Building record MAB5285 - THE LAIRD'S STABLE

Cave, also known as Sir Robert's Stables as depicted on the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps.

Cave, also known as Sir Robert's Stables as depicted on the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps. A 19th century source records that in 1745 the cave was a 'hermit's call' but Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstown turned it into a stable to conceal his horses from the rebels or royalists or both. Survey and excavation was carried out in 2018 as part of the Covesea Caves Project. The cave It has a relatively modern blocking wall of mortared stone across the entrance and a built doorway with jambs for a timber door and window above. Internally a carved stone bench on the west side may be contemporary with the entrance features whilst several slabs appear to represent the remains of a laid floor which has been robbed out. The cave is divided into two main sections, a relatively open entrance area circa 9m long with a high roof, and a passage to the rear which has been dug into more recently causing significant disturbance. Radiocarbon dating of an animal bone from one of the sections gave an Iron Age date, AD138-344. At the rear of the cave is a narrow chamber. Four trenches were excavated, producing finds of early, possibly Roman Iron Age, activity and objects associated with early modern modification of the cave. Artefacts recovered include a rubbing stone reused in paving, a Roman Iron Age copper alloy button-and-loop fastener, and two apparently deliberately placed boar tusks.

BUSTER, L, 2019, THE COVESEA CAVES PROJECT FIELDWORK 2018: DATA STRUCTURE REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB3809.

SCAPE , 2023, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY MORAY: CULBIN TO CULLEN (Bibliographic reference). SAB4861.

Record last edited

May 5 2023 1:49PM