Prehistoric Occupation at Ayr
Evaluation of new housing site SE of Ayr has revealed a plough-damaged prehistoric site with pits and gullies or small ditched features. Despite some the worst weather of the year to date, Headland Archaeology have managed to identify possible domestic structures and enclosures and are moving to fully excavate the available part of the site before the development begins.
The picture above gives some indication of the difficult conditions encountered by Headland staff. A combination of heavy rain and heavy soils means that waterlogging is a constant problem, while conditions under foot can be treacherous. Nevertheless, it is possible to make out two narrow concentric curving features in the centre of the image. The interior feature has a stony fill, which may be packing material for a palisade or wall, while the fill of the outer arc is more silty, which may suggest it was an eavesdrip, designed to collect water running off the roof of a structure. Beyond the area visible in the photograph, this feature curves away from the interior arc, which would support the interpretation that the outer circuit may have been designed to lead water away from the walls of a building. The photograph below shows a section excavated across the terminal of a ditch-like feature identified on the site. The stone visible in the base of the feature may represent packing to support a large post.
