Earthwork record MAB44497 - MOTE HILL, TILLYDRONE
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Summary
A prominent conical mound, formerly thought to be a motte, but which excavation showed to be much earlier, a defended site dating possibly to the Bronze Age, also to the 1st century AD.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 1907
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 9366 0886 (53m by 46m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ90NW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire City |
| Civil Parish | Aberdeen |
Type and Period (10)
- CAIRN (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- FENCE (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- BUILDING? (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- HEARTH (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- MOUND (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- POST HOLE (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- REVETMENT (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- STRUCTURE (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- GATEWAY (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- TRIANGULATION POINT (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
Full Description
A prominent conical mound, formerly thought to be a motte, but which excavation showed to be much earlier, a defended site dating possibly to the Bronze Age, also to the 1st century AD. There appears to have been no medieval occupation of the site. This artificial mound is located at the south end of Seaton Park, Old Aberdeen. The base of the mound is circa 30 m in diameter, the summit flat and oval measuring circa 9 m by 5 m, and its stands between 5 m and 7 m high. It was originally a prehistoric burial cairn and was then reused in the 2nd century AD as a small defended fortlet. It is therefore not a medieval motte or castle mound as was assumed until excavations took place in 2001 and 2002 took place due to erosion of several tracks down the side of the monument. Two of these tracks were excavated as well as areas on the top of the mound and around the base following a geophysical survey of the area in 1999. The excavation revealed a large stone structure at the heart of the mound which appeared to delineate an area in the centre which was probably used for burials in the Bronze Age. Post-holes near the top of the mound on the northeast face contained a number of flint tools and a copper alloy ring, possibly part of a horse harness. In the 2nd century AD, a trench was dug a third of the way down the mound and a fence or wooden revetment was constructed within which a flat area probably housed a number of buildings. A hearth containing a fragment of samian pottery was excavated. On the southeast of the mound an entrance had allowed access into the fortlet through a gate. In the post-medieval period the height of the mound at been artificially raised using sterile sand and gravel, possibly to allow the mount to be used as a beacon or lookout. In the 19th century, an Ordnance Survey trig point stood on the top. Documentary research has shown that the hill had several names prior to its present 'Mote Hill', including 'Tullidrens Hill' (Gordon map 1661) and Tillydrone Hill (Paterson 1746 map). Uses include as a military lookout during World War II, triangulation point for OS 1869 survey, and possible location of the 14th century Bishop's Court. See also NJ90NW3046 for geophysical survey around the hill.
Period Notes
Scheduled 17/05/1933
AAS/GR/77/CT107, AAS/GR/77/CT107 (Ground Photograph). SAB36671.
SMR-1-10-14A, SMR-1-10-14A (Ground Photograph). SAB36424.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 23/09/1978 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
DENNISON, E, 1997, HISTORIC ABERDEEN: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SCOTTISH BURGH SURVEY, p. 115 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4057.
KIDD, RS, 1999, RESISTIVITY SURVEY AT TILLYDRONE MOTTE MAY 1999|: DATA ANALYSIS REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB2770.
BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.
ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 2012, OLD ABERDEEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK (DRAFT) (Bibliographic reference). SAB6444.
PRATT, D, 2022, THE PREHISTORY AND HISTORY OF TILLYDRONE HILL IN SEATON PARK, ABERDEEN (Bibliographic reference). SAB5436.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ACY;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 1907;
- NMR Card Number: NJ90NW8;
- NRHE Numlink: 20205;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ90NW0020;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM1907 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/20205 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (8)
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 23/09/1978.
- --- SAB2770 Bibliographic reference: KIDD, RS. 1999. RESISTIVITY SURVEY AT TILLYDRONE MOTTE MAY 1999|: DATA ANALYSIS REPORT.
- --- SAB36424 Ground Photograph: SMR-1-10-14A. Black & White. SMR-1-10-14A.
- --- SAB36671 Ground Photograph: AAS/GR/77/CT107. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT107.
- --- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
- --- SAB4057 Bibliographic reference: DENNISON, E. 1997. HISTORIC ABERDEEN: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SCOTTISH BURGH SURVEY. Y. p. 115.
- --- SAB5436 Bibliographic reference: PRATT, D. 2022. THE PREHISTORY AND HISTORY OF TILLYDRONE HILL IN SEATON PARK, ABERDEEN.
- --- SAB6444 Bibliographic reference: ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT. 2012. OLD ABERDEEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK (DRAFT).
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
Record last edited
Nov 12 2024 2:19PM
