Cropmark record MAB65473 - RED CASTLE

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Summary

Cropmarks showing the ditches of at least one square and two circular barrows have been located in a field south of Red Castle, on the edge of the raised beach, see also NO65SE0019.

Protected Status/Designation

Scheduled Monument 6404: Red Castle barrow and settlement

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Location

Grid reference	Centred NO 6868 5079 (224m by 337m) Centred at - Point
Map sheet	NO65SE
Civil Parish	Inverkeilor
Authority	Angus

Type and Period (7)

Full Description

Cropmarks showing the ditches of at least one square and two circular barrows have been located in a field south of Red Castle, on the edge of the raised beach, see also NO65SE0019. The square barrow measures about 8 m square within the ditch, which appears to be broken by causeways at the corners. The larger of the circular barrows measures about 10 m in diameter overall. An area 60 m by 30 m was excavated by CFA revealing at least five square barrows, circa 7 m to 10 m across, with central burials, one further possible square barrow, two round barrows, circa 8.5 m diameter, with central burial pit aligned roughly east-west, and two unenclosed burials. In addition other features including isolated pits and part of a souterrain were revealed. The majority of burials were set within long cists with capstones. Preservation of the bones was poor. Only exception was one of the square barrows which had a stain which may have been a timber or leather coffin. Dates from bones range from 400 AD - 780 AD. The 1998 season fully excavated the souterrain and a number of single burial pits. Entrance passageway to souterrain was circa 6.5 m long by 0.8 m wide. It may have been wattle and daub lined. Carbonised grain, pottery sherds, fragments of sheet bronze and shards of glass were found. Isolated pits scattered across the site contained sherds of late Neolithic Grooved Ware and a sherd of Impressed Ware. One pit close to the souterrain entrance contained two stone lamps one of which was decorated.

Period Notes
Radiocarbon dates : OxA-8140 Left femur from long cist burial, square barrow (SB1) : BP 1580 +/- 35, d13C -20.6 (400 to 570 cal AD). OxA-8141 right clavicle from long cist burial in square barrow (SB1) : BP 1565 +/- 40, d13C -20.6 (410 to 600 cal AD). OxA-8142 left femur from long cist in square barrow (SB2) : BP 1455 +/- 35, d13C -20.5 (540 to 660 cal AD). OxA-8143 left femur from long cist burial : BP 1305 +/-35, d13C -21.1 (660 to 780 cal AD). OxA-8144 tooth from long cist burial in round barrow (RB2) : BP 1470 +/- 40, d13C -20.5 (440 to 660 cal AD). OxA-8383 cranial fragments from long cist burial in square barrow (SB3) : BP 1385 +/- 35, d13C -20.6 (600 to 710 cal AD). OxA-8412 tooth from long cist burial in round barrow (RB1) : BP 1815 +/- 40, d13C -20.4 (80 to 340 cal AD). OxA-10162 Left femur from human burial in the long cist. Same sample as OxA-8142 (combined provide an age of BP 1440+/-25). BP 1426 +/-36, d13C-20.5. OxA-8413 tooth from long cist burial : BP 1675 +/- 40, d13C -20.7 (240 to 470 cal AD). OxA-10163 left femur from long cist burial. This is from the same burial as OxA-8413. BP 1661 +/- 36, d13C -21.06. OxA-10167 tooth from human long cist burial. BP 1544 +/- 36, d13C -20.66. AA-46460 Human clavicle from cist 250. BP 1055 +/-55, d13C -18.7. AA-46461 Right femur from grave 252. BP 1285 +/-50, d13C -22.0. AA-46462 Rib fragment from grave 259. BP 1475 +/-50, d13C -20.08. AA-46463 Charred barley grain from lower fill of the souterrain within the entrance passage. BP 1895 +/-50, d13C -23.8. AA-46464 Charred barley grain from primary fill of the western end of the souterrain. BP 1845 +/-45, d13C -24.2. AA-46465 Charred barley grain from same context as AA-46464. BP 1760 +/-50, d13C -24.1. Aa-46466 Charred barley grain from lowest fill of the entrance of the souterrain. BP 1885 +/-50, d13C -22.2. AA-46467 Charred barley grain from same context as AA-46466. BP 1845 +/-45, d13C -22.5. AA-46468 Charred barley grain from lower fill of middle section of the souterrain. BP 1885 +/-55, d13C -23.4. AA-46469 Charred grain from fill of s post-hole in the base of the souterrain. BP 1815 +/-50, d13C -22.9.

AN/2901 (1976), AN/2901 (1976) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27599.

AN/2901/TR, AN/2901/TR (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28171.

AN/2902 (1976), AN/2902 (1976) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27600.

AN/3246 (1977), AN/3246 (1977) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28304.

AN/3246/TR, AN/3246/TR (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27606.

AN/3247 (1977), AN/3247 (1977) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28305.

AN/3248 (1977), AN/3248 (1977) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28306.

B/05406 (1988), B/05406 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27601.

B/05407 (1988), B/05407 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27602.

B/05408 (1988), B/05408 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27603.

B/05409 (1988), B/05409 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27604.

B/16236 (1988), B/16236 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28019.

B/16237 (1988), B/16237 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28020.

B/16238 (1988), B/16238 (1988) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28021.

C/46790/TR, C/46790/TR (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28202.

MS/840/517, MS/840/517 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB27605.

THE SCOTSMAN, 0000, THE SCOTSMAN, 07/01/00 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1819.

RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 10, No.28 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7806.

