Find Spot record MAB48245 - CHEST OF DEE

Mesolithic, Neolithic and later prehistoric lithics and occupation recorded between 2003 and 2016, the site extending from near White Bridge to the Chest of Dee waterfalls.

Mesolithic, Neolithic and later prehistoric lithics and occupation recorded between 2003 and 2016, the site extending from near White Bridge to the Chest of Dee waterfalls. The site lies at the southern end of a key route of passage through the Cairngorm massif which connects Deeside with Speyside, and provided the first material evidence for Mesolithic activity in the heart of the Cairngorms. In October 2003 a scatter of worked lithic material was revealed by footpath maintenance works along the north bank of the River Dee, and eroding out of the river bank itself. The lithics were in river silts immediately below the peat. Collection over a number of visits amassed an assemblage of 184 artefacts, mainly narrow blade technology indicating a Mesolithic date, but with a smaller assemblage of possible Neolithic-Bronze Age material. Fragments of charcoal were also noted eroding out of the silt. The assemblage included cores, narrow flakes and blades, and debitage flakes, chips and chunks. Further investigation was carried out in 2013. Fieldwalking by University College Dublin in June along the path from White Bridge to the waterfalls recovered 152 artefacts, the lithics including many pieces of Later Mesolithic type narrow blade technology. Subsequently a series of test pits were excavated by University of Aberdeen in October aimed at establishing the location of the lithics in relation to the peat deposits. The test pitting confirmed that the lithics came from in-situ deposits, stratified within pre-peat alluvial silt deposits that comprised the river terrace and that there were stratified features, in some cases associated with artefacts. Further work was carried out 2014-2016, the site being divided into a number of evaluation areas, the work revealing a site of considerable complexity. Some evaluation areas were relatively devoid of features or other evidence of human activity (Areas B, C). Area M yielded slightly higher densities of lithics. Area J produced no lithics but pre-peat charcoal lenses and shallow pits were recorded in four test pits, one of the charcoal lenses giving a radiocarbon date of 7040-6870 BC. Within Area D (towards the eastern end of the site on the north side of the river) the test pits recorded concentrations of features and finds including charcoal lenses within the pre-pear silts. Artefact numbers increased in the test pits towards the western end of Area D, and further excavation (TP3000) recorded an assemblage of 72 lithics including two flints, one a broad triangular microlith, within a charcoal rich layer in a pit, radiocarbon dated to 3960-3780 BC (the Mesolithic- Neolithic transition). The densest concentrations of lithics and features was in Area F, immediately east of the waterfalls. Initial survey in 2013 had identified some 50 artefacts including blade cores, flakes and blades with possible occupation horizons. Nine test-pits and four larger trenches were excavated. The lithic artefacts occurred in the pre-peat deposits within layers sealed by alluvial sediment. A total of 663 lithics were recorded from the two largest trenches in Area F, this including a high number of blade cores. A number of charcoal lenses within the alluvial silts are believed to represent a series of in situ occupation events in the late 6th millennium BC. Lower charcoal spreads produced significant lithic assemblages including working debris from in situ blade production using rhyolite and some flint. These contexts gave radiocarbon dates ranging from the end of the 8th to the first half of the 7th millennium BC. In Area G, overlooking the waterfalls, a large recut pit with charcoal rich fill was evident in an eroding section of sloping ground. The lower fill was dated to 2880-2630 BC and the upper to 1660-1510 BC demonstrating activity in the area into later prehistory. On the south side of the river, artefacts and other evidence of human activity were scarce, found only in two of the four test pits in Area L. A total of 1405 flaked lithics were recovered from the investigations, the raw materials including flint (57 percent) and rhyolite (14 percent) with small amounts of other materials including quartz and quartzite. This is the first recognition of rhyolite in Mesolithic assemblages in Scotland, and was probably sourced locally. The flint was derived from pebbles, although the source has not yet been investigated. The presence of cores, trimming flakes and debitage of rhyolite and flint indicate that both materials were knapped on site. The majority of cores were blade cores. Blades vary in width from 3mm to 26mm, the broader blades tending to be of rhyolite. A small number (42) of retouched pieces were identified mainly no flint blanks. The most common tools were microliths of various form, scrapers, awls and knives, with some notched, serrated and edge retouched pieces also present. The largest number of lithics came from TP200 in Area F, the nature of the pieces attesting to knapping of rhyolite here. In TP3000 (Area D) flakes dominated over blades, with only two retouched pieces. Of particular interest was the broad triangular microlith contained within a later pit. Radiocarbon dating shows the earliest dated feature to be the occupation surface associated with the lithics in TP 300 (Area F), 8290-7990 BC. South of the river, TP5250 (Area L) gave a date of 7590-7250 for activity. The floruit of activity in the Chest of Dee area came in the first half of the 7th millennium as indicated by TP200 (Area F), the radiocarbon dates indicating activity starting around 7115-6810 BC and ending circa 6630-6525 BC. Later, early 4th millennium activity is represented by TP3000 (Area D), with later prehistoric activity (3rd and 2nd millennium AD) focusing on the waterfalls. The archaeological finds suggest repeated visits to the area for over five millennia, starting in the late 9th millennium BC, the activity focused on a river terrace. Walkover survey carried out by Cameron Archaeology in June/July 2015 to assess damage on the Mar Lodge estate resulting from flooding in the wake of storm Bertha found eight flints above White Bridge on the footpath to Chest of Dee. Surface collection in 2019 at Chest of Dee recovered 87 artefacts, many along the footpath, the assemblage consistent with that previously observed in this area. See NO08NW0058 for further lithics found in November 2023 and in 2024. A small programme of fieldwork was carried out in August 2024 by University college Dublin to assess the condition of this Mesolithic site and the significance of erosion. This assessed erosion since the excavation of test pits in 2013-2016, and over a longer timescale and identified three zones within the Chest of Dee – White Bridge section of the River that are at critical risk of erosion. Another two areas were identified for which monitoring of erosion is recommended. Surface survey recovered 58 struck flints and rhyolites.

