Document record MAB51615 - MOSSTODLOCH

A multiperiod site recorded by excavation carried out in September 2008 on the route of the A96 Fochabers-Mosstodloch Bypass to investigate groups of features revealed during an evaluation by AOC Archaeology in 1997.

A multiperiod site recorded by excavation carried out in September 2008 on the route of the A96 Fochabers-Mosstodloch Bypass to investigate groups of features revealed during an evaluation by AOC Archaeology in 1997. Two trenches were opened by machine. In Trench 1 (NJ 3349 5974), by Coul Brae, 62 features were recorded, including pits, stone extraction holes and a ditch. Two large inter-cutting pits contained an assemblage of Early Neolithic Carinated pottery, half of a cannel coal bangle, lithics, a broken saddle quern and well preserved carbonised environmental remains. Trench 2 (NJ 328 597), by the Rothes Road, revealed no significant remains. Neither trench was successful in locating the features recorded in 1997. A second phase of excavation was conducted between January and March 2009 which aimed features in the area around the trench excavated at Coul Brae in September 2008. The Phase 2 trench (Trench 3) was opened by machine. In total, 112 features were recorded, including pits, stone extraction holes, post-holes and ditches. A crescentic feature and a group of post-holes nearby to the south may represent the remains of a ring-ditch roundhouse. Prehistoric finds were restricted to sherds of pottery, coarse stone tools and lithics. The conclusion of the work was that the finds from Trench and subsequent radiocarbon dating demonstrates both Early Neolithic and Early Iron Age occupation at Coul Brae. The sparse finds from Trench 3 were undiagnostic but, taken with the structural evidence and the radiocarbon dating from the 1997 evaluation, they suggest a more widespread Later Prehistoric use of an attractive elevated and sandy site.

CFA, 2008, EXCAVATION: A96 FOCHABERS-MOSSTODLOCH BYPASS (Bibliographic reference). SAB3996.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p.125 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

CFA, 2009, FOCHABERS-MOSSTODLOCH BYPASS:PHASE2, TRENCH3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4002.

GRAY, H, 2012, EARLY NEOLITHIC PITS, AN IA RING-DITCH HOUSE AND ASSOC FEATURES AT COUL BRAE, MOSSTODLOCH IN SCOTTISH ARCH J 34-5 (2012), 25-70 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2662.

Record last edited

Sep 12 2022 9:44AM