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Fruid Reservoir

Platform (Period Unassigned), Settlement (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Fruid Reservoir

Classification Platform (Period Unassigned), Settlement (Period Unassigned)

Canmore ID 282927

Site Number NT01NE 15

NGR NT 0867 1990

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/282927

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Scottish Borders, The
  • Parish Tweedsmuir
  • Former Region Borders
  • Former District Tweeddale
  • Former County Peebles-shire

Activities

Field Visit (2005)

NT01NE 15 NT 0867 1990

NT 0867 1990 During the course of survey, the seriously eroding remains of an unenclosed platform settlement were found within the Fruid reservoir. Pottery and lithics were found on the surface of the site. A limited excavation was undertaken to determine if in situ archaeology survived; this was shown to be the case in some areas of the site, while other parts had been washed away. The c 12m diameter platform is unique (so far) in having a built revetment or walling on the frontal apron.

At least three phases of construction were shown by ring-grooves around the upper side of the roundhouse site. An inner arc of post-holes, some with packing stones, on the N side indicated roof supports. Various other larger pits were more likely to be associated with storage. Copious amounts of charcoal have been sampled from floor surfaces and all features, and a major programme of analyses and dating is anticipated.

Finds include sherds of bucket urns, quern and hammerstones, but no flint or chert tools, or indeed much debitage from such items. Areas surrounding the house stance also exhibit archaeological features which at present are not yet fully understood.

Second interim report at www.biggararchaeology.org.uk.

T Ward 2005

Excavation

NT 0867 1990 Excavation of two adjoining unenclosed platform house sites in advance of erosion in the reservoir is completed. The near complete plans of two round houses have been revealed. House 1 indicated a unique feature of a frontal apron with built stone work. The house entrance consisted of three upright posts forming a ‘slab’ on each side of the doorway which had a projecting porch. The internal arrangement of post

holes c150mm in diameter with packing stones gave an overall diameter of c10m; a wall trench survived for the most part a further 1m outside the postholes, evidence of burnt daub was found to indicate a wall fire, and charcoal from this location will be C14 dated. A striking feature was a large gully running around the upper (W) side of the site and down the southern side towards the SE-facing doorway. This gully is interpreted as a drainage channel; it was entirely free of charcoal, unlike the whole of the interior including postholes, stake holes and a series of larger pits strewn around the floor surface. Finds included sherds of ‘bucket’ urns, hammer stones and flakes of flint and chert but no tools apart from an un-associated chert microlith

found in the apron.

House 2 was built immediately upslope, and if occupied, contemporaneously, the roofs must have almost overlapped. Only a few stones indicated the base of an apron which must have dropped straight into the gully of House 1 below. House 2 similarly had a ring of postholes but giving a diameter of c8m and like the other house the postholes were regularly spaced at 2m intervals. The entrance also faced the SE but here there

were two phases of stone pathways leading from the porch. The doorway sides were also constructed of three posts set side by side forming a slab or wall. A large pit measuring 2m by 1.4m by 0.5m deep lay off centre in the W side of the living space. Like the other house a wall trench survived and it also had suffered a

wall fire, but in one part, copious amounts of roundwood charcoal and burnt daub were recovered indicating a wattle and daub wall. This will be subject to C14 dating. An almost identical outer trench similarly positioned and almost devoid of charcoal is also interpreted as a drainage gully. Lying at the base of this trench was a Mid Bronze Age palstave with only slight bronze decay. A central hearth was indicated by scorched sub stratum surrounded by a series of stake holes. Pottery, hammer stones and a saddle quern were found, and also two small flint scrapers.

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