Cropmark record MAB64945 - MONBODDO HOUSE
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Summary
Several enclosures are visible as clear cropmarks in a field to the northwest of Monboddo House.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 7440 7881 (359m by 376m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO77NW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Fordoun |
Type and Period (7)
- BARN? (Unknown to 19th Century - 400000 BC to 1899 AD)
- ENCLOSURE (Late Upper Palaeolithic to 19th Century - 40000 BC to 1899 AD)
- PIT (Late Upper Palaeolithic to 19th Century - 40000 BC to 1899 AD)
- RING DITCH (Late Upper Palaeolithic to 19th Century - 40000 BC to 1899 AD)
- FEATURE (Late Upper Palaeolithic to 19th Century - 40000 BC to 1899 AD)
- PLANTATION (Late Upper Palaeolithic to 19th Century - 40000 BC to 1899 AD)
- ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE (Late Upper Palaeolithic to 19th Century - 40000 BC to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Several enclosures are visible as clear cropmarks in a field to the northwest of Monboddo House. There is a very regular circular enclosure ditch surrounding a substantial rectangular cropmark, but the regularity of shape presents difficulty in ascertaining a date to them. It was suggested that they represent the remains of either a timber hall of Neolithic date, similar to ones found on Deeside at Balbridie and Warren Field, Crathes, or an Early Medieval building similar to one found at the Craw Stane, Rhynie. However the 1st and 2nd Edition OS maps show a roughly circular plantation in this position known as 'Barn Knap', making the feature more likely 19th Century in date. Whilst the map shows no rectangular features corresponding to the cropmarks, the results of trial trenching by University of Aberdeen 2012 indicate that the building is most likely to be a post-medieval barn within a plantation bank. Adjacent to this lies a large circular enclosure, with a series of pits within it, and also a ring ditch. These cropmarks may represent an earlier prehistoric settlement in the same field.
Period Notes
The above possible dates are based on comparisons with other sites in the NE, notably Neolithic and Early Medieval timber halls. However the map evidence does make the site more likely 19th Century/Post Medieval.
KC/1276-9 (1982), KC/1276-9 (1982) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15702.
RALSTON, IBM, 1984, DEESIDE FIELD 19, 71-83, 74-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1572.
ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012, p.18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5487.
Aug 1 1996 , AAS/96/12/CT11-14,18,24-5, AAS/96/12/CT11-14,18,24-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16483.
Aug 1 1996 , AAS/96/12/G34/6-7, AAS/96/12/G34/6-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16482.
Jul 4 1996 , AAS/96/07/CT11-14,40, AAS/96/07/CT11-14,40 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16421.
Jul 5 1982 , AAS/82/09/R3/7-9, AAS/82/09/R3/7-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15701.
Jul 6 1983 , AAS/83/04/R7/10-2, AAS/83/04/R7/10-2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15703.
Jul 12 1983 , AAS/83/05/R9/7-10, AAS/83/05/R9/7-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15704.
Jul 12 1984 , AAS/84/04/R6(1)/7, AAS/84/04/R6(1)/7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15706.
Jul 12 1984 , AAS/84/04/R7(1)/3, AAS/84/04/R7(1)/3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15707.
Jul 20 1983 , AAS/83/08/R14/3-5, AAS/83/08/R14/3-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15705.
Jul 20 1983 , AAS/83/08/S3/34, AAS/83/08/S3/34 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15708.
Jul 20 2000 , AAS/00/11/CT12-8, AAS/00/11/CT12-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17440.
Jul 20 2000 , AAS/00/11/G26/14-5, AAS/00/11/G26/14-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17439.
Jul 24 1982 , AAS/82/15/R24/8-11, AAS/82/15/R24/8-11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15700.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- NMR Card Number: NO77NW43;
- NRHE Numlink: 36474;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO77NW0025;
External Links (1)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/36474 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (16)
- --- SAB15700 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 24 1982 . AAS/82/15/R24/8-11. Black & White. AAS/82/15/R24/8-11.
- --- SAB15701 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 5 1982 . AAS/82/09/R3/7-9. Black & White. AAS/82/09/R3/7-9.
- --- SAB15702 Air-oblique Photograph: KC/1276-9 (1982). Black & White. KC/1276-9 (1982).
- --- SAB15703 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 6 1983 . AAS/83/04/R7/10-2. Black & White. AAS/83/04/R7/10-2.
- --- SAB15704 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 12 1983 . AAS/83/05/R9/7-10. Black & White. AAS/83/05/R9/7-10.
- --- SAB15705 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 20 1983 . AAS/83/08/R14/3-5. Black & White. AAS/83/08/R14/3-5.
- --- SAB15706 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 12 1984 . AAS/84/04/R6(1)/7. Black & White. AAS/84/04/R6(1)/7.
- --- SAB15707 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 12 1984 . AAS/84/04/R7(1)/3. Black & White. AAS/84/04/R7(1)/3.
- --- SAB15708 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 20 1983 . AAS/83/08/S3/34. Black & White. AAS/83/08/S3/34.
- --- SAB1572 Bibliographic reference: RALSTON, IBM. 1984. DEESIDE FIELD 19, 71-83. 74-5.
- --- SAB16421 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 4 1996 . AAS/96/07/CT11-14,40. Colour Transparency. AAS/96/07/CT11-14,40.
- --- SAB16482 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 1 1996 . AAS/96/12/G34/6-7. Black & White. AAS/96/12/G34/6-7.
- --- SAB16483 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 1 1996 . AAS/96/12/CT11-14,18,24-5. Colour Transparency. AAS/96/12/CT11-14,18,24-5.
- --- SAB17439 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 20 2000 . AAS/00/11/G26/14-5. Black & White. AAS/00/11/G26/14-5.
- --- SAB17440 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 20 2000 . AAS/00/11/CT12-8. Colour Transparency. AAS/00/11/CT12-8.
- --- SAB5487 Bibliographic reference: ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND. 2013. DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012. p.18.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Nov 10 2025 3:38PM
