Earthwork record MAB44677 - ADEN COUNTRY PARK

Remains of military training trenches.

Remains of military training trenches. An area of earthworks, including a number of circular features (which had been thought possibly the remains of huts) lie within woodland at this location and are shown on a 1991 orienteering map of the park. A second group of earthworks to the west (NJ94NE0111) was surveyed and partially excavated in 2013 as part of the Book of Deer project, and suggested to be possibly the remains of a prehistoric settlement. This eastern group of features was not surveyed at that time, but a brief walkover survey showed that here are some very similar, although larger, circular features in this area. An excavation directed by A. Cameron and J. Dunbar took place from 27 March to 7 April and 2-11 May 2017. Nineteen trenches were excavated, with 10 of the structures recorded. Two phases were identified, the first being structures that probably date from the mid 19th century in the form of irregular banks and ditches. During the second half of the 19th century the Aberdeenshire Volunteers had trained at various estates including Aden, and it is thought that these trenches were created during training events at Aden. General Russell commanded the 3rd (Buchan) Administrative battalion. In 1871 they pitched camp near the South Lodge of Aden, and the battalion again camped at Aden two years later. One of the structures appears to be shown on the OS 1st edition map. The second phase appears to date to the period around World War I, and is in the form of zig-zag trenches with parallel banks that is typical of World War I trench training structures. Finds from the excavation include 19th century pottery and glass that was recovered from below the ditches. There are also flints recovered from the same contexts as the 19th century material. Finds from the ditches themselves are from a later infilling, possibly in the late 1930s or 1940s.

Period Notes
The prehistoric flints were recovered from contexts mixed with 19th century material, so there are no secure prehistoric contexts.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 06/05/2017 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2017, ADEN COUNTRY PARK, ABERDEENSHIRE; PROJECT BRIEF HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND PROJECTS 2017, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB8211.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2017, ADEN COUNTRY PARK, SITE WEST OF CAMPING AND CARAVAN PARK (HLF 'SITE 1'): DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB6785.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2018, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOLUME 18, 2017, pp.22-23 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6463.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2022, ADEN COUNTRY PARK: POST-EXCAVATION RESEARCH DESIGN FOR EXCAVATIONS 2016-2021, PERD (Bibliographic reference). SAB8535.

CAMERON, A, 2024, ADEN COUNTRY PARK: A NEOLITHIC ENCLOSURE, POST-REFORMATION CHAPEL, 18TH C MANSION HOUSE AND A 19TH C MILITARY TRAINING GROUND (Bibliographic reference). SAB8688.

Record last edited

Jun 17 2024 12:23PM