Document record MAB58177 - WESTER HATTON

Neolithic and Bronze Age features recorded during excavation by Headland Archaeology in 2015 ahead of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Neolithic and Bronze Age features recorded during excavation by Headland Archaeology in 2015 ahead of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. Neolithic activity comprised five clusters of small pits, which produced fragments of modified Carinated Bowls and Impressed Ware vessels, and a small assemblage of Levallois-like cores and flakes. Samples gave radiocarbon dates between 3310 and 2920 BC indicating Middle Neolithic activity although the nature of this is unclear. Five separate roundhouse structures and a number large pits of Bronze Age date were recorded. Samples gave radiocarbon dates between 1110 and 1570 BC. Four of the structures comprised outer post-rings and ring ditches, the fifth the partial remains of an outer ring-groove and an inner post-ring. Four large pits appeared to be contemporary with the roundhouses, and contained charcoal, pottery and lithic debris. A number of features, mainly isolated pits or postholes, could not be dated. Of the 858 sherds and 790 fragments of pottery collected, only 43 are dated to the Neolithic, the remainder likely to be from the Early to Middle Bronze Age. The Neolithic vessels are mostly Impressed Ware with a few modified Carinated Bowls. The Bronze Age pottery was in a poorer state of preservation, mostly comprising abraded body sherds. A total of 1,839 lithic artefacts were recovered, the majority debitage, and dated predominantly to the Neolithic. Apart from three quartz flakes, all are of flint, much of it probably from the Buchan Ridge area near Peterhead. They include cores, flakes, blades, microblades. Larger stone tools included seven saddle querns, a pounder/hammerstone, possible hammerstone and a grinder.

Period Notes
Radiocarbon dates (calibrated to 2 signma): SUERC-74400, pit, calibrated to 3340-3100 BC; SUERC-74399, pit, calibrated to 3310-2920 BC; SUERC-73583, structure 2, calibrated to 1740-1570 BC; SUERC-73586, structure 4, calibrated to 1260-1050 BC; SUERC-73585, structure 4, calibrated to 1210-1020 BC; SUERC-73587, structure 5, calibrated to 1110-930 BC;' SUERC-74401, pit, calibrated to 1520-1430 BC; SUERC-73591, fill of BA pit cut, 3037+/-31 BP, calibrated to 1400-1210 BC; SUERC-73584, base fill ring ditch cut, 2995+/-31, calibrated to 1370-1130 BC;

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2015, WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION AT SITE 362, A90 N JUNCTION (Bibliographic reference). SAB5851.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2015, 2015, WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE (Bibliographic reference). SAB5859.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2017, AWPR: CONSTRUCTION PHASE AREAS - RESULTS OF ARCH MONITORING AND MITIGATION DURING POST-EX ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT REPT (Bibliographic reference). SAB5858.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2018, ABERDEEN TO INVERURIE RAIL ENHANCEMENT PERSLEY DEN LT028 (REPORT 3): ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRIAL TRENCHING EVALUATION (Bibliographic reference). SAB5822.

DINGWALL, K, 2019, THE LAND WAS FOREVER: 15,000 YEARS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. EXCAVATIONS ON THE AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY (Bibliographic reference). SAB4064.

Jul 1 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-412 - 433, AAS-GR-15-07-412 - 433 (Ground Photograph). SAB35570.

Record last edited

Jul 15 2024 2:44PM