Document record MAB50920 - SUNBANK, KINNEDDAR

A programme of archaeological works was carried out by AOC during December 2015 to January 2016 prior to proposed housing development.

A programme of archaeological works was carried out by AOC during December 2015 to January 2016 prior to proposed housing development. A geophysical survey was carried out in the western end of the development area. Several magnetic linear anomalies were recorded, which were likely to represent old boundaries or ditches, areas of burning or pit-like features, and also evidence of rig and furrow cultivation. A metal detecting survey was carried out across the development area, although with a focus on the western end of the site. A number of metal detecting finds (2015) had previously been recorded from the field east of the Palace including a lead weight, lead ingot, lead sack seal and coins or tokens (including a Charles bodle and two Charles turners) No finds of archaeological significance were recovered during the AOC metal detecting survey. A targeted 7-10 percent trial trench evaluation and a monitored topsoil strip of the access road was then carried out. A total of 53 evaluation trenches were excavated during the targeted evaluation, with 7 percent of the full site covered and further excavation in the western area of the site to further define the features recorded. Across much of the site no features were noted beyond rig and furrow remains, with features comprising ditches and pits limited to the western edge of the site close to the known features associated with the Bishop’s Palace (NJ26NW0001). Two phases of activity appear to be present. Firstly, a prehistoric, Early Bronze Age, enclosure ditch most likely encircling the higher ground, followed by a much larger ditch associated with the Medieval activities that culminated in the late medieval Bishop’s Palace. The prehistoric enclosure ditch was radiocarbon dated to the Early Bronze Age, with a date around 2000 BC to 1900 BC indicated. It is possible that within the prehistoric enclosed area there would have been some form of settlement. Several undated pits located on the gravel ridge within the area enclosed by the ditch may be prehistoric in date, such features can commonly contain no surviving artefacts. A large ditch with was recorded to the west of the site, with fills of bone, organics and pottery dating the 13th-15th centuries. The line of the excavated ditch encompassed a larger area than the prehistoric ditch, extending downslope off the gravel ridge in a location suggestive of its interpretation as a remnant of the Bishop’s Palace ditch and vallum. The recovered medieval pottery derived from the upper fill of the ditch fill is suggestive of a deliberate backfilling event. A number of associated smaller ditches were recorded around it, and probably relate to various phases of the vallum. The ditch itself provided a 7th to 8th century AD date from a single radiocarbon sample derived from its basal fill, indicating Early Medieval burning on the site. It is concluded that the ditch related to the Bishop’s Palace, and that the 7th to 8th century date may point to earlier use of the site. Other linear features recorded represent rig and furrow and various drains. Within the area of enclosed by the Medieval ditch was a well (NJ26NW0156) recorded at the extreme west of the site. Pottery from the 13th-14th century recovered from the well gave an approximate date in line with the backfilling of the ditch. A number of pits were recorded within the western end of the site, none of the pits examined having any datable material, and with no obvious function. A photographic survey of a World War II pillbox (NJ26NW0048) was also carried out. See also NJ26NW0069.

Period Notes
Pottery from the 16th-17th centuries was recovered from the site, later reassessed to 13th-14th centuries in the post ex analysis. A radiocarbon date of 2034–1883 cal BC (SUERC-73460) was returned from a sample of alder charcoal from the basal fill of the prehistoric ditch, suggesting a possible Early Bronze Age date for the infilling of the ditch. A radiocarbon date of 661–774 cal AD (SUERC-73462) was returned from ash roundwood charcoal from the basal fill of the Medieval ditch, giving a date between the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2015, R1 SUNBANK, LOSSIEMOUTH: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB5599.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2016, SUNBANK, LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORKS DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB5598.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2016, SUNBANK, LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE: COSTED POST EXCAVATION RESEARCH DESIGN, PERD (Bibliographic reference). SAB8376.

NOBLE, G, 2018, KINNEDDAR: A MAJOR ECCLESIASTICAL CENTRE OF THE PICTS. PSAS 148 (2018), 1–32 , PSAS p.1-32 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3026.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2018, SUNBANK, LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAY: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORKS UPDATED DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB8375.

Record last edited

Oct 23 2023 3:12PM