Monkton, South Ayrshire
Rectalinear structure, truncated by a cultivation furrow, image copyright GUARD Archaeology Ltd
Archaeological evaluation undertaken by GUARD Archaeology Ltd at the north-western end of Main Street, Monkton, identified a number of features indicative of past settlement widely dispersed across an area proposed for a housing development. This work was undertaken to assess the potential of the development to encounter buried archaeological material on the advice of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service, on the basis of material recorded from the surrounding landscape. This included a number of flint scatters recorded from the vicinity of the nearby Dow's Burn, which could indicate the presence of previously-unrecorded prehistoric settlement in the area, and the remains of the 13th century church dedicated to St Cuthbert, demonstrating occupation during the medieval period.
Broad rig cultivation furrow, image copyright GUARD Archaeology Ltd
The trial trench evaluation encountered a number of features widely dispersed across the development site. Broad rig cultivation remnants were visible over the majority of the site, while a group of linear cut features and pits were visible towards the central part of the site. To the north-east of these remains a possible bipartite structure was partially exposed. This appeared as a series of slot trenches rectangular in plan and formed of at least two compartments. Other more isolated linear cut features including two possible palisade trenches and further pits were recorded around the southern and western fringes of the development area. An unworked flint fragment was recovered during excavation of one of the pits, and a fragment of 14th century green glazed pottery was recovered from a linear feature, possibly a ditch, during excavation. A further heavily abraded fragment of 14th century pottery was recovered from the fill of a broad rig cultivation furrow. The finds suggest dates probably associated with prehistoric and medieval activity on the site.
Pit with burnt fill containing charcoal and heat-affected clay, image copyright GUARD Archaeology Ltd