Oldmeldrum, Glengarioch
Ring Ditch(S) (Period Unassigned), Settlement (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Oldmeldrum, Glengarioch
Classification Ring Ditch(S) (Period Unassigned), Settlement (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 281399
Site Number NJ82NW 225
NGR NJ 806 279
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/281399
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Meldrum
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ82NW 225 NJ 806 279
NJ 806 279 (centre) A trial trenching evaluation was undertaken between April and August 2005 in advance of a proposed road. Thirty-three trenches covering 5% of the development area were excavated, followed by a watching brief.
The work revealed the remains of five prehistoric ring-ditch houses, which were fully excavated. Three of the houses were of typical ring-ditch construction, with internal post-rings, hearths, curvilinear ditches with paving, and S-facing downslope entrances with porch structures. Houses 1 and 3 were 7 .5m and 10.5m across respectively, and were very similar to each other in morphology. House 2 was bigger (17m across) and slightly different in plan, with two phases of construction identified and a less clear entrance structure. The remaining two houses consisted of a crescent-shaped
hollow or ditch of about 7 m diameter and associated small pits, but were less clearly defined than the others. One of these ditches contained a large quantity of unabraded pottery. The five roundhouses are typical of Late Bronze Age to Iron Age dwellings. No evidence was uncovered during the evaluation or excavation to indicate that these buildings were part of an enclosed settlement. Pits were found in association with all of the houses.
Finds include pottery, lithics, charcoal and a stone loomweight. Ironworking slag was recovered from near the hearth of one house. Isolated finds of pits containing prehistoric pottery, as well as rig and furrow remains, were also recorded within the road corridor.
Report lodged with Aberdeenshire SMR and NMRS.
Sponsor: George Wimpey (East Scotland) Ltd.