- Archaeological Watching Brief -

Carried out 11th March 2011 by Murray Archaeological Services Ltd

Report No: MAS 2011-12 by J C Murray

H K Murray BA, PhD, MIFA, FSA Scot J C Murray BA, MIFA, FSA Scot, FMA Hill of Belnagoak, Methlick, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 7JN Telephone: (01651) 806394 e-mail: [email protected] Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire March 2011 Report No: MAS 2011-12 ______

DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, STONEHAVEN ABERDEENSHIRE ___

-Archaeological Watching Brief -

1. Background

1.1 In consequence of a proposal to install a new composter at Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, an archaeological watching brief was required under the conditions of Scheduled Monument Consent.

1.2 Murray Archaeological Services Ltd was commissioned by Estates to undertake the work which was carried out 11th March 2011.

2. The Site

2.1 Dunnottar Castle occupies a coastal promontory c.3km S of Stonehaven, protected on all sides by steep cliffs [NGR: NO88128 83842; NMRS No: NO88SE 11; Parish: Dunnottar]. Although the castle probably occupies the site of a prehistoric fort, in its present form the remains date to various periods from the 14th to the 17th centuries.

2.2 The new composter was required to compost the grass cuttings from the Bowling Green located in the NW sector of the castle. The composter, which has three separate bins, is located in the rough grass edge at the NW corner. [see Illus.1, p.2]

3. Methodology

3.1 The composter required the digging of 14 postholes. Each posthole was dug by hand by Dunecht Estate staff under archaeological supervision. All spoil was observed and the stratigraphy in each hole noted.

4. The Work

4.1 The postholes measured 600mm x 500mm x 600mm deep and covered an area of 3.9m (N-S) x 2.9m (E-W)[NO 88095 83903]

______- 2 - Archaeological Watching Brief Murray Archaeological Services Ltd Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire March 2011 Report No: MAS 2011-12 ______

Illus. 1: Plan of castle with location of composter in red.

Illus. 2: Location of composter, looking NW.

______- 3 - Archaeological Watching Brief Murray Archaeological Services Ltd Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire March 2011 Report No: MAS 2011-12 ______

4.2 The posts were arranged in three rows and placed at intervals of c500mm N to S and c400mm E to W.

Illus. 3: Postholes during excavation.

Each hole had a uniform fill of dark soil overlying a pebble-like natural. This gave the impression of a made-up ground bounded by banks to the N and W.

The fill of the post holes contained no material and no archaeological features or finds were evident.

Illus. 4: Excavated postholes, looking S.

______- 4 - Archaeological Watching Brief Murray Archaeological Services Ltd Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire March 2011 Report No: MAS 2011-12 ______

5. Results

5.1 Fourteen postholes were excavated as part of the installation of a new composter. All the postholes produced identical fill and indicated that the ground was made-up.

No archaeological features or finds were evident.

______- 5 - Archaeological Watching Brief Murray Archaeological Services Ltd