Earthwork record MAB45393 - CORBIE KNOWE

Remains of early medieval cultivation and settlement sealed by sand deposit.

Remains of early medieval cultivation and settlement sealed by sand deposit. Investigated by the Lunan Valley Project in 1983 following an auger survey on machair overlooking Lunan Bay. Excavation of two trenches uncovered a pair of early ploughed (with mould-board) field surfaces sealed by sand. The best preserved was not ploughed in regular strips and had no rig formation. The surface below was ploughed on a different alignment (north-northeast to south-southwest almost at right angles to the later ploughing), and truncated postholes and a shallow ditch. This level was only partially excavated due to height (2m) of sand deposits at the seaward side of the site. The ploughing was not that associated with the formation of rigs and therefore does not suggest the system of land allocation of later medieval arable cultivation. The land was not marginal, it was well drained, light and well maintained, probably prime arable close to a settlement. Pottery, unglazed and handmade, probably early medieval, was recovered from the lower plough-soil. The sand deposits are thought to come from one season of storms. Further augur survey in 1984 increased the area known to have windblown sand. No enclosures were visible, but there are 20th century military earthworks in the surveyed area. The excavator suspected that this area contains the site of the original settlement of Inverkeilor, which was swamped by sandstorms, resulting in it being resited further inland.

, (Photograph). SAB27280.

Pollock, D, 1983, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 33 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11278.

POLLOCK, D, 1987, THE LUNAN VALLEY PROJECT: MEDIEVAL RURAL SETTLEMENT IN ANGUS. IN PSAS 115 (1985) 357-399, PSAS 115, 357-99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1486.

Record last edited

May 5 2022 3:25PM