Earthwork record MAB45127 - MARYTON LAW

Remains of a prehistoric burial mound.

Remains of a prehistoric burial mound. It is situated on the summit of a hill, commanding extensive views, but is now tree-covered. It measures circa 34m in diameter and 5m in height, with a flat, circular top 7.5m in diameter. The sides are considerably mutilated by quarrying. There is no trace of surrounding ditch or bailey. Described by the OSA (1791-9) as 'a small eminence situated upon a rock...it is entirely artificial and probably in former times has been an alarm post, as it commands a great extent of country, or a place where the great family of Montrose distributed justice to their vassals.' It also mentions that the view is one of the 'most beautiful prospects in Scotland'. An archaeological excavation and survey of Maryton Law were undertaken by Headland Archaeology Ltd on behalf of Historic Scotland in 1996. The mound was found to be 35m in diameter and 5m high. The dimensions of the mound, particularly the summit were felt to be too small for a motte. The objective of the excavation was to establish the nature of the mound and the extent of damage caused by trees and rabbits. The survey revealed that the main damage to the mound was a shallow quarry on the southeast side which also cuts into the surrounding plantation dyke, this quarry had also been colonised by rabbits. A smaller and deeper quarry on the northwest of the mound appears not to have damaged it. A trench into the southeast side of the mound showed it to have been built from layers of soil with a 0.8m thick layer of stony rubble in the middle, built onto the bedrock. Nine trenches were dug in total, only trench A showed a different layer of deposits, probably an infilled quarry. The entire summit of the mound was examined and revealed traces of recent disturbance, together with prehistoric potsherds. The excavations suggest that the site is not a motte but a prehistoric burial mound. The evidence from the trench on the summit suggests that one or more burials were disturbed during excavation into the mound, probably in the late 18th or early 19th century. The prehistoric pottery consists of the sherds from one Food-Vessel with comb impressions in a herringbone pattern and three Beakers, probably of the All-Over Corded variety, including one being unusually small. Small fragments of burnt bone may have been accompanying cremations. The modern finds from the backfill on the summit are post-medieval pottery, clay pipes a small pendant or earring, pieces of metal and two coins, a billon penny (James I 1427-37) and a pristine George III 'Cartwheel' penny of 1797. The interpretation of the later use of the site is that a large stone block found at the top of the mound relates to the use of the mound by the OS, there was a triangulation point on top of the mound in 1861 and it was the practice to bury a stone if it was thought to be disturbed. There has also been an unrecorded excavation, perhaps linked to the 1797 penny and later use of the site as a picnic spot, famed for its views. Further activity has been the quarrying.

OSA, 1791-9, [Untitled], Vol. 9, 405 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9592.

Warden, A J, 1880-5, [Untitled], Vol. 4, 303 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10192.

RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 30, no. 249 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7778.

DALLAND, M, 1996, MARYTON LAW DES 1996 pg 13, 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4010.

DALLAND & CARTER, M & S, 1998, EVALUATION OF PREHISTORIC MOUND,MARYTON LAW, ANGUS, 20-30 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4011.

WHITE, H, 2012, MONTROSE BASIN SURVEY 1999-2012 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2127.

AHLERS, M, 2014, HAZLENUTS AND BURIAL MOUNDS: THE EARLY PREHISTORY AT THE MONTROSE BASIN AND ITS CONTEXT WITHIN THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF SCOTLAND (Bibliographic reference). SAB5532.

Record last edited

Jun 10 2020 1:59PM