Cropmark record MAB64536 - ELLIOT

Cropmarks of a possible enclosure and promontory fort, recorded by the RCAHMS in 1982.

Cropmarks of a possible enclosure and promontory fort, recorded by the RCAHMS in 1982. In November 1998 an archaeological evaluation (NO63NW0046) was carried out on a section of the site prior to proposed road improvements. Two trenches, excavated on the edge of a small spur at circa NO 6170 3937, revealed the remains of what was believed to be a souterrain, a paved area and two long cist burials. The exposed portion of the possible souterrain measured 18m long by 3m wide. The paved area, within which lay two cup-marked stones, was partially revealed to the east of the possible souterrain. Some 10m further east were the heavily truncated remains of two stone-lined long cists containing the fragmentary remains of two individuals, one of which was probably 16-20 years old, and the other probably over 25 years old. Radiocarbon dates from the two cist burials returned dates from the 6th to 8th centuries cal AD. These elements appeared to form part of a small Iron Age settlement and possible associated cemetery. A fuller excavation of the site was undertaken by CFA in 1999. A trench measuring 50 x 20m was excavated along the road corridor. This revealed that the feature interpreted previously as a souterrain was in fact a curvilinear length of ditch which appeared to cross the neck of a promontory, and thus defined a promontory enclosure with maximum internal dimensions of circa 80m x 70m. The ditch was of unusual construction, comprising a series of adjoining straight segments of varying length and depth. Within the top fills was evidence of an internal stone wall or rampart which had been demolished into the ditch. Features identified within the enclosed area included an area of paving, several isolated pits, and a natural palaeochannel infilled with organic soils containing artefacts. The trial trenching in 1998 revealed the presence of two long cists and in 1999 a further dug grave, sited close to the cists, was discovered. The grave was an elongated oval in plan, measuring 1.4m x 0.55m wide x 0.43m deep. A copper alloy ring and iron object, thought to date to the first centuries AD, were found on the floor of the grave, but no trace of human remains were discovered. The paved area noted in 1998 was revealed as potentially a length of wall foundation. It was comprised of large, flattish slabs, circa 4m long x 1m. The degree of plough-truncation to surviving features suggests that other remains had been entirely removed prior to excavation. The closest parallels for this site perhaps lie with the series of coastal promontory sites recorded between Arbroath and Lunan Bay, and inland promontory sites such as Hurly Hawkin.

Period Notes
GU-10582 long cist 1, 530-710 cal AD (2 stigma); GU-10668 long cist 2, 540-690 cal AD (2 stigma).

AN/5458 (1982), AN/5458 (1982) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22051.

AN/5459 (1982), AN/5459 (1982) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22052.

AN/5464 (1982), AN/5464 (1982) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB22053.

GR/99/CT325 0337, GR/99/CT325 0337 (Ground Photograph). SAB37205.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 06/02/98 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

REES, A, 08/1998, A92 ARBROATH-DUNDEE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS: EVALUATION (Bibliographic reference). SAB1582.

EVALUATION

CFA, 1997, A92 ARBROATH TO DUNDEE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MITIGATION STRATEGY REPORT, DBA (Bibliographic reference). SAB1584.

REES, A, 1998, A92 ARBROATH TO DUNDEE ROAD IMPROVEMENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION. VOLUME 1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1583.

SUAT, 1999, ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT WESTWAY, ARBROATH, DBA (Bibliographic reference). SAB3291.

REES, A.R., 2000, A92 Road Improvement. DES 2000, p11-2, p11 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1600.

EXCAVATION

REES, A.R., 2000, EXCAVATION OF A DITCHED PROMONTORY AT ELLIOT, ARBROATH. A92 DUNDEE TO ARBROATH STAGE 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION, REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB1595.

EXCAVATION

CAMERON, K, 2006, Prehistoric pits etc along the route of the A92, p.23-33 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3971.

CAMERON, REES, DUNWELL AND ANDERSON, 2007, PREHISTORIC PITS, BA ROUNDHOUSES, IA ENCLOSURE, EARLY HISTORIC CIST AND MEDIEVAL ENCLOSURES... IN TAFAJ 13 (2007) PP. 39-73, pp. 62-71 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6776.

WINLOW, S, 2010, TWO NEW DATES FROM TWO OLD INVESTIGATIONS: A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WOMEN'S KNOWE AND KINGOODIE LONG CIST CEMETERY, p. 50 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3427.

Jan 1 1998 , AAS/GR/98/CT341-348, AAS/GR/98/CT341-348 (Ground Photograph). SAB33129.

Author unknown, n.d., DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER, 06/02/98 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2428.

Record last edited

Aug 8 2025 11:22AM