Document record MAB55392 - FOULZIE

A semi-circular arrangement of pits enclosed by two curvilinear ditch features excavated by CFA in 2019, following on from identification of features during a watching brief within the cable route corridor for the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm (NJ66SE0330).

A semi-circular arrangement of pits enclosed by two curvilinear ditch features excavated by CFA in 2019, following on from identification of features during a watching brief within the cable route corridor for the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm (NJ66SE0330). The pit features were in an arc arrangement, circa 8 m in diameter, consisting of large, shallow oval and circular pits interspersed with smaller circular features interpreted as post-holes. Pit fills included ash, charcoal and fire-cracked stones, indicating use as fire pits and waste material from a hearth. An area of heat affected earth measuring 1 m by 0.7 m, was situated centrally within the area bounded by pits, potentially indicating the presence of a hearth. An amorphous scoop, measuring 3.5 m by 1.8 m was situated southwest of the pit arrangement. A worked quartzite faceted cobble tool was recorded from the scoop, with the narrow end having a rounded pecked and ground facet with flakes detached from around the perimeter. The broadly uniform arrangement of pit features is indicative of a structure, and from the charcoal remains it is suggested this was likely to have been an oak post structure. The pits were enclosed to the south by two curvilinear ditches broadly orientated east-west with circa 4 m between each terminus. Both ditches were steep-sided, varied in proportions, truncated in places, with remains of compact pebble surfaces lining the bases. Based on their location with respect to the semi-circular arrangement of pits, it is possible that they were associated. Two plain body sherds of undiagnostic prehistoric pottery were recovered from the northern ditch, and a flint flake from the southern ditch. Immediately southeast of the eastern terminus of the southern ditch was a circular pit, 0.65 m by 0.2 m deep, with a flat base, steep sides and an ash fill containing charcoal, hazelnut shells and a sherd of Beaker pottery decorated with comb impressions. The Beaker sherd is suggested to be intrusive. Radiocarbon dating on two separate hazelnut shells from the pit dated to 3764 BC - 3386 BC. This pit was probably originally a substantial fire pit used for seasonal processing of hazel nuts for storage and consumption. It is possibly earlier than the pit alignment to the north.

Period Notes
Radiocarbon dating: SUERC-98295, 4906 +/- 27 BP, calibrated to 3764 BC - 3637 BC at 2 sigma, material - hazelnut shell, Corylus avellana, pit fill. SUERC-98296, 4770 +/- 27 BP, calibrated to 3638 BC - 3386 BC at 2 sigma, material - hazelnut shell, Corylus avellana, pit fill.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2018, MORAY EAST OFFSHORE WINDFARM PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORKS: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB8552.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2019, MORAY EAST OFFSHORE WIND FARM, ONSHORE CABLE ROUTE, ABERDEENSHIRE, SECTIONS 2, 5 & 12: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION DSR , Excavation DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB8546.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2019, MORAY EAST OFFSHORE WINDFARM ONSHORE TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE: WSI - ADDENDUM 2 - EXCAVATION SECTIONS 5 AND 12, WSI Addendum2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8553.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2019, MORAY EAST OFFSHORE WINDFARM, ONSHORE CABLE ROUTE ABERDEENSHIRE: WATCHING BRIEF, Watching Brief (Bibliographic reference). SAB8544.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2020, MORAY EAST OFFSHORE WIND FARM, ONSHORE CABLE ROUTE, SECTIONS 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15 & 29: POST-EXCAVATION RESEARCH DESIGN, PERD (Bibliographic reference). SAB8547.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2021, MORAY OFFSHORE WINDFARM (EAST) LTD, ONSHORE CABLE ROUTE SECTION 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15 & 29: ARCHIVE REPORT, Excavation Report (Bibliographic reference). SAB8545.

Record last edited

Jun 22 2023 12:17PM