WoSAS Pin 62866
NR 9727 7130
A posthole measuring 0.40 x 0.37 m in plan and 0.19 m deep with straight sides and a near flat base was identified during the course of monitoring conducted during the removal of topsoil from the site of a proposed new dwelling. It was filled with a brown silt with fragments of charcoal, most of which was concentrated on the east side, and a single packing stone. A piece of struck brown flint was recovered from the base of the posthole. A second possible posthole measured 0.60 x 0.30 m and was 0.18 m deep. In plan this feature had a shallow scoop at its western end, leading into a deep oval cut with straight sides and base that dipped towards the north side. The fill comprised a mixed silt, with charcoal and some grit, again there was a concentration of charcoal on one side of the feature. A discontinuous spread of black silt, rich in charcoal with occasional patches of brown silt and small stones occurred on the northern side of the stripped area. The spreads were up to 0.10 m deep, no cuts were apparent and the bases of the spreads were undulating and irregular. The underlying silty gravel and silt appeared to be heat affected, indicating in situ burning.
The recovery of a piece of struck flint from the base of the posthole indicates a prehistoric date, possibly Bronze Age. The posthole that contained the flint was relatively shallow and coupled with the presence of plough marks in the subsoil indicates significant plough truncation. The second posthole was not so well defined, and its slightly irregular shape may be a consequence of plough truncation and the dragging of stone packing from the fill. No modern material was recovered from the area of burning and this material was not visible within the subsoil and therefore it seems likely that the in situ burning is also likely to be prehistoric in origin. The single piece of flint recovered from the topsoil was burnt and may have originated from the addition of lime to the soil rather than being archaeological in origin. No other features of archaeological or historical significance were observed during the controlled topsoil strip.
Ellis, C., 'Data Structure Report: Watching Brief, land north of Kyles Church, Argyll', Argyll Archaeology, (2010)
Entered WoSAS (MO'H) 06/07/2010