Document record MAB55871 - ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE
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Summary
Trial trenching carried out by Headland Archaeology in 2013 following earlier geophysical survey (NJ80SE0565) ahead of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route recorded a concentration of archaeological features in this area.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 8578 0098 (89m by 164m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ80SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire City |
| Civil Parish | Peterculter |
Type and Period (7)
- CREMATION? (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD)
- FLINT SCATTER (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD)
- OVEN (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD) + Sci.Date
- PIT (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD)
- POST HOLE (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD)
- FEATURE (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD) + Sci.Date
- LITHIC SCATTER (Late Upper Palaeolithic to Early Medieval - 40000 BC to 901 AD) + Sci.Date
Full Description
Trial trenching carried out by Headland Archaeology in 2013 following earlier geophysical survey (NJ80SE0565) ahead of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route recorded a concentration of archaeological features in this area. A pit in trench SL0409 contained concentrations of charcoal and bone, which may represent a cremation deposit. A second pit also contained flecks of charcoal, and the work also recorded a charcoal rich deposit, circular in plan. Further excavation was carried out by Headland Archaeology in 2014 (site SL/002C). The concentration of archaeological features, mainly postholes, were grouped into four clusters. A linear feature ran northwest to southeast across the site, and a number of scattered features were recorded across the area. West of clusters B and C was a large pit, circa 1.8m in diameter, which produced a radiocarbon date of 7727-7594 BC (Mesolithic) and an assemblage of lithics characteristic of a later Mesolithic narrow blade industry. Three other pits with similar sequence of fills were recorded. The clusters of post-holes and pits, likely of Chalcolithic date, are thought to be broadly contemporary but are not thought to represent structures . Two ovens of Roman date were also recorded.
Period Notes
Radiocarbon dating sample (all calibrated to 2 sigma): SUERC-56395 (GU35889) oven fill 2C-0108, 1975+/-38 BP, calibrated to 51 BC – 123 AD; SUERC-54050 (GU34861) pit fill 2C-0147, 8657+/-29 BP, 7730-7590 cal BC; SUERC-54055 (GU34863) posthole fill 2C-0019, 3851+/-26 BP, 2460-2210 cal BC; SUERC-58516 (GU36527) pit fill 2C-0017, 3886+/-29 BP, 2470-2290 cal BC; SUERC-59291 (GU37160) pit fill 2C-0010, 1532+/-29 BP, 428-597 cal AD; SUERC-54056 (GU34864) pit fill 2C-0128, 3014+/-29 BP, 1397-1217 cal BC; SUERC-58517 (GU36529) posthole fill 2C-0160, 3909+/-28 BP, 2470-2600 cal BC; SUERC-68094 pit fill 2C-0070, 2990+/-29 BC, 1370-1120 cal BC; SUERC-54056 pit fill 2C-0128, 3041+/-29 BP, 1400-1220 cal BC.
HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE LOT 3 - SOUTHERN LEG: ASSESSMENT REPORT ON TRIAL TRENCHING AND SAMPLE EXCAVATIONS., Evaluation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4451.
HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2015, AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY LOT 3 - SOUTHERN LEG: SL/001 AND SL/002A-D: POST-EX ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION EXCAVATION REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB5831.
ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2015, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014, p. 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5542.
DINGWALL, K, 2019, THE LAND WAS FOREVER: 15,000 YEARS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. EXCAVATIONS ON THE AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY (Bibliographic reference). SAB4064.
DINGWALL, K, 2019, THE LAND WAS FOREVER: 15,000 YEARS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. EXCAVATIONS ON THE AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY (Bibliographic reference). SAB4064.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ACY;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ80SE0571;
External Links (0)
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SAB4064 Bibliographic reference: DINGWALL, K. 2019. THE LAND WAS FOREVER: 15,000 YEARS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. EXCAVATIONS ON THE AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY. Y.
- --- SAB4064 Bibliographic reference: DINGWALL, K. 2019. THE LAND WAS FOREVER: 15,000 YEARS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. EXCAVATIONS ON THE AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY. Y.
- --- SAB4451 Bibliographic reference: HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY. 2014. ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE LOT 3 - SOUTHERN LEG: ASSESSMENT REPORT ON TRIAL TRENCHING AND SAMPLE EXCAVATIONS.. Evaluation report.
- --- SAB5542 Bibliographic reference: ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND. 2015. DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014. p. 13.
- --- SAB5831 Bibliographic reference: HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY. 2015. AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY LOT 3 - SOUTHERN LEG: SL/001 AND SL/002A-D: POST-EX ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION EXCAVATION REPORT.
Finds (1)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
- Event - Intervention: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERVENTION - ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE (EAB20185)
- Event - Intervention: Evaluation - ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE (EAB5917)
- Event - Intervention: Excavation - ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE (EAB13822)
- Event - Intervention: Excavation - ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE (EAB6318)
Record last edited
Nov 17 2025 10:00AM
