Earthwork record MAB44436 - CASKIEBEN
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Summary
Remains of a motte.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 75
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 7879 2136 (82m by 82m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ72SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Keithhall and Kinkell |
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
Remains of a motte. The first castle in this area was a palisaded tower or hall of the Garriachs, established during the Norman Penetrations, superseded by the 13th Century stone castle later named Keith Hall (NJ72SE0041). The motte was moated by a large sub-circular ditch, up to 15 m in breadth and 2 m deep, circa 4 m in width at the base. There is no obvious sign of survival of the resultant upcast forming additional features to the inside or outside of the ditch (although this is to be expected with such sites) and there is no evidence for a causeway or bridged entrance. The ditch may have been deliberately waterlogged (particularly as this is a poorly drained area) but there is no physical connection visible between this and the canalised stream channel immediately to the north of the site, which may have acted as a water supply. Researchers have argued that the ditch represents a defensive feature of these monuments and this appears to be the case at Caskieben. The interior is a broad sub-circular platform measuring approximately 44m in diameter and the structural remains that survive here are now obscured by the dense ground cover of rough grass and leaf litter. The motte sits within the policies of Keith Hall in a copse of mature broadleaf woodland (NJ72SE0212).
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 303 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
SIMPSON, WD, 1949, EARLDOM OF MAR, 39, 140-1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1681.
BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.
DRANSART, P, 2008, PROSPECT AND EXCAVATION OF MOATED SITES, p.122-123 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4035.
Aug 3 1988 , AAS/88/07/S14/5, AAS/88/07/S14/5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14256.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 75;
- NMR Card Number: NJ72SE40;
- NRHE Numlink: 18913;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ72SE0040;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM75 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/18913 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SAB14256 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 3 1988 . AAS/88/07/S14/5. Black & White. AAS/88/07/S14/5.
- --- SAB1681 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1949. EARLDOM OF MAR. 39, 140-1.
- --- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
- --- SAB4035 Bibliographic reference: DRANSART, P. 2008. PROSPECT AND EXCAVATION OF MOATED SITES. p.122-123.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 303.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Feb 1 2024 12:03PM
