Monument record MAB9488 - OLD KINORD GROUP

An enclosed settlement surrounded by a field system of large fields represented by stone banks and stone clearance heaps.

An enclosed settlement surrounded by a field system of large fields represented by stone banks and stone clearance heaps. Most substantial features are huts A and B on Ogston's plan which have stone walls 2.5m thick and sunken floors of 16.5m and 17.5m diameter, with entrances facing east and north respectively. A small souterrain, C, opens off feature D. In 1904 the Hon J Abercromby excavated huts H, B, A and D and found a stone disc, flints, charcoal, pottery fragments and quern fragments, and some pottery (glazed). Features L and K are enclosures, possible hollow ways. A re-excavation of structure D in the 1970s produced no dateable evidence, although soil pollen analysis suggested the existence of extensive pasture and some cereals. Sample excavation was carried out by R Bradley in 2016-17, with survey of the upstanding monuments. Re-opening of three antiquarian trenches investigate two souterrain structures and the junction between two overlapping roundhouse walls. The earliest dates associated with the lower roundhouse ranged between the early 2nd and late 1st century BC, and layers associated with the abandonment of the upper roundhouse dating to the 1st century BC to the earliest 3rd century AD. The new survey of the rest of the site provided additional details of walls and also identified another circular structure on the western edge of the settlement., marked by single large stones outlining a circle 12m in diameter. The new survey also confirmed Abercromby's and Ogton's observations that the positions of some of the roundhouses overlapped without completely removing earlier walls.

Period Notes
RC dates: UB-2084 Peat below a small clearance heap 455 BP +/- 95 Calibrated Date(s) 1300 to 1650 AD. 2016 excavation, RC dates: SUERC-60172 (GU41804) 2008 +/- 33 BP, calibrated to 94 BC to 69 AD at 2 sigma; SUERC-69173 (GU41805) 1981 +/- 33 BP, calibrated to 51 BC to 85 AD at 2 sigma; SUERC-69173 (GU41806) 1969+/-33 BP, calibrated to 45 BC to 119 AD at 2 sigma; SUERC-69175 (GU41807 1968+/-33 BP, calibrated to 45BC to 120 AD; SUERC-69176 (GU41808) 1918+/-33 BP, calibrated to 3 - 209 AD at 2 sigma; SUERC-69180 (GU41809) 2077+/-33 BP, calibrated to 189 BC to 1 BC at 2 sigma

ABERCROMBY, J, 1904, EXPLORATION OF CIRCULAR ENCLOSURES AND AN UNDERGROUND HOUSE NEAR DINNET, 102-22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB27.

OGSTON, A, 1931, PREHIST ANTIQ HOWE OF CROMAR, 113-22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1358.

EDWARDS, KJ, 1978, PSAS 109(1977-78) 202-210, 109 (Bibliographic reference). SAB442.

EDWARDS, K, 1984, PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS OF SOILS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OLD KINORD FIELD AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEM. PSAS 113(1982-83) 620-27, 620-27 (Bibliographic reference). SAB451.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1985, BASG (Bibliographic reference). SAB1639.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1985, BASG (Bibliographic reference). SAB1639.

SHEPHERD, I, 1996, ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED), p.141 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4829.

ROMANKIEWICZ, T, 2020, OLD KINORD, ABERDEENSHIRE: SURVEY AND EXCAVATION AT AN IRON AGE SETTLEMENT ON DEESIDE IN PSAS 149, 221-247 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3157.

Aug 30 1991 , NK 27-29, NK 27-29 (Ground Photograph). SAB33451.

Feb 10 2011 , DG3207-9, DG3212-6, DG3207-9, DG3212-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB36815.

Feb 23 2010 , DG027 - 029, DG027 - 029 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB36816.

Jan 27 1998 , AAS/98/01/CN, AAS/98/01/CN (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16914.

Jan 27 1998 , AAS/98/01/G1/11-13, AAS/98/01/G1/11-13 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16913.

Jun 10 2010 , DG1692-6, DG1692-6 (Ground Photograph). SAB12979.

Mar 20 2010 , Dg 0144-8, Dg 0144-8 (Ground Photograph). SAB20197.

Record last edited

Apr 2 2026 2:18PM