Period Notes
Radiocarbon dates: SUERC-50740 (GU32814) - charcoal - 3445+/-29 BP, calibrated to 1879 - 1685 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14): SUERC-50741 (GU32815) charcoal - 6169 +/- 29 BP, calibrated to 5216 - 5033 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14): SUERC-50742 (GU32816) charcoal - 6249 +/- 28 BP, calibrated to 5310 - 5078 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14): SUERC-50743 (GU32817) charcoal - 5047 +/- 26 BP, calibrated to 3948 - 3782 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14): SUERC-50744 (GU32818) charcoal - 5074 +/- 27 BP, calibrated to 3956 - 3797 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14): SUERC-50745 (GU32819) charcoal - 3309 +/- 29 BP, calibrated to 1659 - 1510 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14): SUERC-50746 (GU32820) charcoal - 4155 +/- 29 BP, calibrated to 2878 - 2631 BC (Oxcal 4.2, run 21/02/14). SUERC-64468, base of peat in palaeochannel, 7697+/-37 BP, calibrated to 6604-6461 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-64476, base of peat on valley floor, 8870+/-37, calibrated to 8223-7838 BC (2 sigma); Radiocarbon samples from 2014 -16 investigation: SUERC-58519 (GU36538) 3698+/-29, calibrated to 2198-1981 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58520 (GU36540) 7225+/-28, calibrated to 6207-6021 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-585524 (GU36541) 6236+/-29, calibrated to 5304-5074 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58525 (GU26542) 6216+/-28, calibrated to 5296-5063 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58526 (GU36543) 7930+/-28, calibrated to 7029-6687 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58527 (GU36544) 7990+/-28, calibrated to 7050-6778 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58528 (GU36545) 8977+/-29, calibrated to 8281-7990 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58529 (GU36546) 2727+/-29, calibrated to 924-813 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-58530 (GU36547) 5074+/-28, calibrated to 3957-3797 BC (OxCal 4.2 run 23/03/15); SUERC-75306, TP52590 fire-pit, 8598+/-34 BP, calibrated to 7710-7560 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-74125, TP5250 fire pit, 8497+/-31 BP, calibrated to 7590-7520 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-65011, TP200 occupation layer, 7958+/-27, calibrated to 7040-6700 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-65015, TP400 fire pit, 7974+/-35, calibrated to 7050-6700 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-65016, TP950, 7961+/-35, calibrated to 7050-6700 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-65013, TP400 fire pit, 7945+/-35, calibrated to 7040-6690 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-65017, TP1000 charcoal rich feature, 7941+/-35, calibrated to 7040-6870 BC (2 sigma) ; SUERC-65012, TP200 occupation layer, 7912+/-35, calibrated to 7030-6650 BC(2 sigma) ; SUERC-65005, TP200 occupation layer, 7904+/-35, calibrated to 7030-6640 BC (2 sigma) ; SUERC-65006, TP200 occupation layer, 7885+/-35, calibrated to 7030-6640 BC (2 sigma) ; SUERC-65014, TP400 fire pit, 7879+/-35, calibrated to 7010-6630 BC (2 sigma) ; SUEC-65007, TP200 occupation layer, 7705+/-35, 6610-6460 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-59012, TP102 pit, 7134+/-29, calibrated to 6070-5920 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-74122, TP1200, 6492+/-28, calibrated to 5520-5370 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-74121, TP1150, 6104+/-28, calibrated to 5210-4930 BC (2 sigma); SUERC-28264 TP111, 5074+/-28, calibrated to 3960-3800BC (2 sigma);

