WoSAS Pin 99471
NS 7093 5264
An archaeological ‘Strip, Map and Sample’ excavation was carried out ahead of a residential development on land north of the A723, just west of Hamilton, after archaeological remains were discovered on a high point in the landscape during evaluation trenching. A 50m by 50m box was opened around the location of the features identified during the evaluation, with a number of archaeological features uncovered. The remains of a prehistoric enclosure were found, and included a truncated ring ditch, several internal postholes and a range of pits. Along with several sherds of late prehistoric ceramics, this suggests a provisional date of Iron Age.
The ditches and postholes uncovered in Phase 1 clearly form a prehistoric enclosure that has been heavily truncated. It seems likely that the survival of the postholes in one concentrated area must be down to either luck or a slight depression in the land that protected them. Unfortunately, there is little else to be said about the structure itself. Given the broadly circular shape, it seems likely that it dates to the later prehistoric period, such as the Bronze or Iron age. The lack of concrete evidence for the disposition of the internal post ring and any evidence at all of a hearth make it difficult to properly estimate the size, but it does seem similar to other round house structures in the wider area (Barrett, 2021).
The dating evidence provided by the pottery assemblage and the worked piece of cannel coal would also suggest a late prehistoric date, as the style of the pottery is contiguous with other examples of Iron Age ceramics and cannel coal was used extensively in settlements all along Strathclyde, such as the excavation at Braehead (Ellis, 2008).
The sherd of pottery recovered from pit [1025] is of different quality and style, which would suggest a different date. Given that the pit is found squarely within the enclosure, this does raise questions about possible phasing in the site.
Barrett, D., AOC Archaeology Group, 'Data Structure Report - Archaeological Mitigation: Phase 1 Hamilton West Community Growth Area, South Lanarkshire', 2023
Entered WoSAS (MO'H) 05/12/2023