Building record MAB15938 - MAIDEN CASTLE

Remains of a small fort, consisting of a stone wall 3.65m wide surrounded at a slightly lower level by a rampart, 3.65m wide by 0.48m high, with an external ditch 3.65m broad by 0.91m deep.

Remains of a small fort, consisting of a stone wall 3.65m wide surrounded at a slightly lower level by a rampart, 3.65m wide by 0.48m high, with an external ditch 3.65m broad by 0.91m deep. The wall is represented by a low mound of stone, of which no facing stones can be seen, enclosing an oval area with entrance in the S. The rampart consists of a low rubble mound and is best preserved in the W. The entrance through both ditch and bank coincides with that of the inner wall. It appears to have been partially excavated as there are rough trenches visible in interior and abutting the wall. No record by whom. Two of the trenches were re-cut in 2007 by Murray Cook revealing the inner and outer revetments of a rampart and areas of burning. Remains of a possible small furnace, a fragment of crucible, several flints and a sherd of beaker were also recovered. Part of a roundhouse was noted but not excavated in 2007. The interior has a number of mature beech trees growing within it with the roots causing considerable damage. Samples from below and above the inner rampart and under the inner stone walled enclosure have given calibrated radiocarbon dates of, respectively, AD 530-640, AD 500-650 and AD 420-610. Construction of the defences is suggested to be between AD 420 and AD 650. In July 2008, an evaluation was carried out at this site by AOC as part of the 'Hillforts of Strathdon' project. Three trenches and a series of trial pits were excavated, revealing evidence for later rectilinear buildings and evidence for more extensive metal working in the site's vicinity. Artefacts and charcoal were also recovered.

Period Notes
dating 420-610AD. radiocarbon dates (Bib ref 11131) SUERC-22160 - below inner rampart, 1500 +/- 30 BP (cal AD 530-640; SUERC-15909 - above inner rampart, 1495 +/- 40 BP (cal AD 500-650), SUERC-15908 - under inner stone-walled enclosure, 1540 +/- 40 BP (cal AD 420-610).

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 26/06/2007 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

FEACHEM, RW, 1963, PREHISTORIC SCOTLAND, 105 (Bibliographic reference). SAB503.

RALSTON, IBM, 1983, BAR 118, 161 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1527.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2008, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION SCOTLAND, p.27-8 (Cook et al) (Bibliographic reference). SAB4029.

BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.

AOC, 2008, HILLFORTS OF STRATHDON PHASE 2: DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB3489.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p.23 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL, 2010, A LAD O'PAIRTS: A DAY CONFERENCE IN MEMORY OF IAIN SHEPHERD, pp.62-65 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8471.

COOK, M, 2011, MAIDEN CASTLE, INSCH, ABERDEENSHIRE: CHOICE AND ARCHITECTURE IN PICTLAND. TAFAJ, 17 (2011) 25-35, pp 25-35 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5336.

COOK, M, 2012, NEW EVIDENCE FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF PICTISH POTENTATES IN ABERDEENSHIRE: THE HILLFORTS OF STRATHDON. , PSAS 141, 207-229 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5355.

COOK, M, 2013, OPEN OR ENCLOSED: SETTLEMENT PATTERNS AND HILLFORT CONSTRUCTION IN STRATHDON, 1800BC - AD1000 IN PPS 79, PP327-352, PPS 79, 327-352 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6619.

Jun 26 2007 , DG1421-46, DG1421-46 (Ground Photograph). SAB19177.

Record last edited

Jan 17 2025 11:10AM