POLLOCK, D, 1987, THE LUNAN VALLEY PROJECT: MEDIEVAL RURAL SETTLEMENT IN ANGUS. IN PSAS 115 (1985) 357-399, PSAS 115, 357-99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1486.

ALEXANDER, D, 1997, REDCASTLE EXCAVATIONS. CFA REPORT NO. 364, REPORT No. 364 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2359.

ALEXANDER, D, 1999, REDCASTLE BARROW CEMETERY IN CURRENT ARCHAEOLOGY NO. 166 (1999) 395-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2164.

Alexander, D, 1999, Redcastle, Lunan Bay, Angus Archl Ex: data rep445, Report No445 (Bibliographic reference). SAB64.

ALEXANDER, D, 2000, DES 1999. RED CASTLE, LUNAN BAY (Bibliographic reference). SAB2169.

RADIOCARBON DATES

ARMIT, I, 2000, THE ABANDONMENT OF SOUTERAINS: EVOLUTION, CATASTROPHE OR DISLOCATION? IN PSAS 129 (1999), 577-596 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8747.

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.

Sep 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT403,602-625, AAS/GR/97/CT403,602-625 (Ground Photograph). SAB33072.

Sep 15 1998 , AAS/98/12/CT, AAS/98/12/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29034.

Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/CT26-37,105, AAS/97/11/CT26-37,105 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28981.

Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/G22/26,29-30, AAS/97/11/G22/26,29-30 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28980.

Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/G23/1-10, AAS/97/11/G23/1-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28984.

Other Statuses/References

Authority: ANG;
HES Scheduled Monument Number: 6404;
NMR Card Number: NO65SE18;
NRHE Numlink: 35800;
Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO65SE0018;

External Links (2)

https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM6404 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
https://www.trove.scot/place/35800 (trove.scot link)

Sources/Archives (30)

--- SAB1486 Bibliographic reference: POLLOCK, D. 1987. THE LUNAN VALLEY PROJECT: MEDIEVAL RURAL SETTLEMENT IN ANGUS. IN PSAS 115 (1985) 357-399. PSAS 115, 357-99.
--- SAB1819 Bibliographic reference: THE SCOTSMAN. 0000. THE SCOTSMAN. 07/01/00.
--- SAB2164 Bibliographic reference: ALEXANDER, D. 1999. REDCASTLE BARROW CEMETERY IN CURRENT ARCHAEOLOGY NO. 166 (1999) 395-7 .
--- SAB2169 Bibliographic reference: ALEXANDER, D. 2000. DES 1999. RED CASTLE, LUNAN BAY.
--- SAB2359 Bibliographic reference: ALEXANDER, D. 1997. REDCASTLE EXCAVATIONS. CFA REPORT NO. 364. Y. REPORT No. 364.
--- SAB27599 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/2901 (1976). Black & White. AN/2901 (1976).
--- SAB27600 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/2902 (1976). Black & White. AN/2902 (1976).
--- SAB27601 Air-oblique Photograph: B/05406 (1988). Black & White. B/05406 (1988).
--- SAB27602 Air-oblique Photograph: B/05407 (1988). Black & White. B/05407 (1988).
--- SAB27603 Air-oblique Photograph: B/05408 (1988). Black & White. B/05408 (1988).
--- SAB27604 Air-oblique Photograph: B/05409 (1988). Black & White. B/05409 (1988).
--- SAB27605 Air-oblique Photograph: MS/840/517. Black & White. MS/840/517.
--- SAB27606 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/3246/TR. TR. AN/3246/TR.
--- SAB28019 Air-oblique Photograph: B/16236 (1988). Black & White. B/16236 (1988).
--- SAB28020 Air-oblique Photograph: B/16237 (1988). Black & White. B/16237 (1988).
--- SAB28021 Air-oblique Photograph: B/16238 (1988). Black & White. B/16238 (1988).
--- SAB28171 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/2901/TR. TR. AN/2901/TR.
--- SAB28202 Air-oblique Photograph: C/46790/TR. TR. C/46790/TR.
--- SAB28304 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/3246 (1977). Black & White. AN/3246 (1977).
--- SAB28305 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/3247 (1977). Black & White. AN/3247 (1977).
--- SAB28306 Air-oblique Photograph: AN/3248 (1977). Black & White. AN/3248 (1977).
--- SAB28980 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/G22/26,29-30. Black & White. AAS/97/11/G22/26,29-30.
--- SAB28981 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/CT26-37,105. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/11/CT26-37,105.
--- SAB28984 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/G23/1-10. Black & White. AAS/97/11/G23/1-10.
--- SAB29034 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 15 1998 . AAS/98/12/CT. Colour Transparency. AAS/98/12/CT.
--- SAB33072 Ground Photograph: Sep 1 1997 . AAS/GR/97/CT403,602-625. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/97/CT403,602-625.
--- SAB3427 Bibliographic reference: WINLOW, S. 2010. TWO NEW DATES FROM TWO OLD INVESTIGATIONS: A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WOMEN'S KNOWE AND KINGOODIE LONG CIST CEMETERY. p.50.
--- SAB64 Bibliographic reference: Alexander, D. 1999. Redcastle, Lunan Bay, Angus Archl Ex: data rep445. Y. Report No445.
--- SAB7806 Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. 1978. [Untitled]. 10, No.28.
--- SAB8747 Bibliographic reference: ARMIT, I. 2000. THE ABANDONMENT OF SOUTERAINS: EVOLUTION, CATASTROPHE OR DISLOCATION? IN PSAS 129 (1999), 577-596.