Building record MAB15230 - GREENBOGS, MONYMUSK

Remains of palisaded settlement and round houses, found while removing soil prior to gravel extraction to infill a ditch.

Remains of palisaded settlement and round houses, found while removing soil prior to gravel extraction to infill a ditch. Features found were planned and only a few were excavated for dating evidence. The area is divided into three low elongated knolls, which are part of a low gravel ridge above the River Don flood plain north of Monymusk. The most northerly area (Area I) appears to be a small cremation cemetery with several pits containing dark carbon material. One small pit contained an almost complete small food vessel with cremated bone within it. Two other pits contained cremated bone, with one also having a broken small bronze ring within it. The central area (Area II) has the remains of a palisade with at least twenty-three postholes still visible, also several pits containing burnt material. One of these pits contained a flint flake, a piece of pottery and a possible split pebble knife on its surface. Area II also produced sherds of Uncarinated and Modified Carinated Bowl ware indicative of a date circa 3,500 BC. The most southerly knoll (Area III) had three timber structures, two circular (one with an outer setting of 34 post holes, the other 31) and each with a central setting of four large posts, the third oval with associated traces of burning and heat shattered stones, possibly an industrial area. Radiocarbon dating shows that the two four-post structures date to the period 2890-2490 cal BC. The closest parallels to these structures are Late Neolithic timber structures, some of which are interpreted as roofed dwellings, others as unroofed monuments. A single sherd of grooved-ware pottery, and a possible second sherd which is undecorated and possibly ploughed out of Posthole C2 Structure 2, indicate a possible connection between Grooved Ware and four-poster timber architecture of the Late Neolithic. On further clearing in Area 1, more structural evidence was uncovered including the remains of at least three other timber huts, one of which was rather elongated and may be of Neolithic date, plus further possible palisade postholes. Two very small ring ditches circa 1.5 m in diameter were uncovered, one having a number of small pits encircling it, some showing traces of burning and a few fragments of calcined bone. Within the ring ditch of this one were placed a number of small stones. Two long shallow trenches were observed, initially thought to be a possible cursus, but excavation would suggest otherwise. Little remained to fully establish purpose. The whole area was reinstated so features still survive beneath the surface.

Period Notes
SUERC 28261 - Context AA-001 Sample 1 - Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa - 3020 +/- 40 BP (which equals 1396 BC - 1129 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 28262 - Context AA-003 Sample 2 - Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa - 3070 +/- 40 BP (which equals 1431 BC - 1216 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 28263 - Context F42-105 Sample 3 - Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa - 3110 +/- 40 BP (which equals 1491 BC - 1269 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 28264 - Context AG-028 Sample 4 - Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa - 2175 +/- 40 BP (which equals 375 BC - 111 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 28265 - Context AJ-026 Sample 5 - Charcoal of Quercus sp - 2245 +/- 40 BP (which equals 394 BC - 203 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 28269 - Context Hut B phB4-065 Sample 6 - Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa - 4165 +/- 40 BP (which equals 2886 BC - 2624 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 28270 - Context Hut A phA4-051 Sample 7 - Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa - 4100 +/- 40 BP (which equals 2871 BC - 2498 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 33430 – Context Hut A: A26 – Charcoal of Alnus Glutinosa – 4125 +/- 30 BP (which equals 2869 BC – 2580 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 33433 – Context Ring-ditch F39:100 – charcoal of alnus glutinosa – 3120 +/- 30 BP (which equals 1453 BC – 1312 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC 33431 – Context Pit AG:028 – charcoal of Quercus sp – 2425 +/- 30 BP (which equals 749 BC – 402 BC at 2 sigma)

SUERC 33432 – Context Pit AJ:026 – charcoal of Quercus sp. - 2285+/-30 BP (which equals 404 BC – 211 BC at 2 sigma)

The above calibrated dates are derived from OxCal 4.1

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 17/02/95 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Greig, MK, 1996, Discovery & Excavation, 9,10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB674.

NOBLE, G, 2011, EXCAVATIONS AT A MULTI-PERIOD SITE AT GREENBOGS, ABERDEENSHIRE, SCOTLAND (Bibliographic reference). SAB1327.

Feb 1 1995 , MB 17-29, MB 17-29 (Ground Photograph). SAB33346.

Feb 1 1995 , MD 1-15, MD 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33349.

Feb 1 1995 , ME 1-15, ME 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33350.

Feb 1 1995 , MF 1-15, MF 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33351.

Feb 1 1995 , MG 1-15, MG 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33352.

Feb 1 1995 , MH 1-15, MH 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33353.

Jan 10 1995 , MC 9-13, MC 9-13 (Ground Photograph). SAB33347.

Jan 18 1995 , Untitled Source (Ground Photograph). SAB15643.

Jul 7 1977 , NJ61N 2729162-3, NJ61N 2729162-3 (Air-vertical Photograph). SAB15644.

May 4 1995 , MI 1-15, MI 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33354.

May 4 1995 , MJ 16-22,26-28, MJ 16-22,26-28 (Ground Photograph). SAB33355.

May 4 1995 , MK 5-15, MK 5-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33360.

Author unknown, n.d., INVERURIE AVERTISER, 17/02/95 (Bibliographic reference). SAB858.

Record last edited

Nov 13 2025 2:31PM