Cropmark record MAB65203 - BALBRIDIE

Timber hall, first identified during the dry summer of 1976 when an aerial photograph was taken of a cropmark of a timber hall.

Timber hall, first identified during the dry summer of 1976 when an aerial photograph was taken of a cropmark of a timber hall. Initially it was thought to be a Dark Age or Medieval building but excavation proved it to a Neolithic structure of considerable size. The wall posts had been set into a continuous foundation trench while the ends of the hall had been angled outwards on a slight v-shape. Some of the large internal posts had been of squared oak. Pottery sherds of Unstan Ware, some flints and burnt grain were found inside. The hall was subdivided by two internal divisions and two types of screens stood in front of the entrances at the east and west ends. The hall measured 24.5 m in length and 13 m wide, rising 8.5 m to a roof ridge. It appears to have been a substantial house/barn for an extended family of farmers. The hall came to an end when it burnt down. Fully excavated over summer seasons between 1977-1981.

Period Notes
All Radiocarbon dates below have been calibrated to 2 sigma (unless noted otherwise) using OxCal v4.1 (Calibration curve IntCal 09). They have not been rounded out to the nearest 10 years. C14 dates: 2890 +/- 155 (which equals 1488 BC - 795 BC at 2 sigma); 2790 +/- 130 (which equals 1386 BC - 670 BC at 2 sigma); 2980 +/- 70 (which equals 1400 BC - 1014 BC at 2 sigma); 3210 +/- 60 (which equals 1630 BC - 1323 BC at 2 sigma). Oak from the destruction level of a timber hall GU-1828 - 5030 BP +/- 60 (which equals 3961 BC to 3700 BC at 2 sigma), GU-1829 4875 BP +/- 150 (which equals 4035 BC - 3349 BC to 2 sigma) GU-1830 4970 BP +/- 75 (which equals 3945 BC to 3644 BC at 2 sigma), GU-1831 5015 BP +/- 125 (which equals 4223 BC - 3525 BC at 2 sigma), GU-1832 4970 BP +/-60 (which equals 3942 BC to 3647 BC at 2 sigma). GU-1035 oak charcoal from the destruction level BB77 F8/C3 of a timber hall 4840 BP +/- 165 (which equals 3989 BC - 3110 BC at 2 sigma). GU-1036 oak charcoal from the destruction level BB77 F1/C9 of a timber hall 4740 BP +/- 135 (which equals 3892 BC to 3097 BC at 2 sigma). GU-1037 oak charcoal from the destruction level BB77 F1/C1 of a timber hall 4930 BP +/- 80 (which equals 3947 BC to 3536 BC at 2 sigma). GU-1038i oak from the destruction level BB77 F7/C6 of a timber hall 5160 BP +/- 100 (which equals 4235 BC - 3713 BC at 2 sigma). GU-1038ii oak charcoal from the destruction level BB77 F7/C6 of a timber hall 5020 BP +/- 90 (which equals 3977 BC to 3647 BC at 2 sigma). GU-1421 a bulk sample BB79 WS14,17,36,38,85 of emmer from the destruction level of a timber hall, 4745 BP +/- 60 (which equals 3643 BC to 3373 BC at 2 sigma). OxA-1767 oat grain from the destruction level of a timber hall 4820 BP +/- 80 (which equals 3768 BC to 3376 BC at 2 sigma). OxA-1768 flax from the destruction level of a timber hall 4940 BP +/- 60 (which equals 3940 BC to 3637 BC at 2 sigma). OxA-1769 crab apple from the destruction level of a timber hall 5010 BP +/- 90 (which equals 3971 BC to 3645 BC at 2 sigma). The oak mean is 4980 +/-28 BP; the preferred mean is that for grain etc, which is 4910+/-40 BP. The calibrated mean of the oak dates is between 3908 BC and 3667 BC at 2 sigma; the preferred mean of grain etc is between 3771 BC and 3640 BC at 2 sigma.

AAS/88/02/S5/1-6,11, AAS/88/02/S5/1-6,11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15869.

KC/634-5 (1976), KC/634-5 (1976) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15872.

THE SCOTSMAN, 0000, THE SCOTSMAN, 11/07/78 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1819.

RALSTON, IBM, 1977, DES,3,5,8,9,19, 19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1514.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1979, EARLY GRAMPIAN, 5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1636.

RALSTON, IBM, 1980, DES (Bibliographic reference). SAB1554.

RALSTON, IBM, 1980, THE GREEN CASTLE AND THE PROMONTORY FORTS OF NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. IN SCOTTISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL FORUM NO10, 27-40, 41-60 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1537.

RALSTON, IBM, 1981, DES,16-17, 16-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1533.

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

OMAND, D, 1987, THE GRAMPIAN BOOK (Bibliographic reference). SAB1359.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1988, THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY SUMMER CONFERENCE 1988: ABERDEEN AND NORTH EAST SCOTLAND, 38-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1744.

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

Aug 12 1997 , AAS/97/10/CT4-5,11,43,89, AAS/97/10/CT4-5,11,43,89 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16777.

Aug 12 1997 , AAS/97/10/G20/11-15, AAS/97/10/G20/11-15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16778.

Aug 28 1995 , AAS/95/09/CT1-2, AAS/95/09/CT1-2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19661.

Aug 28 1995 , AAS/95/09/G26/2,3, AAS/95/09/G26/2,3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16136.

Jan 1 1979 , AAS/GR/79/CT27,30, AAS/GR/79/CT27,30 (Ground Photograph). SAB32574.

Jan 1 1980 , AAS/GR/80/CT10,34,39, AAS/GR/80/CT10,34,39 (Ground Photograph). SAB33187.

Jan 1 1980 , AAS/GR/81/CT44,50, AAS/GR/81/CT44,50 (Ground Photograph). SAB32575.

Jul 6 1983 , AAS/83/04/R7/1-3, AAS/83/04/R7/1-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15870.

Jul 7 1989 , AAS/89/04/CT9,18-23, AAS/89/04/CT9,18-23 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19730.

Jul 13 1981 , AAS/81/06/R3/20-33, AAS/81/06/R3/20-33 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16001.

Jul 13 1981 , AAS/81/06/R4/10-25, AAS/81/06/R4/10-25 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16000.

Jul 18 1989 , AAS/89/05/CT42, AAS/89/05/CT42 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19754.

Jul 18 1989 , AAS/89/05/S12/3-6,10-12, AAS/89/05/S12/3-6,10-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15871.

Jul 26 1981 , AAS/81/08/R6/3-12, AAS/81/08/R6/3-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16002.

Jun 24 1988 , AAS/88/01/CT7, AAS/88/01/CT7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19892.

Jun 27 1988 , AAS/88/02/CT1-3, AAS/88/02/CT1-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19895.

May 8 1979 , AAS/79/3/CT1, AAS/79/3/CT1 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18975.

Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 17/08/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.

Author unknown, n.d., GLASGOW HERALD, 27/11/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB653.

Author unknown, n.d., LEOPARD MAGAZINE, JULY/AUGUST 1978 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1074.

RCAHMS, n.d., N KINC LIST, No98 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1509.

Author unknown, n.d., SUNDAY TIMES, 04/05/80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1890.

Author unknown, n.d., TIME MAGAZINE, 26/06/78 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1961.

Author unknown, n.d., TIMES, 07/08/81 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1926.

Author unknown, n.d., TIMES, 27/05/78 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1926.

Record last edited

Apr 16 2025 11:58AM