Document record MAB62470 - CONVETH MAINS

An evaluation was carried out by MAS in March 2012 on the site for a new Mearns Academy, followed by further excavation in April - May 2012 of features discovered at the south west end of the site.

An evaluation was carried out by MAS in March 2012 on the site for a new Mearns Academy, followed by further excavation in April - May 2012 of features discovered at the south west end of the site. Eight evaluation trenches, all running roughly northeast-southwest, recorded the remains of a croft (NO77SW0066), rig and furrow, and medieval pottery associated with a possible cobbled area and occupation level. Excavation of this cobbled area recorded the remains of a small, possibly quite short lived, medieval farm. The excavated building may be the only surviving remnant of a larger group of structures which have been ploughed out by both medieval to late 18th century rig and furrow cultivation and post-improvement cultivation of the 19th and 20th centuries. Pottery from the excavation suggests the farm was in use at the end of the 13th to beginning of the 14th centuries. Details of the structure and presence of some imported pottery indicate a farm of some status, although not very wealthy. It can possibly be identified with the property in the lands of Conveth documented from the late 12th century. The building may have been in use for as little as 20 years. It is one of the rare examples in Scotland of the excavation of a rural medieval building associated with a small, apparently unenclosed manor. It is also a rare example of a probable clay walled building of this date. Subsequent rig and furrow cultivation may date from as early as the later medieval period. Map evidence shows the area cultivated as rig and furrow in the 18th century. Finds from the excavation also included a flint blade of early prehistoric date, and from medieval contexts, two iron nails, two copper alloy fragments. Metal detecting as part of the evaluation recorded a silver sixpence of George V, a small brooch of probably 20th century date, and a 1915 'On War Service' badge with the number 82750K. The badges were given to men and boys who were working in vital industries.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2012, NEW MEARNS ACADEMY SITE, LAURENCEKIRK, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND EXCAVATION, MAS 2012-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5024.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012, p.23 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5487.

Record last edited

Jul 16 2024 11:08AM