Earthwork record MAB45266 - CASTLE HILL, STRACHAN
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Summary
Remains of a motte.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 981
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 6574 9210 (51m by 55m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO69SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Strachan |
Type and Period (9)
- BAILEY? (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- MOTTE (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- PALISADE (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- DITCH (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- FLINT SCATTER (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- STONE (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- OVEN (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- PIT (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
- STRUCTURE (Mesolithic to Medieval - 8000 BC to 1560 AD)
Full Description
Remains of a motte. A circular motte created by scarping and levelling a natural gravel knoll, the west quadrant of which has been recently quarried. It lies within a loop in the River Feugh. This was probably a hunting lodge of the Gifford Family who held the forest of Strachan in the 13th century. Excavation revealed post pits of a building circa 9m by 12m on the top of the mound with a palisade round the edge. Ovens were found which had re-used mill stones as bases for the ovens. The remains of a V-shaped ditch, 1m deep and 4m wide, was found round the base of the motte. A large quantity of pottery of 13th-14th century date was found along with some bronze and silver jewellery. There is some evidence to suggest that the site was probably set on fire sometime in the 14th century and never re-occupied. Burnt post remains were found, both collapsed and in situ with stones on the summit showing signs of extreme burning. The ditch round the base was almost certainly intentionally back-filled. The excavation in 1981 also revealed clear evidence of a medieval presence on the site. A total of 13 pieces of flint were recovered, of which seven were flaked pieces comprising a microburin, a snapped blade, a retouched pieces and four tertiary flakes.
AAS/80/1/CT4-11 (1980), AAS/80/1/CT4-11 (1980) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18683.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 05/08/80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 23/09/78 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 29/07/1981 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
MELDRUM, E, 1957, DEESIDE FIELD 2 SER,No2, 20, 19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1233.
RCAHMS, 1957, MARGINAL LANDS SURVEY, 657921 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1513.
DOE, 1967, A M's SCOT, 26 (Bibliographic reference). SAB363.
WYNESS, JF, 1968, ROYAL VALLEY, 40, 305 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2012.
YEOMAN, P, 1981, DES, 14-5, 14-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2147.
YEOMAN, P, 1984, EXCAVATIONS AS CASTLEHILL OF STRACHAN, 1980-1, 315-64 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2130.
KENNEY, J, 1993, THE BEGINNINGS OF AGRICULTURE IN GREAT BRITAIN: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT (Bibliographic reference). SAB2784.
Apr 1 1977 , COLOUR PRINT, COLOUR PRINT (Ground Photograph). SAB15549.
Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT108-110, AAS/GR/77/CT108-110 (Ground Photograph). SAB32495.
Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT114-119, AAS/GR/77/CT114-119 (Ground Photograph). SAB32496.
Jan 1 1981 , AAS/GR/81/CT69-75,77, AAS/GR/81/CT69-75,77 (Ground Photograph). SAB32580.
Jul 18 1981 , COLOUR PRINT, COLOUR PRINT (Ground Photograph). SAB15550.
Mar 2 1995 , AAS/95/02/CT7, AAS/95/02/CT7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19599.
Mar 2 1995 , AAS/95/02/G4/1-3, AAS/95/02/G4/1-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15680.
Mar 2 1995 , AAS/95/02/G4/5-10, AAS/95/02/G4/5-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15681.
Mar 3 1999 , AAS/99/05/CT8-10, AAS/99/05/CT8-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17224.
Mar 3 1999 , AAS/99/05/G6/6,7, AAS/99/05/G6/6,7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17223.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 981;
- NMR Card Number: NO69SE1;
- NRHE Numlink: 36201;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO69SE0001;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM981 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/36201 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (21)
- --- SAB1233 Bibliographic reference: MELDRUM, E. 1957. DEESIDE FIELD 2 SER,No2, 20. 19.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 29/07/1981.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 23/09/78.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 05/08/80.
- --- SAB1513 Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. 1957. MARGINAL LANDS SURVEY. 657921.
- --- SAB15549 Ground Photograph: Apr 1 1977 . COLOUR PRINT. Colour Negative. COLOUR PRINT.
- --- SAB15550 Ground Photograph: Jul 18 1981 . COLOUR PRINT. Colour Negative. COLOUR PRINT.
- --- SAB15680 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 2 1995 . AAS/95/02/G4/1-3. Black & White. AAS/95/02/G4/1-3.
- --- SAB15681 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 2 1995 . AAS/95/02/G4/5-10. Black & White. AAS/95/02/G4/5-10.
- --- SAB17223 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 3 1999 . AAS/99/05/G6/6,7. Black & White. AAS/99/05/G6/6,7.
- --- SAB17224 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 3 1999 . AAS/99/05/CT8-10. Colour Transparency. AAS/99/05/CT8-10.
- --- SAB18683 Air-oblique Photograph: AAS/80/1/CT4-11 (1980). Colour Transparency. AAS/80/1/CT4-11 (1980).
- --- SAB19599 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 2 1995 . AAS/95/02/CT7. Colour Transparency. AAS/95/02/CT7.
- --- SAB2012 Bibliographic reference: WYNESS, JF. 1968. ROYAL VALLEY. 40, 305.
- --- SAB2130 Bibliographic reference: YEOMAN, P. 1984. EXCAVATIONS AS CASTLEHILL OF STRACHAN, 1980-1. 315-64.
- --- SAB2147 Bibliographic reference: YEOMAN, P. 1981. DES, 14-5. 14-5.
- --- SAB2784 Bibliographic reference: KENNEY, J. 1993. THE BEGINNINGS OF AGRICULTURE IN GREAT BRITAIN: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT.
- --- SAB32495 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1977 . AAS/GR/77/CT108-110. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT108-110.
- --- SAB32496 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1977 . AAS/GR/77/CT114-119. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT114-119.
- --- SAB32580 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1981 . AAS/GR/81/CT69-75,77. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/81/CT69-75,77.
- --- SAB363 Bibliographic reference: DOE. 1967. A M's SCOT. 26.
Finds (20)
- PIN (Undated)
- BEAD (Undated)
- WHETSTONE (Undated)
- BLADE (Undated)
- NAIL (Undated)
- LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Undated)
- BUCKLE (Undated)
- KEY (LOCKING) (Undated)
- TWEEZERS (Undated)
- CHISEL (Undated)
- RING (Undated)
- RING (Undated)
- PIN (Undated)
- PIN (Undated)
- BEAD (Undated)
- WHETSTONE (Undated)
- LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Undated)
- FLAKE (Undated)
- COIN (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- COIN (Unknown date)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
- Event - Intervention: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERVENTION - CASTLE HILL, STRACHAN (EAB15840)
- Event - Intervention: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERVENTION - CASTLE HILL, STRACHAN (EAB15841)
- Event - Intervention: Excavation - CASTLE HILL, STRACHAN (EAB527)
- Event - Intervention: Excavation - CASTLE HILL, STRACHAN (EAB528)
Record last edited
Jan 25 2023 2:52PM
