Earthwork record MAB43842 - HA' HILLOCK, DESKFORD
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Summary
Motte, situated on the West edge of a steep-sided gully of Ha' Burn and protected on the landward side by a broad ditch.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 11046
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 5096 6280 (65m by 115m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ56SW |
| Authority | Moray |
| Civil Parish | Deskford |
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
Motte, situated on the West edge of a steep-sided gully of Ha' Burn and protected on the landward side by a broad ditch. The mound was probably originally circular, with a 28m diameter base and a flat, elliptical top circa 9m by 6m. The mound is now spread on the east side, probably by landslip. The entrance is by a causeway in the north-northwest. Coring for radiocarbon dating was carried out in April 2019, a sample of charcoal at a depth of 6m, dating to 386 BC - 206 BC. Feld-walking was also carried out in the adjacent field to the west of the mound, in the area nearest the motte. No cultural material was found during the field walk. A single core was taken from the centre of the flat top of the mound at NJ 50954 62775. The mound was cored to a depth of 6m. The stratigraphy of the mound consisted of glacial soils and stones, with no organic material apart from the 0.35m of post-construction topsoil and the 0.15m of original topsoil located between 4.62m and 4.77m below the mound surface, which was the base of core 5 that contained the charcoal retained for radiocarbon dating.
Period Notes
Radiocarbon date from coring sample 2019: SUERC-94505 (GU55645), 2242 +/- 24 BP (30/09/2020), calibrated to 386 BC - 206 BC at 2 sigma (OxCal 4.4 run 02/10/2020), material - charcoal.
SPENCE, J, 1892, T BUCHAN FC (1891-2) 95, 95 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1887.
BOGDAN, NQ, 1991, Castles, Manors & Town House survey, 36 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2251.
NANCE, D, 2020, HA’ HILLOCK MOTTE, DESKFORD, MORAY. A REPORT INTO ITS STRATIGRAPHY AND DATING, Report (Bibliographic reference). SAB3021.
May 20 1986 , FS 11-31, FS 11-31 (Ground Photograph). SAB31056.
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, 67-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: MOR;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 11046;
- NMR Card Number: NJ56SW18;
- NRHE Numlink: 17986;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ56SW0014;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM11046 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/17986 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. 67-8.
- --- SAB1887 Bibliographic reference: SPENCE, J. 1892. T BUCHAN FC (1891-2) 95. 95.
- --- SAB2251 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, NQ. 1991. Castles, Manors & Town House survey. Y. 36.
- --- SAB3021 Bibliographic reference: NANCE, D. 2020. HA’ HILLOCK MOTTE, DESKFORD, MORAY. A REPORT INTO ITS STRATIGRAPHY AND DATING. Report.
- --- SAB31056 Ground Photograph: May 20 1986 . FS 11-31. Black & White. FS 11-31.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
Record last edited
Jun 16 2023 3:46PM