FRASER, S, , BRIDGING THE GAP: NEW EVIDENCE FOR MONTANE OCCUPATION IN THE SCOTTISH MESOLITHIC (DRAFT), draft (Bibliographic reference). SAB4158.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 31/03/2004 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

FRASER, SM, 2003, Chest of Dee (Bibliographic reference). SAB558.

DES

BALLIN, T. B., 2004, CHEST OF DEE - THE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3734.

BJARKE BALLIN, T, 2004, CHEST OF DEE, CRATHIE & BRAEMAR, ABERDEENSHIRE - THE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3742.

TIPPING, R, 2004, POTENTIAL FOR EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT OF MESOLITHIC OCCUPATION AT WHITE BRIDGE. REPORT TO NTS: NOV 2004 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1984.

CLARKE, A, 2007, Mar Lodge Report on 3 lithic scatters (Bibliographic reference). SAB3968.

lithic scatter

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2014, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 14, 2013, pp.18-19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5483.

NOBLE, G, 2014, UNIV OF ABERDEEN, DEPT OF ARCHAEOLOGY. FIELDWORK AT CHEST OF DEE, MAR LODGE ESTATE. DEE TRIBUTARIES PROJECT 2014, Fieldwork report (Bibliographic reference). SAB1345.

ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2015, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014, pp20-21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5542.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2015, MAR LODGE ESTATE CRATHIE AND BRAEMAR, ABERDEENSHIRE: POST-HURRICANE BERTHA CONDITION SURVEY (Bibliographic reference). SAB7992.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2017, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 17, 2016, pp.13-14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6497.

WARREN, G, 2019, ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK NEAR BRAEMAR, JUNE 2019 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3454.

WICKHAM-JONES, C, 2020, NEW EVIDENCE FOR UPLAND OCCUPATION IN THE MESOLITHIC OF SCOTLAND. IN PPS DOI:10.1017/PPR.2020.8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3447.

WARREN, G, 2024, EROSION AT CHEST OF DEE, AUGUST 2024 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3472.

Jul 21 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-039 - 044, AAS-GR-15-07-039 - 044 (Ground Photograph). SAB20895.

Record last edited

May 29 2025 10:59AM