New Medical Centre, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Excavation Data Structure Report

AOC Project Number: 70012 20th April 2015 NHS Highland: Drumnadrochit Medical Centre

New Medical Centre, Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire Archaeological Excavation Data Structure Report

On Behalf of: NHS Highland Estates Dept Highlander Way Inverness IV2 7GE

National Grid Reference (NGR): NH 50879 29173

AOC Project No: 70012

Prepared by: Mary Peteranna, with contributions from Maya Hoole

Illustration by: Mary Peteranna

Date of Fieldwork: 21-27 January 2015

Date of Report: 28th April 2015

This document has been prepared in accordance with AOC standard operating procedures.

Author: Mary Peteranna Date: 28/04/2015

Approved by: Martin Cook Date: 05/05/2015

Enquiries to: AOC Archaeology Group Shore Street Cromarty Ross‐shire IV11 8XL

Mob. 07972 259 255 E‐mail [email protected]

www.aocarchaeology.com © AOC Archaeology Group 2015

Contents

Page Abstract ...... 3 1 Introduction ...... 4 2 Methodology ...... 5 3 Results ...... 8 4 Discussion ...... 13 5 Conclusion ...... 13 6 References ...... 14

List of Appendices

Appendix 1: List of Contexts Appendix 2: List of Samples Appendix 3: List of Small Finds Appendix 4: List of Site Plans Appendix 5: List of Site Photographs

List of Figures Figure 1 Location map Figure 2 Development site plan showing the location of the cist Figure 3 Pre-excavation plan of the cist and the Beaker pit Figure 4 Post-excavation plan of the cist and the Beaker pit Figure 5 Section drawings of the Beaker pit and cist Figure 6 Plan drawings of the cist showing the burial layout with grid locations and bone locations

List of Plates Plate 1 Looking north over the cist prior to excavation images shows the two capstone slab fragments leaning against the fence; scale = 1m and 2m Plate 2 Cist with capstones in place, facing NNE; scale = 1m Plate 3 Cist contents and inhumed remains after capstone removal and close-up of skeletal remains after initial excavation, facing NNE; scales = 1/2m and 1m Plate 4 Image of the cist after excavation of opposing quadrants of the cut, facing NNE; scale = 1m Plate 5 Pit [011] before excavation, facing NE; scale = 1m Plate 6 Pit [011] before excavation, facing NE; scale = 1m Plate 7 SW-facing section of the pit fills [010]/[013], facing NE; scale = 50cm and 20cm Plate 8 Pit [011] after excavation, facing NE; scale = 1m

New Medical Centre, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Excavation (70012): Data Structure Report

Abstract

This report presents the results of the archaeological excavation of a cist on behalf of NHS Highland and in accordance with recommendations from the Highland Council Historic Environment Team.

During site clearance for a new medical centre in Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire, the operator of a mechanical excavator uncovered a slab-built structure within the subsoil. Removal of the capping stones revealed human remains inside a stone cist. The building contractors secured the site until AOC archaeologists recorded and excavated the cist and the surrounding area.

Excavation revealed that the cist contained a crouched inhumation burial in a degraded condition. There were no artefacts recovered from the grave. The shallow remains of an elongated pit, a possible second burial, were identified next to the cist. Fragments of a decorated Beaker pot and a stone wrist guard were recovered from the pit.

The human remains and artefacts were taken to the AOC laboratory in Loanhead for stabilisation and post- excavation analysis.

1 Introduction

1.1 Project Background

1.1.1 During development of a new medical centre in Drumnadrochit, a cist containing an inhumation burial was uncovered by machine operators during the final stages of site clearance and levelling. Upon removal of the capstone of the cist, initially thought to be a culvert, the excavator driver identified the human remains. The site was immediately fenced off and enclosed, followed by a visit from the police and a rapid assessment by archaeologists from the Highland Council Historic Environment Team.

1.1.2 Although intense freezing winter conditions caused a short delay to the fieldwork, a team of archaeologists from AOC Archaeology responded rapidly to conduct a detailed recording and excavation of the site prior to any damage or destruction to the prehistoric cist. During excavation the remains of a second pit, which contained Beaker pot sherds and a stone wrist guard, was also identified and excavated.

1.2 Site Location and Description

1.2.1 The development site is located near the south side of Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire at the eastern end of Glen Urquhart. Drumnadrochit lies on the River Enrick with Urquhart Bay on Loch Ness to the east. The River Coiltie and the village of Lewiston are located directly to the south of Drumnadrochit (Figure 1). Glen Urquhart runs almost parallel to Glen Moriston, the two glens being the only transverse valleys branching off from the northwest side of Loch Ness, providing links to the west coast.

