Document record MAB54934 - BLACKHALL ROAD, INVERURIE

Evaluation trenches were excavated in October and November 2006, followed by excavation in December 2006, in advance of a proposed residential development.

Evaluation trenches were excavated in October and November 2006, followed by excavation in December 2006, in advance of a proposed residential development. The work identified 2 areas of surviving prehistoric activity (centred on NJ 7539 2210 and NJ 7523 2212). Excavation in both areas revealed a ring ditch house (NJ 7523 2212), a fence, a possible external fire or cooking area and a number of unrelated post pits. A quantity of later prehistoric pottery was recovered. Rig and furrow was identified in both areas and had substantially damaged the prehistoric evidence. Following the work in 2006 a watching-brief was then undertaken in October 2008 during soil stripping between the areas previously excavated in 2006. A second, heavily truncated ring-ditch house was found near the 2006 building. A radiocarbon date of 390 BC-160 BC (SUERC-15187,15188) has been obtained for the original house, while the pits excavated in 2006 have been dated to the Early Neolithic by pottery and radiocarbon dates 3950 BC-3650 BC (SUERC 15186,15189,15193 and 15194). Several additional severely plough-damaged pits excavated nearby in 2008 also yielded Early Neolithic Carinated pottery. Part of a post-built roundhouse and a six-post structure of probable Iron Age date were found running below the field dyke in an area outwith the previous evaluation.

Period Notes
The following calibrated dates have been derived from OxCal 4.1: SUERC-15186: 4980+/- 35BP (which equals 3931 BC - 3661 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-15187: 2185+/-35BP (which equals 377 BC - 166 BC at 2 sigma) ; SUERC-15188: 2205+/-35BP (which equals 382 BC - 186 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-15189: 4955+/-35BP (which equals 3798 BC - 3653 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-15193: 5000+/-40BP (which equals 3944 BC - 3695 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-15194: 5025+/-35BP (which equals 3944 BC - 3712 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-15195: 4540+/-35BP (which equals 3366 BC - 3102 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-15196: 4455+/-35BP (which equals to 3340 BC - 2944 BC at 2 sigma). The following calibrated dates have been derived from OxCal 4.2: SUERC - 31286 4675+/-30 BP (which equals 3621 BC - 3369 BC at 2 sigma): SUERC 31287: 4700+/-30 BP (which equals 3630 BC - 3372 BC at 2 sigma):: SUERC 31288: 4660+/-30 BP (which equals 3520 BC - 3365 BC at 2 sigma). The Neolithic dates relate to the excavated pits, while the Iron Age dates relate to the ring-ditch houses.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2006, WESTGATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, INVERURIE (Bibliographic reference). SAB4716.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p.23 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2013, WESTGATE, INVERURIE, ABERDEENSHIRE; ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS 2006-2010: PART 1, Eval/exc rep (Bibliographic reference). SAB5051.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2013, WESTGATE, INVERURIE, ABERDEENSHIRE; ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS 2006-2010: PART 2, Eval/Exc rep (Bibliographic reference). SAB5052.

Jul 18 2006 , AAS/06/2/CT31, AAS/06/2/CT31 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19275.

Record last edited

Mar 4 2020 5:37PM