Document record MAB50725 - MACALLAN DISTILLERY

Trial trenching evaluation by AOC in January 2014 ahead of proposed development, recorded a number of undated archaeological features.

Trial trenching evaluation by AOC in January 2014 ahead of proposed development, recorded a number of undated archaeological features. A total of 37 trenches were excavated, revealing over 20 cut features, the majority variously sized pits, with some smaller postholes and a curvilinear ditch. Subsequent excavation in 2014 recorded four probable post-ring roundhouse structures, and to the south east a ring-ditch roundhouse and four-poster structure. Amongst these features were a number of pits and postholes. In the far northeast the investigation recorded a large more modern feature, probably a 19th century sand and gravel extraction pit. No datable artefacts were recovered from the features, however several contained distinct charcoal rich fill deposits and a total of 18 radiocarbon dates were recovered, giving dates from the Middle Bronze Age through to Early Medieval. Three of the pits produced Middle Bronze Age dates, all in a group at the south of the site. Two roundhouses, the four-poster structure and a pit all produced Late Bronze Age dates. The best preserved, RH1, was in the south-west corner of the site. There is some evidence of repair to the structure during its lifetime. The shallow topsoil means any internal features that may have existed in the structure would have been ploughed away. To the east of this roundhouse was a pit, and further to the east was the four-poster structure both also dating to the Late Bronze Age. The four posts formed a near-perfect square, and a small ceramic assemblage was recovered from three of the post-holes. The second roundhouse (RH4) that produced a Late Bronze Age date was not so well preserved, and there is some doubt over whether it actually represents a roundhouse. Immediately to the south-east of the four-post structure, a ring-ditch roundhouse was recorded that produced Middle Iron Age dates. The ring-ditch was relatively shallow and contained a fill of course sandy gravel. At the western end there were two stone-filled depressions, one containing a saddle quern. Early Medieval dates were recovered from features RH2 and RH3 and from two isolated pits. The dates from the two pits are secure, however the dating for RH2 and RH3 is more complex. Both produced at least two phases of medieval dates, and RH2 also produced an Iron Age date, so there are questions over possible contamination between features and no secure date of use. Other undated features include pits with iron slag, typical of early ironworking, and concentration of hazelnut shell. Another pit contained fragments of an iron nail shank. Two pieces of modified flint were recovered. Both are of locally derived red Buchan flint, and appear to be Mesolithic in date. The environmental finds show barley and occasional oat was cultivated locally, typical of agriculture from this period and area of Scotland. Other plant remains may represent additional food sources, but may also represent weeds.

Period Notes
SUERC-56541 - Pit [4039], 3306 +/- 35BP, 1681 - 1503 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56538 - RH1 [4001], 2827 +/- 35BP, 1109 - 902 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56552 - RH2 [4092], 2827 +/- 35BP, 1109 - 902 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56558 - RH4 [4118], 2807 +/- 35BP, 1051 - 847 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56539 - RH1 [4021], 2789 +/- 35BP, 1016 – 839 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56544 - Pit [4066], 2731 +/- 35BP, 971 – 809 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56543 - RH1 [4062], 2688 +/- 35BP, 905 - 801 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56554 - RH4 [4108], 2662 +/- 35BP, 896 – 795 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56542 - 4-poster [4049], 2652 +/- 35BP, 896 – 791 cal BC (2 sigma); SUERC-56560 - RH5 [1308C], 2055 +/- 35BP, 171 cal BC – cal AD 21 (2 sigma); SUERC-56559 - RH5 [1308A], 2036 +/- 35BP, 163 cal BC – cal AD 51 (2 sigma); SUERC-56549 - RH3 [4078], 1103 +/- 35BP, cal AD 780 - 1019 (2 sigma); SUERC-57195 - RH2 [4092], 1084 +/- 30BP cal AD 894 - 1017 (2 sigma); SUERC-56540 - Pit [4031], 1015 +/- 35BP, cal AD 904 - 1152 (2 sigma); SUERC-56553 - Pit [4100], 1004 +/- 35BP, cal AD 973 - 1154 (2 sigma); SUERC-56550 - RH3 [4082], 957 +/- 35BP, cal AD 1019 - 1159 (2 sigma); SUERC-56551 - RH2 [4090], 943 +/- 35BP, cal AD 1020 - 1165 (2 sigma); SUERC-56548 - RH3 [4068], 907 +/- 35BP, cal AD 1035 - 1207 (2 sigma).

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, MACALLAN DISTILLERY, CRAIGELLACHIE, MORAY, DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, DBA (Bibliographic reference). SAB3671.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, MACALLAN DISTILLERY, CRAIGELLACHIE, MORAY: EVALUATION METHOD STATEMENT, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB3669.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, THE MACALLAN DISTILLERY, CRAIGELLACHIE, MORAY, EXCAVATION: POST EXCAVATION RESEARCH DESIGN, Post Ex RD (Bibliographic reference). SAB5471.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, THE MACALLAN DISTILLERY, CRAIGELLACHIE, MORAY: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, Evaluation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB3668.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, THE MACALLAN DISTILLERY, CRAIGELLACHIE, MORAY: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, Excavation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5470.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, THE MACALLAN DISTILLERY, CRAIGELLACHIE, MORAY: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION ADDENDUM, WSI addendum (Bibliographic reference). SAB3670.

ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2015, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014, p.139 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5542.

DUNBAR, L, 2017, UNENCLOSED PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AND EARLY MEDIEVAL PITS AT MACALLAN DISTILLERY. IN SCOTTISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERNET REPORTS 66 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4056.

Record last edited

Jun 20 2023 11:27AM