Castledykes

An aerial transcription was produced from oblique aerial photographs. Information from Historic Environment Scotland (BM) 31 March 2017.

The fort of Castledykes lies just above the River Clyde, east of Lanark. It was extensively excavated from the 1930s to the 1950s and successive Flavian and Antonine forts were recognised (Robertson 1964a; RCAHMS 1978a:124–7).

Annexes are visible to the south and west of the fort, and several lie to the east. One enclosure here was proposed as a labour camp for the Antonine fort, dated by its finds (Robertson 1964a: 150–1). It also appears to have been used as an annexe, possibly for an extra-mural settlement or working area (RCAHMS 1978a: 127).

Surrounding the fort, some four temporary camps have now been identified through cropmarks (two demonstrating at least two phases of occupation), with three further camps nearby, at Cleghorn and Carstairs Mains.

Camp I, lying north-west of the fort, has at least two phases of occupation (A and B), evidenced by reducing ditches on both the east and west sides of the camp. It was first discovered in 1946 by St Joseph from the air (1951a: 57), with its secondary use recognised in the 1960s. The camp measures some 548m from north-west to south-east by 437m transversely, enclosing almost 24ha (59 acres).

Additional linear cropmarks running NNE to SSW across the south-east and north-west end of the camp presumably represent a reduction in its size for a second phase, but it is unclear whether the two cropmarks relate to contemporary occupation or to successive phases of use. If contemporary, then the reduced camp measures 357m by 437m and enclosed 15.7ha (almost 39 acres).

The larger camp (IA ) is equipped with Stracathro-type gates on its north-east and south-east sides. Excavations at the north-east gate in 1987 recorded that the ditch of the camp was 1.95m wide and 0.6m deep; that at the clavicula was 1.1m wide and about 0.5m deep; and the ditch extending across the west part of the gateway was 1.5m wide and 0.25m deep. The entrance itself was 10m wide. Three stake holes were dug into the end of the clavicula ditch, which were interpreted as evidence of fencing(Keppie 1996b: 81), and may relate to the field systemclearly visible across the Castledykes area. It is assumed that a secondary use of the camp (IB) would have also utilised the north-eastern entrance, but there was no clear evidence of any recutting of the camp defences in the small area excavated (Keppie 1996b: 81).

Camp II lies to the north of the fort and also has two phases of occupation, with a reducing ditch on its west side. Another linear cropmark within the camp, east of centre, could indicate further phases of use. The camp was first recorded in 1952 by St Joseph from the air (1955: 85) with the secondary phases noted in the early 1960s (1965: 80). Phase one (camp IIA) measures 260m from north-west to south-east by 204m transversely, enclosing almost 5.2ha (13 acres). The reduced camp (II B) probably measures 260m by 153m, enclosing almost 4ha (9.6 acres), but if the linear cropmark represents a further camp, then this could measure some 260m by 137m and enclose 3.5ha (8.6 acres). Entrances for the larger camp (IIA) are visible in its south-west and north-west sides, both protected by tituli; that on the north-west lies in the centre of the reduced camp (IIB).

An extensive field system is visible in the vicinity, elements of which must be later than this camp, owing to the way that its defences are utilised by the fields (see above, section 7h).

Camp III lies within camp I with its perimeter intersecting a reducing ditch of camp IB, but the relationship between the two is unknown. First recorded in the mid 1950s by St Joseph from the air (1958: 89), it measures 122m from north-west to south-east by 81m transversely, enclosing almost 1ha (2.4 acres). No entrances are known. Partially overlapping the eastern part of camp II , and possibly also the north-eastern corner of the fort, lies camp IV, the most recent discovery on the plateau (by RCAHMS in 1989: Frere 1990: 312). It is irregular in form, measuring about 440m from west to east by at least 320m, although its southern perimeter is unconfirmed. It therefore enclosed at least 14ha (35 acres). Keppie

and Maxwell (1991) speculated that it could enclose in excess of 19ha (48 acres), but it seems likely on grounds of topography and its relationship to the fort location that it enclosed some 15.7ha (39 acres). An entrance gap is recorded in the north side where there is a change of alignment. Excavations on the ditch in 1991 recorded that it averaged 2.5m wide (Keppie and Maxwell 1991). The western side of the camp intersects camp II but their relative chronology is unknown. Castledykes IA is usually interpreted as being the earliest feature on the site (St Joseph 1964: 257) owing to its Stracathro-type gates, but its relationship with camp III has not been determined. Keppie and Maxwell suggested that camp IV might be Flavian because of the potential overlap with the nearby fort (1991: 69); indeed, one of the ditches running eastwards from the north-east corner of the fort may be associated with this camp rather than one of the annexes. No dating evidence has yet been produced from any of the camps.

R H Jones

NS 9225 4453 (NS94SW 7.04) A watching brief was undertaken, 1–5 August 2016, during development work on land at Ayr Road. Topsoil stripping prior to the construction of an agricultural shed, access track and hard standing, revealed a fairly clean fine silty topsoil containing occasional post-medieval or early modern sherds of roof tiles or field drains.

Archive: NRHE. Report: NRHE and WoSAS

Funder: Mr J Stewart

Rebecca Shaw – Rebecca Shaw Archaeological Services

(Source: DES, Volume 17)