Cropmark record MAB65202 - WARREN FIELD, CRATHES

Cropmark of a Neolithic timber hall.

Cropmark of a Neolithic timber hall. The cropmarks reveal what is probably the wall-trench of a rectangular timber building with internal pits which probably indicates the positions of roof supports. It appears to have a semi-circular annexe on the west end. Originally thought to be Dark Age or medieval but with the excavation of a similar type of cropmark at Balbridie (NO79NW0014) which proved to be Neolithic, this site has also been proved of the same date. Partial excavation of the eastern end in May 2004 revealed a curving line of postholes. Several sherds of Neolithic pottery were recovered. Within a pit a small fragment of a possible wooden bowl and fragments of leather were recovered although date is uncertain at present. A more intensive season of excavation was undertaken in May and June 2005 during which the full plan of the building was revealed and its structure investigated. The building measured circa 24 x 9m externally and 22.5 x 8m internally. The west segment of the structure may have been unroofed, while the interior was sub-divided by a series of partitions. The main entrance was to the northeast, with two narrow gaps between the timbers in the side walls possibly providing light and air to the inner rooms. Outer walls built of large oak timbers, and the internal partitions had been constructed of lighter timbers. Two large pits lay on the longitudinal axis of the building, their function unclear although they do not appear to have held roof supports. Preliminary analysis of finds distribution indicates there was little activity in the west end of the building. Within the main area there was a concentration of flint artefacts to the west with a lower concentration at the east end and very few flints in the central area. The distribution of pottery was in reverse with little to the west and an increasing concentration towards the centre and east of the structure. This may suggest functional differences between the different areas of the structure. Systematic environmental sampling was undertaken throughout the building and analysis may show if there is any pattern in the distribution of grain. From the 2004 excavation, barley, emmer, bread/club wheat, and a possible grain of spelt were identified from the east end of the building.

Period Notes
SUERC-10085 – Wheat from upper fill post-pit – 5015+/-35 (which equals 3942 BC – 3707 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10084 – Oak charcoal from post 13 external wood – 4965+/-45 (which equals 3933 BC – 3650 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4049 – Oak charcoal from post 46 – 5065+/-35 (which equals 3959 BC – 3785 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10086 – Wheat from upper fill post-pit – 4995+/-35 (which equals 3941 BC – 3666 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10087 – Oak charcoal from post 144 N side external wood – 5010+/-35 (which equals 3943 BC – 3706 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10088 - Oak charcoal from post 144 N side external wood – 5065+/-40 (which equals 3964 BC – 3773 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10092 – Ash charcoal from post 11 external wood – 5010 +/-35 (which equals 3943 BC – 3706 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10093 – Barley from infill of post pipe – 4990+/-35 (which equals 3939 BC – 3664 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10094 – Wheat from infill of post pipe – 5005+/-35 (which equals 3943 BC – 3702 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4030 – Barley from infill of post pipe - 5005+/-35 (which equals 3943 BC – 3702 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4044 – Oak charcoal from post 3 possibly not external wood – 5205+/-35 (which equals 4222 BC – 3965 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-10083 – Hazelnut from secondary fill axial pit – 4995+/-35 (which equals 3941 BC – 3666 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4032 – Emmer from infill of post pipe – 4990+/-40 (which equals 3941 BC – 3660 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4048 – Oak charcoal from post 43 possibly not external wood – 5235+/-35 (which equals 4229 BC – 3967 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4043 – Alder charcoal from destruction fill axial pit 30 – 4990+/-35 (which equals 3939 BC – 3664 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4042 – Alder charcoal from destruction fill axial pit 30 – 5020+/-35 (which equals 3943 BC – 3710 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4041 – Alder/hazel charcoal from destruction fill axial pit 30 – 4945+/-40 (which equals 3891 BC – 3647 BC at 2 sigma).
SUERC-4039 - Alder charcoal from destruction fill axial pit 30 – 4975+/-35 (which equals 3926 BC – 3658 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4038 – Bread/club wheat from destruction fill axial pit 30 – 4980+/-35 (which equals 3931 BC – 3661 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4034 – Barley from backfill of post-pit – 4945+/-35 (which equals 3791 BC – 3652 BC at 2 sigma).

SUERC-4033 – Emmer from backfill of post-pit – 4950+/-35 (which equals 3796 BC – 3652 BC at 2 sigma).

The above calibrated dates are derived from OxCal 4.1

KC/633 (1976), KC/633 (1976) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15868.

RALSTON, IBM, 1982, AUR 168(1982)238-49, 238-49 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1491.

JONES, R, 2000, Crathes Castle, Warren Field. DES 2000 p8, p8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB909.

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

SHERIDAN, A, 2004, Pottery from Warren Field, Crathes, 2004 excavatio (Bibliographic reference). SAB4757.

Pottery Assemblage

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2004, THE WARREN FIELD, CRATHES: INTERIM EVALUATION REPORT & DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB4674.

MURRAY, H, 2005, OWER-BY THE RIVER: NEW EVIDENCE FOR THE EARLIEST NEOLITHIC ON DEESIDE. IN SCOTTISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL NEWS 47, 1-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5065.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2005, WARREN FIELD CRATHES, ABERDEENSHIRE 2005: EVALUATION REPORT AND DATA STRUCTURE REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB5047.

MURRAY , HC, 2005, WARREN FIELD, CRATHES. DES VOL5, 2004, P.11, P.11 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4573.

EXCAVATION

murray, h. k., 2006, DES VOL6, 2005, p.12-13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4538.

EXCAVATION

FRASER, S, 2006, Digging Deep in Time - Crathes Excavation (Bibliographic reference). SAB2487.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2006, WARREN FIELD, CRATHES: SUMMARY OF PROJECT RESULTS 2006 SEASON, Fldwk summary (Bibliographic reference). SAB5046.

MURRAY, H. K., 2009, A TALE OF UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS: A MESOLITHIC PIT ALIGNMENT AND A NEOLITHIC TIMBER HALL AT WARREN FIELD, CRATHES, ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB5005.

MILLICAN, K, 2016, THE TIMBER MONUMENTS OF NEOLITHIC SCOTLAND (Bibliographic reference). SAB7307.

Aug 13 1987 , AAS/87/01/S1/24-5, AAS/87/01/S1/24-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15867.

Jul 20 1983 , AAS/83/08/S3/8, AAS/83/08/S3/8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15866.

Jun 8 2005 , AAS-GR-05-06-001 - 012, AAS-GR-05-06-001 - 012 (Ground Photograph). SAB35757.

Jun 17 2005 , AAS/05/02/CT1-15, AAS/05/02/CT1-15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18237.

Jun 17 2005 , AAS/05/02/CT18-34, AAS/05/02/CT18-34 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18238.

Jun 17 2005 , AAS/05/02/G2/1-9, AAS/05/02/G2/1-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB33976.

Jun 17 2005 , GR/05/CT110-3, GR/05/CT110-3 (Ground Photograph). SAB18273.

Jun 23 2005 , AAS/05/03/CT76-87, AAS/05/03/CT76-87 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18240.

Jun 23 2005 , AAS/05/03/G3, AAS/05/03/G3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB33979.

Jun 23 2006 , AAS/05/03/CT61-73, AAS/05/03/CT61-73 (Photograph). SAB18239.

May 26 2004 , AAS/04/2/CT4,5,9-12, AAS/04/2/CT4,5,9-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18055.

May 26 2004 , AAS/04/2/G1/3-5, 7-9,11, AAS/04/2/G1/3-5, 7-9,11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18056.

RCAHMS, n.d., N KINC LIST, No99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1509.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2026 3:55PM