Earthwork record MAB45432 - GREEN CAIRN

Remains of a vitrified fort, consisting of a denuded vitrified wall with no evident entrance.

Remains of a vitrified fort, consisting of a denuded vitrified wall with no evident entrance. A gap in the southwest is a mutilation to facilitate robbing. Digging for road-metal in the north exposed four continuous boulders of the inner wall face and the partly vitrified rubble core. Cropmarks of three outer works can be seen as curving lines with a possible gap, circa 2.5m wide, evident in each. The line of the inner outerwork can be traced as a change of slope around the southeast side of the knoll and as a scarp around the southwest side. There is no sign of the other two continuing but they may have terminated on what would have been bog at the base of the knoll in the south and west.

Period Notes
Burnt timber beam (may be part of rampart) N-1376: 2490 +/-95 BP (which equals 802 BC - 402 BC at 2 sigma), post hole material N-1375: 2340 +/- 95 (which equals 762 BC - 201 BC at 2 sigma), sample of twigs N-1318: 2130 +/-100 BP (which equals 391 BC - 52 AD).
HS Radiocarbon database also lists three other radiocarbon samples from Green Cairn, Fettercairn (NGR NO634723): SRR-612 - 400 cal BC to 250 AD; SRR-613 - 400 cal BC to 250 AD; and SRR-614 - 800 to 100 cal BC (these may be from a 1973 excavation?).

CAMDEN, W, 1806, BRITANNIA, 416 (Bibliographic reference). SAB273.

CHALMERS, G, 1887, CALEDONIA, VOL 1, 178 (Bibliographic reference). SAB255.

CHRISTISON, D, 1900, THE FORT, ‘CAMPS’ AND OTHER FIELDWORKS OF PERTH, FORFAR AND KINCARDINE, 108 (Bibliographic reference). SAB227.

CALLANDER, JG, 1913, PSAS 47(1912-13) 457-9, 134-38 (Bibliographic reference). SAB274.

GRIERSON, 1932, LETTERS OF SIR W.SCOTT, 48-51 (Bibliographic reference). SAB610.

CRAWFORD, OGS, 1949, TOPOGRAPHY OF ROMAN SCOTLAND, 106 (Bibliographic reference). SAB245.

COTTON, 1954, GREENCASTLE, FETTERCAIRN, 83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB275.

RCAHMS, 1957, MARGINAL LANDS SURVEY (Bibliographic reference). SAB1513.

FEACHEM, RW, 1963, PREHISTORIC SCOTLAND, 128 (Bibliographic reference). SAB503.

WEDDERBURN, LMM, 1973, DES,4, 4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2020.

WEDDERBURN, LMM, 1973, EXCAVATIONS AT GREENCAIRN (Bibliographic reference). SAB2022.

WEDDERBURN, LMM, 1974, DES,41, 41 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2021.

YAMASAKI, F, 1974, RADIOCARBON 16,331-357, 348-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1539.

RALSTON, IBM, 1982, DES,11,13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1540.

RALSTON, IBM, 1983, BAR 118, 161 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1527.

Apr 18 1980 , AAS/80/01/S2/5-10, AAS/80/01/S2/5-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12412.

Aug 19 1978 , AAS/78/08/R6/17-18, AAS/78/08/R6/17-18 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12413.

Aug 19 1978 , AAS/78/08-09/R7/18, AAS/78/08-09/R7/18 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12411.

Aug 19 1978 , AAS/78/8/CT6, AAS/78/8/CT6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18971.

Feb 24 1994 , AAS/94/05/G12/1-7, AAS/94/05/G12/1-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15459.

Jan 1 1976 , AAS/GR/76/CT184-85,187-92, AAS/GR/76/CT184-85,187-92 (Ground Photograph). SAB33058.

Jan 1 1979 , AAS/GR/79/CT43, AAS/GR/79/CT43 (Ground Photograph). SAB32551.

Jul 24 1989 , AAS/89/07/CT18-24.29-30, AAS/89/07/CT18-24.29-30 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19768.

RCAHMS, n.d., S KINC LIST, No145 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1512.

Record last edited

Aug 20 2020 2:48PM