Document record MAB58263 - BLACKDOG

Pits of Mesolithic/Neolithic date recorded during evaluation and excavation by Headland Archaeology ahead of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR NJ91SE0038).

Pits of Mesolithic/Neolithic date recorded during evaluation and excavation by Headland Archaeology ahead of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR NJ91SE0038). An isolated pit containing Neolithic pottery was recorded during a programme of trial trenching in 2013. The pit was sub-circular in plan, measuring 1.4 m by 1.2 m by 0.38m. The lower fill contained frequent charcoal fragments and occasional small quartz stones. Several pottery sherds, including one large and well-preserved rim sherd of a Neolithic carinated bowl, were recovered from the upper fill. They have been dated to the early Neolithic, circa 3800-3600 BC. A Mesolithic date (4330-4070 BC) obtained from a sample from the base of a final recut of one of the pits, is probably residual. Environmental sampling recovered moderate quantities of nutshell in addition to frequent charcoal from both fills and several lithic chips. Further excavation was carried out in by Headland Archaeology in 2014. Seven cut features were recorded, all but one containing prehistoric material. Three of these were substantial circular pits located at the base of a slope, two of which contained Neolithic pottery: worked lithics were found in all three. The fills indicated that they had been recut up to four times. Radiocarbon dating of samples from two of these pits gave Early Neolithic dates of 3930-3710 BC and 3790-3810. A Mesolithic date (4330-4070 BC) from lower in one of these pits may have come from residual material. Four smaller pits to the north and east of the larger ones also contained lithics, including a pitchstone scraper, and several fragments of prehistoric pottery. One of the pits gave radiocarbon date of 3630-3390 (Early to Middle Neolithic). The function of the pits could not be identified. At the southwest corner of the site was a possible buried soil deposit which produced an assemblage of 20 flint and pitchstone lithics although no features were identified. All of the pottery from the site was Neolithic in date, an earlier group dated circa 3950-3700 BC, and a later group circa 3600 BC - 3300 BC. The lithic material is almost entirely of flint, the presence of cores and a large quantity of chips indicated knapping on site. Monitored topsoil stripping was carried out by Headland Archaeology in June 2015 along the southern edge of the site, but no further features of artefacts were recorded.

Period Notes
Radiocarbon dates: SUERC-68122, large pit, calibrated to 3930-3710 BC; SUERC-68123, basal layer pit recut, calibrated to 4330-4070 BC; SUERC-58599, large pit, calibrated to 3970-3810 BC; SUERC-58600, smaller pit, calibrated to 3630-3390 BC.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, ABERDEEN WESTERN PERIPHERAL ROUTE/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY LOT 2 - NORTHERN LEG: REPORT -TRIAL TRENCHING AND SAMPLE EXCAV. (VOLS 1-3), V1, 40-1; V2 Ill 53 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4452.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2015, AWPR/BALMEDIE-TIPPERTY LOT 2 NORTHERN LEG POST-EXCAVATION AND MITIGATION EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB5841.

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.

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

Record last edited

Jul 15 2024 2:32PM