Document record MAB56034 - KINTORE EAST

An archaeological evaluation was carried out in 2016 by Murray Archaeological Services Ltd prior to residential development, in which two areas with prehistoric settlement and a metalworking area were identified.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out in 2016 by Murray Archaeological Services Ltd prior to residential development, in which two areas with prehistoric settlement and a metalworking area were identified. A total of eighty-eight evaluation trenches were excavated to cover 7 percent of the site. Two concentrations of prehistoric activity suggesting settlement, with radiocarbon dates from the Early Neolithic to the Iron Age, were observed on the sheltered eastern and southern-facing slopes to the south in the southern part of the site. One of the settlement sites is in the eastern side of field 3 to the north of Ferneybrae Croft, with views to, and possibly related to, Midmill Long Barrow (NJ71NE0024). Survival in this area was good due to the deeper soils at the base of the south facing slope. The features appear to have been domestic, and there was a concentration of probable Early Neolithic pottery that in one area was reminiscent of the concentration in trodden surfaces such as floors. There was also a late Bronze Age radiocarbon date given for barley grains recovered in the same area. The second settlement site is to the east, on a well sheltered south-east facing slope. The narrow evaluation trenches limited interpretation, however there was evidence for several Bronze Age round-houses. There were also pits with pottery that dates from the Neolithic and Bronze Age, including sherds of at least one Beaker pot. Prehistoric ard marks were recorded over some of the structures and related features. Across the stream to the south of this site, a hearth gave a Bronze Age radiocarbon date within the same range as the dates of the round-house features to the north. Late Neolithic flints and Neolithic pottery were also recovered from this area. A metalworking area with extensive areas of burning was observed on the west slopes facing the river Don, to the east of the farm of Tofthills. Two furnace bases from iron working were recorded, although with low quantities of slag and other associated debris. Radiocarbon dates from this location indicate Iron Age activity between 128-232 AD, and medieval activity between 980-1151 AD. There were smaller scatters of prehistoric finds and very truncated features observed to the north and south of the farm of Tofthills. The low density in these areas may be in part a lack of survival due to fairly shallow soil and the close proximity to the farm, which has been intensively cultivated. Early and Late Neolithic lithics were recovered from across the site.

Period Notes
Neolithic and Bronze Age pottery and Early and Late Neolithic lithics were found. Radiocarbon dates: SUERC-67869 – Charcoal: 6656 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 1686 BC – 1526 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-67870 – Charcoal: 3306 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 1659 BC – 1507 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-67868 – Charcoal: 3244 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 1611 BC – 1446 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-67866 - Charred Grain: 2426 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 749 BC - 403 BC at 2 sigma); SUERC-67867 – Charcoal: 1879 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 66 AD – 223 AD at 2 sigma); SUERC-67875 – Charcoal: 1809 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 128 AD – 323 AD at 2 sigma); SUERC-67874 – Charred grain: 1004 +/- 30 BP (calibrated as 980 AD – 1151 AD at 2 sigma).

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2014, KINTORE EAST DEVELOPMENT, KINTORE, ABERDEENSHIRE: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB5123.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2016, KINTORE EAST, TOFTHILLS, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION, Evaluation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB7282.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2016, KINTORE EAST, TOFTHILLS, ABERDEENSHIRE: SPECIALIST REPORTS ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION, Specialist reports (Bibliographic reference). SAB7283.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2017, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 17, 2016, pp.18-19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6497.

Record last edited

Jun 19 2023 11:03AM