Site type CIST (POSSIBLE), CREMATION(S), INHUMATION
Canmore ID 49519
Site Number NT08SE 9
NGR NT 0545 8010
Council FALKIRK
Parish BO'NESS AND CARRIDEN
Former Region CENTRAL
Former District FALKIRK
Former County WEST LOTHIAN

Canmore Mapping
View this site on a map


C14 Radiocarbon Dating
C14 radiocarbon dating

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Archaeological Notes

NT08SE 9 0545 8010.

(NT 0545 8010) Bronze Age Burials found (NAT)
OS 25"map, (1955)

The custodian of Blackness Castle reports that two "burials" were found (presumably in 1944-5) when digging a ditch on the crest of the ridge which has Blackness Castle at its end. One grave (presumably a cist, though no description is given), contained the cremated remains of an adult and child, while the other contained the in- humed remains of two adults, accompanied by a food vessel which was donated to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS), the human remains being sent to Professor Low.
A Low 1946.

The site of these burials is probably at NT 0545 8010, where there are some small "earthworks" (remains of a wartime military post) and where probably the ditch referred to above was dug. The area is covered in rough pasture and furze.
The present custodian is not the person who discovered the burials; the custodian at that time was not found.
No further information.
Visited by OS (J L D) 19 January 1953.

No more precise a siting can be established for the burials. No further information.
Visited by OS (J P) 14 March 1974.

Two burials were found when digging a ditch, one with a food vessel, in 1944-5. The site is thought to be at this location where a 2WW military post was constructed. There is no further information available.
Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 24th February 1996..

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Architectural Notes

See also: NT08SE 6.00 Blackness Castle( for more negatives of excavations)

Notes and Activities

2010	GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

Notes NT 0545 8010 A survey of the field immediately to the SW of the mound outside the castle enclosure was undertaken in 2010. Kite aerial photography in the near infra-red revealed numerous anomalies on the south-western side of the field. These anomalies, which appear to cut through earlier ones, may be associated with previous excavations and the ‘remains of a wartime military post’ (NT08SE 9).
A ground resistance survey carried out over ten 20 x 20m grids recorded a number of anomalies. An area of high resistance with an inverted L-shaped feature to the W, within a sub-circular low resistance hollow, was recorded in the top middle grid. Farther to the W an area of lower resistance formed a series of irregular shapes. To the SE of this area a low resistance linear feature was recorded running across the entire survey area to the S. This feature then appeared to turn to the SW and returns back N to the irregular shaped area.
Numerous low resistance anomalies that could represent pits were recorded across the survey area.
The area has been identified as possibly containing enclosures, funerary features, cultivation terraces and the
remains of military defences. The numerous intercutting anomalies make this a very interesting multi-period site of exciting archaeological potential.
Archive: Historic Scotland, Falkirk Council and RCAHMS
Funder: West Lothian Archaeology Group
Jim Knowles – West Lothian Archaeology Group

Further details

Books and References

Knowles, J (2010a) 'Blackness Park, Falkirk (Bo'ness and Carriden parish), geophysical survey', Discovery Excav Scot, New, vol.11 Cathedral Communications Limited, Wiltshire, England.
Page(s): 74

Low, A (1946b) 'Burials near Blackness Castle', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.79
Page(s): 174

PSAS (1946) 'Donations to and purchases for the Museum and library', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.79
Page(s): 179

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