Document record MAB61781 - RED CASTLE, LUNAN

During investigations in 1983 by the Lunan Valley Project, contour, auger and resistivity surveying of the knoll around the castle (NO65SE0010) produced indications of two ditches, one running straight to cut the knoll in two, the other running concentric to, and just outside the 13th century upstanding curtain wall, with a narrow causeway.

During investigations in 1983 by the Lunan Valley Project, contour, auger and resistivity surveying of the knoll around the castle (NO65SE0010) produced indications of two ditches, one running straight to cut the knoll in two, the other running concentric to, and just outside the 13th century upstanding curtain wall, with a narrow causeway. Before excavation the linear ditch was thought to be pre-castle and even prehistoric. A narrow (but deep) excavation across the linear ditch uncovered an original medieval (12th/13th century) ditch with dump (glacis style) rampart cutting and sealing ploughsoil which in turn truncated a collection of scoops and postholes related to early medieval/dark ages occupation with a substantial quantity of red sandstone used as tough paving and posthole packing. Below these features were the remnant of previous agriculture, no cultivation marks were found, but the soil, sealed with a sudden deposit of sand (as at Corbie at the south end of Lunan Bay), was noted. No prehistoric defences were encountered. The curved, causewayed ditch is likely to be either part of a prehistoric or early medieval site. The augur survey (at 5m intervals) produced only one borehole of charcoal, but no more evidence of settlement. Three sherds of French, medieval pottery are recorded from here, one a sherd from a jug of Normandy red painted ware from a midden, and two sherds from a Martincamp type flask, also from a midden.

POLLOCK, D, 1987, THE LUNAN VALLEY PROJECT: MEDIEVAL RURAL SETTLEMENT IN ANGUS. IN PSAS 115 (1985) 357-399, PSAS 115 (1985), 357-99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1486.

Record last edited

Jan 2 2015 3:20PM