Building record MAB29059 - SANDS OF FORVIE

Remains of Bronze Age/Iron Age settlement, consisting of the remains of a total of 31 huts.

Remains of Bronze Age/Iron Age settlement, consisting of the remains of a total of 31 huts. The floors were sunk into the sand underlying a heath surface, and covered with red clay or paving stones. The walls were formed by banking up the excavated sand and stabilising it with clay and turf to carry a stone kerb. Inside posts supported the roof timbers. The entrances were invariably on the E side. The small finds were discovered both within and outside the huts, indicating LBA/EIA date. Outside the huts amid a scatter of fire-cracked stones, traces of working places were discovered with small finds scattered around. The huts varied from 6-12m in diameter. Artefacts from the area include jet beads, bracelets, querns and pottery. Area is now generally obscured by drifting sand. Site visit 2013 as part of Scotland's Coastal Heritage at Risk Project noted that only one hut is now visible. The site was recorded in October 2022 as part of the SCAPE coastal zone assessment.

Period Notes
A single carbon date from Cambridge (Q-761) for a post associated with one hut lies in the mid-eighth century BC uncorrected - 2602+/-115 BP, calibrated to 980 BC - 408 BC (2 sigma, OxCal 4.2 run 01/11/13). Activity in this area appears to be contemporary with that of Area II to the north (NK02NW0013) excavated in 1977-80 for which 4 radiocarbon dates obtained: GU-1824, 1825, 1826, 1827

GODSMAN, J, 1952, HISTORY OF THE BURGH & PARISH OF ELLON, ABERDEENSHIRE, 33-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB591.

KIRK, W, 1953, PREHISTORIC SITES AT THE SANDS OF FORVIE, ABERDEENSHIRE: A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. IN ABERDEEN UNIV REVIEW 35, 150-71
, 150-71 (Bibliographic reference). SAB979.

HAWKE-SMITH, 1980, PSAS 110(1978-80) 497-534, 497-534 (Bibliographic reference). SAB719.

RALSTON, IBM, 1983, BAR 118, 155 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1527.

RALSTON, I, 1992, THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE SANDS OF FORVIE AND THE YTHAN VALLEY (Bibliographic reference). SAB3054.

RALSTON, IBM, 2001, EXCAVATIONS OF SECOND AND FIRST MILLENNIA BC REMAINS ON THE SANDS OF FORVIE, SLAINS, ABERDEENSHIRE. O'DELL MEMORIAL MONOGRAPH 28 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3071.

SCAPE, 2023, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY ABERDEENSHIRE AND CITY OF ABERDEEN: CULLEN TO MILTON NESS, ID 12581 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4866.

Aug 7 1989 , MW 18-37, MW 18-37 (Ground Photograph). SAB33400.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT443-45,447-67, AAS/GR/89/CT443-45,447-67 (Ground Photograph). SAB33233.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT471-472, AAS/GR/89/CT471-472 (Ground Photograph). SAB33234.

Jan 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT626-627, AAS/GR/97/CT626-627 (Ground Photograph). SAB33068.

Sep 9 1989 , JI 2-3, JI 2-3 (Ground Photograph). SAB33718.

Record last edited

Apr 9 2026 2:45PM