Site Report

WoSAS Pin 55497

NS38NE 72 NS 355 861

This site was located on a S-facing slope, c 80m N of Boiden 1, over an area of 60 x 40m. The site could be subdivided into five distinct areas. The first area, located at the far SW corner of the site, consisted of a complex of pits and post-holes within a spread of charcoal, c 5 x 4m. On excavation this proved to be two burning pits with associated post-holes and storage pits. The spread overlying the area consisted of burnt bone, pot and hazelnut seeds and flint. This area was provisionally dated to the Neolithic.

The second area was located in the NW corner of the site and consisted of a roundhouse, 9m in diameter, which was cut into the S-facing slope. The N side of the roundhouse was well preserved due to the hillwash deposited over the site; however the S part was truncated by ploughing. In the interior, six regularly spaced large post-holes were excavated.
Burning was evident in the centre of the roundhouse and a large amount of unglazed pot was recovered. This feature is interpreted as a hearth; there was no structure associated with the hearth deposits.

The N half of the roundhouse had several stratified deposits. Almost central to it was a stone setting of four egg-shaped stones. It would originally have been a five-stone setting, however the SE stone appears to have been robbed out leaving a stone hole. Deposited up to and around the large stone was a cremation; this contained a high concentration of burnt material, such as charcoal and bone.

At the W end, but still within the roundhouse, a large elliptical pit was excavated. Within the fill of the pit were the remains of a human cremation with some well-preserved burnt bone. Outside the roundhouse, a complex of interlinking pits was excavated. These were concentrated on the flat gravel plain to the S and E of the roundhouse, although some did appear to cut into the hillside just like the roundhouse. These pits had at least five phases of activity, but few small finds were recovered.

To the SE of the roundhouse, what appeared to be a shallow pit was uncovered during the watching brief. Several fragments of unglazed pot were recovered from the surface of this feature, and possible worked stone.

The fifth area of archaeological interest was located on the Sfacing slope to the N of the area. Several post-medieval features of an industrial nature were excavated. These appeared to run downhill E'W, with most features being cut into the hillwash. The recovery of green-glaze pottery, glass, slag and metal all suggest a late date for this activity. Several of the pits had large amounts of charcoal and showed evidence of in situ burning, suggesting industrial activity in the area, possibly associated with agriculture.
Report lodged with WoSAS SMR and NMRS.
Sponsor: Tyton Design for De Vere Hotel & Leisure Ltd.
D M Maguire, A Becket, C Rennie 2005
Entered WoSAS (MO'H), 21/04/08