Context and Results

Context: Following an archaeological evaluation (Atkinson 2005) an excavation took place during July 2006 in playing fields adjacent to Larkhall leisure centre

Results: Neolithic settlement was located in the form of pits, gullies and postholes, but no obvious structures were identified.

Notes: NS 761 507 Following an archaeological evaluation (Atkinson 2005) an excavation took place during July 2006 in playing fields adjacent to Larkhall leisure centre. Neolithic settlement was located in the form of pits, gullies and postholes, but no obvious structures were identified. The assemblage of Neolithic pottery is of particular note, comprising some 117 fragments of ‘traditional Carinated Bowl’ pottery.
Report to be lodged with WoSAS and NMRS.
Sponsor: South Lanarkshire Council

The further investigations in Area 1 has confirmed the nature and extent of the archaeological remains discovered during the archaeological evaluation, where the constraints of modern services and development precluded any extensive investigation. The further discoveries also confirm the remains of activity on the site over a long period, and are predominantly representative of activity from the early Neolithic (pottery evidence), and also possibly the Iron Age (given the finds from the evaluation; Atkinson 2005).

Despite the discovery of further archaeological remains, the layout of the features in plan does not provide any clear indication of formal structures. The discovery of a single piece of daub from Pit 17 however does suggest the presence of a possible building, or an organic structure of some kind close to the site. In addition, the nature of the samples and finds from the postholes, pits and linear features suggest the existence of a probable dwelling or settlement and the presence of predominantly domestic activity. The domestic bias for the site is supported by the large pottery assemblage (117 sherds), and the presence of cereal grain in many of the features. The environmental assessment also concluded that the cereal grains are likely to be the residues of cooking activities rather than crop processing, and that the site may represent a small settlement of small-scale subsistence farmers. Pit 31 also contained concentrations of charcoal and fragments of burnt bone, suggesting a possible hearth, further supporting a domestic interpretation. The cluster of small pits and postholes (particularly Area B) also corresponds with the prevalence of early Neolithic pottery (3900-3700 BC) found on the site. These phenomenona, where concentrations of pits are found with no discernible structure, are a common occurrence in Neolithic contexts associated with ritual (Connolly & MacSween 2003; Barclay & Russell-White 1993; Jones & Atkinson 2006, forthcoming; Mitchell 2006). It could also be suggested therefore that the remains represent some form of ritual activity in association with a domestic focus. The high percentage of charcoal recovered from the features should make it possible to acquire a secure AMS date for cross-referencing with the Prehistoric pottery (see Appendix 6).

The remaining features in Area 1 are likely to indicate more recent activity on the site, perhaps associated with the farm steading noted in the area in the 19th century. The added discovery of slag waste in linear features 3 and 46 also indicate the likelihood of metalworking on the site, although the date of this activity is difficult to establish due to lack of finds. The presence of a single L-shaped linear feature with associated modern finds also indicates activity in the area in the recent past – prior to the building of the stadium and subsequent landscaping.
Headland Archaeology Ltd, 2006