Building record MAB41488 - LOCH OF LEYS

Remains of a crannog and later structure.

Remains of a crannog and later structure. When the Loch of Leys was drained in 1850, an excavation revealed an artificial island with foundations made of oak and birch trees laid alternatively and filled up with earth and stones. When excavated, the bark was quite fresh on the trees. The island was surrounded by oak piles which projected a few feet above the ground. The remains of a large red deer, bronze vessels and a mill-stone were also recovered. The foundations of a probable late medieval structure were exposed during excavation. In the late 18th century 'ruins of houses and an oven' were still apparently visible on the island. This crannog is traditionally believed to have been the seat of the Wauchope family before being deprived of their possessions as a result of their opposition to Bruce. It then became the property of the Burnetts of Leys from circa 1324, who probably lived there until Crathes Castle was built in the late 16th century. A survey and excavation was carried out by Michael J. Stratigos in February to March 2016. The work included a full topographical survey of the island and an excavation of a single 2 x 3 metres trench. The organic elements of the crannog have deteriorated significantly since 1850. The trial trench recorded well laid stone work that capped the organic anthropogenic layer. On top of the island mount, the walls of a medieval building can still be seen covering an area circa 20 x 20 metres. The function of this building is unclear. Two contexts within the trial trench provided radiocarbon dates of 21-209 cal AD (95% probability) and 890-1013 cal AD (95% probability).

Period Notes
Loch drained 1850. Radiocarbon dates: Poz-83364 (context 108), 1910 +/- 30 BP, 21-209 cal AD (95 percent probability, calibrated with OxCal v4.2.3); Poz-83362 (context 103), 1095 +/- 30 BP, 890-1013 cal AD (95 percent probability, calibrated with OxCal v4.2.3)

BURNETT, J, 1855, PSAS 1(1851-5) 26-7, 26-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB102.

BRONZE VESSELS

STUART, J, 1866, PSAS 6(1864-66) 114-78, 126-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1909.

BRONZE VESSELS

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No3(1864) 77-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

BRONZE VESSELS

McCONNACHIE, AL, 1898, THE ROYAL DEE, 138 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1136.

BRONZE VESSELS

SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 67 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.

BRONZE VESSELS

STRATIGOS, M J, 2013, THE CRANNOGS OF NORTHEAST SCOTLAND: QUANTIFYING THE RESOURCE. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON MA DISSERTATION, 47-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1743.

STRATIGOS, M.J., 2016, LOCH OF LEYS CRANNOG: DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB1770.

STRATIGOS, M, 2017, A NEW CHRONOLOGY FOR CRANNOGS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. IN PSAS 147, 147-173 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4836.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2017, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 17, 2016, p. 12 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6497.

Apr 26 2004 , AAS/04/1/CT35-6, AAS/04/1/CT35-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18050.

Jan 8 2002 , GR/02/CT4, GR/02/CT4 (Ground Photograph). SAB17798.

Mar 3 1999 , AAS/99/05/CT28-33, AAS/99/05/CT28-33 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17219.

Mar 3 1999 , AAS/99/05/G7/3-6, AAS/99/05/G7/3-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17242.

May 30 2000 , AAS/00/07/CT2-7, AAS/00/07/CT2-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17374.

May 30 2000 , AAS/00/07/G21/1,2, AAS/00/07/G21/1,2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17373.

RCAHMS, n.d., N KINC LIST, No237 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1509.

BRONZE VESSELS

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, (1842) 327-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

BRONZE VESSELS

Record last edited

Jun 20 2023 12:23PM