilpatrick (Dumbarton)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Dumbarton
- Former County Dunbartonshire
NS47SW 80 centred 434 745.
During July 1994, two weeks were spent investigating the archaeological potential of the unscheduled valley area between scheduled sites NS47SW 4 and NS47SW 6 in view of the landowners' stated desire to extend their quarrying southwards. This involved: (a) stripping sandstone outcrops (to investigate whether any were decorated); (b) excavating ten sample test pits; (c) opening trenches immediately to the S of the decorated outcrops Greenland 1 and 2 (NS47SW 4) and S of an undecorated sandstone outcrop adjacent to Greenland 2; and (d) undertaking a magnetic susceptibility survey, covering all the trenches but focusing on the last-mentioned area (to test for signs of burning).
The outcrops in the valley were all found to be undecorated, and all but two of the test pits (TPs) were devoid of structural or artefactual material: stripping of the turf revealed only undisturbed subsoil and bedrock. TP 1, approximately 30m S of Greenland 1 and 2, produced a sandstone fragment bearing two parallel curving incised lines: if genuinely a piece of decorated rock, this could have derived from the truncation of Greenland 1 or 2. TP 7, at the N foot of Sheep Hill, produced rock tumble (probably deriving from the collapsed ramparts of the hillfort) and five fragments of cannel coal, including a fragment of a bangle.
Excavation immediately to the S of Greenland 2 produced two tiny flint flakes, resting on the presumed OLS some 7m-8m S of the extant decorated surface; and excavation to the S and E of Greenland 1 produced two fragments of decorated rock in the area of rubble described in the previous entry. The magnetic susceptibility survey yielded anomalies suggestive of burning in the trench adjacent to the undecorated outcrop near Greenland 2. Whilst this is a possibility - perhaps relating to the burning of scrub at an indeterminate period - the anomalies did not correspond to any visible features. Furthermore, although the sandstone outcrops produced far lower readings than the adjacent subsoil and till, the fact that the latter derive from the basalt bedrock surrounding the sandstone may have affected the readings.
Although the fieldwork did not reveal much evidence for significant human activity in the area of the decorated outcrops, it should be noted that much of the area had been considerably damaged by quarrying activities.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
C Barrowman and D Meller 1994.
Excavation (July 1994)
During July 1994, two weeks were spent investigating the archaeological potential of the unscheduled valley area between scheduled sites NS47SW 4 and 6, in view of the landowners' stated desire to extend their quarrying southwards. This involved: (a) stripping sandstone outcrops (to investigate whether any were decorated); (b) excavating ten sample test pits; (c) opening trenches immediately to the S of the decorated outcrops Greenland 1 and 2 (NS47SW 4) and S of an undecorated sandstone outcrop adjacent to Greenland 2; and (d) undertaking a magnetic susceptibility survey, covering all the trenches but focusing on the last-mentioned area (to test for signs of burning).
The outcrops in the valley were all found to be undecorated, and all but two of the test pits (TPs) were devoid of structural or artefactual material: stripping of the turf revealed only undisturbed subsoil and bedrock. TP 1, approximately 30m S of Greenland 1 and 2, produced a sandstone fragment bearing two parallel curving incised lines: if genuinely a piece of decorated rock, this could have derived from the truncation of Greenland 1 or 2. TP 7, at the N foot of Sheep Hill, produced rock tumble (probably deriving from the collapsed ramparts of the hillfort) and five fragments of cannel coal, including a fragment of a bangle.
Excavation immediately to the S of Greenland 2 produced two tiny flint flakes, resting on the presumed OLS some 7m-8m S of the extant decorated surface; and excavation to the S and E of Greenland 1 produced two fragments of decorated rock in the area of rubble described in the previous entry. The magnetic susceptibility survey yielded anomalies suggestive of burning in the trench adjacent to the undecorated outcrop near Greenland 2. Whilst this is a possibility - perhaps relating to the burning of scrub at an indeterminate period - the anomalies did not correspond to any visible features. Furthermore, although the sandstone outcrops produced far lower readings than the adjacent subsoil and till, the fact that the latter derive from the basalt bedrock surrounding the sandstone may have affected the readings.
Although the fieldwork did not reveal much evidence for significant human activity in the area of the decorated outcrops, it should be noted that much of the area had been considerably damaged by quarrying activities.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
C Barrowman and D Meller 1994.
