Earthwork record MAB44676 - ADEN COUNTRY PARK

A group of 27 circular enclosures or possible huts within a plantation 40m north of the former stables of Aden House, between NJ 9805 4798 and NJ 9811 4819, visible on aerial photographs 1940s-1970s.

A group of 27 circular enclosures or possible huts within a plantation 40m north of the former stables of Aden House, between NJ 9805 4798 and NJ 9811 4819, visible on aerial photographs 1940s-1970s. The southern part of the area, south of the track, was cleared of trees and landscaped as a new arboretum: the features in this area are shown on a park orienteering map of 1991. RCAHMS field visit 1996 recorded the circular features under the new growth of trees, comprising an irregular cluster of 20 circular banked enclosures, each circa 10 m in diameter, surrounded individually or in groups by a well defined ditch. The enclosures north of the track were investigated in 2013 by MAS as part of the Book of Deer project. Survey identified four categories of features: drainage channels and associated earth banks formed of the upcast, probably of relatively recent date, an area of dumping of rubbish probably from Aden House containing bottles and china of 19th and 20th century date, a stone path and five curvilinear features with constructed banks. Limited excavation of the curvilinear features was carried out, but these could not be dated from the finds. A single undiagnostic flint flake was recovered but this may have derived from the source of clay for the bank rather than the structures. It has been suggested that these features were of military origin, perhaps built by the 3rd (Buchan) Administrative Battalion of the Rifle Volunteers who trained at Aden and pitched camp near the South Lodge in 1871 and 1873, although this was some distance from the west. The park was used on later occasions for military purposes including during World War II. However the location close to a burn and their morphology points to a late prehistoric date, similar to groups of stone walled house sites at New Kinord (NJ40SW0016) and Old Kinord (NJ40SW0015). Two of the features are suggested to be circular buildings for dwelling or domestic use, the more open structures animal enclosures. A further group of features lies to the east.

FRASER, I, 1997, ENCLOSURES AT ADEN, ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB4096.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2013, BOOK OF DEER PROJECT EXCAVATIONS 2013: ADEN PARK, MINTLAW, ABERDEENSHIRE, Excav report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5087.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2014, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 14, 2013, p.28 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5483.

Jul 13 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-714 - 726, AAS-GR-15-07-714 - 726 (Ground Photograph). SAB35955.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2022 10:06AM