1.2.2 The site sits in cultivated farm land comprising strip fields divided by boundary dykes running from northwest to southeast on the south side of the A82. The cist was discovered near the centre of the development site (Figure 2) at National Grid Reference NH 50879 29173, in a low-lying plain defined by the two rivers to north and south, Urquhart Bay to the east and Cnoc a’ Bhuachaille to the west. Prior to site clearance, site of the cist was notable as a slight rise in the landscape.

1.3 Historical Background

1.3.1 In the 19th century Urquhart Bay was described as an area of fields and hedgerows, surrounded by mixed woodland and cultivated ground. The agricultural land of Glen Urquhart was most profitable along the northern side of the bay and in the flat haughland above Drumnadrochit. Further west along the glen, good soil was found around Loch Meiklie and at Corrimony (Gazetteer for Scotland 2015). The pastoral land in Glen Urquhart was mainly used for sheep farming in the hills and for cattle on the low grounds while the arable land was cultivated for wheat, grasses, barley, oats, potatoes and turnips. The land alongside the River Coiltie on the southern side of the plain, in the vicinity of the development site, was used for growing corn in small strips of land alongside areas of natural birch trees and pastoral heath land (Smith 1834-45).

1.3.2 The First Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed in 1871) shows the site as cultivated fields extending to the northeast and southwest which were split into smaller separate strips running parallel from east to west. Directly to the northwest of the site was the village of Blarbeg, which consisted of a church, a school, a well and several farmsteads. To the southeast of the site, Lewiston was depicted along the banks of the River Coiltie which flowed northeast into Urquhart Bay and out into Loch Ness. The river is crossed by Borlum Bridge towards the northern end of the village. Lewiston is shown with a smithy, a disused brewery and numerous houses and outbuildings (NLS 2015). The Second Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed in 1901) shows the larger village of Drumnadrochit, to the north of Blarbeg, with a post office, a smithy, a school, a church, a free manse, a grave yard, multiple houses, the Drumnadrochit Inn and a bridge across the River Enrick (NLS 2015).

1.3.3 The remains of Craig Mony fort (MHG2707; SM 5808) are located on Cnoc a’ Bhuachaille, a steep- sided crag overlooking the plain from the west. Described as partially encircled by stone walls on the summit of the mound, Craig Mony was associated with traditions of ancient fire beacons (Smith 1834- 45). Another tradition refers to a Scandinavian prince who fled to the fort after attacking Crinan in Argyll, and subsequently lived and died in Glen Urquhart (Ibid). The fort was also said to have been the location of the gallows associated with the complex medieval site of Urquhart castle at Strone point, located a few miles to the east on the banks of Loch Ness4.

1.4 Archaeological Background

1.4.1 A review of the Canmore database and Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER) revealed no known cists or other Bronze Ages sites within the Urquhart Bay area. However, in the 19th century, two Early Bronze Age flat axes (HHER No.MHG3447) and a Middle Bronze Age blade (HHER No.MHG3448) were found in two separate find spots in the bay. Two cist sites have been recorded at Loch Meiklie, some five miles along Glen Urquhart from the site. The first, which had been almost completely destroyed prior to discovery in 1994, was found on the banks of the loch at Kilmartin Farm (HHER No.MHG17863). Excavated in 1887, the second cist, located north of the loch at Balnalick, consisted of a circular cairn and cist containing a collared cinerary urn which held a middle Bronze Age razor and fragments of human bone (HHER No.MHG2673). A findspot on the west side of Loch Meiklie on the banks of the river located a Middle Bronze Age flanged axehead (HHER No.MHG25202) and a flat copper axe (HHER No.MHG2669). Two Neolithic chambered cairns are also within this landscape: one in the north at Carn Daley (HHER No.MHG2683) and the other to the west at Corrimony. Excavations at Corrimony chambered cairn revealed traces of a crouched inhumation burial beneath the flagged floor of the chamber, but no associated grave goods were recovered (HHER No.MHG2626).

1.4.2 There are significant prehistoric settlement sites located in the wider archaeological landscape of Glen Urquhart and the surrounding area, the highest concentrations of these located to the west and to the north of Drumnadrochit. On the adjacent hills north of Drumnadrochit, one prehistoric settlement at Garbeg, overlooking the plain on south-facing slopes, contains over twenty hut circles alongside contemporary field systems, cup-marked stones and burnt mound sites. Further prehistoric settlement has been recorded to the west at Coire Mor (HHER 2015).

2 Methodology

2.1 Aims and Objectives

2.1.1 The overall aims of the archaeological excavation were:

 To establish the character and extent of exposed archaeological deposits prior to any further damage by machine excavation and site clearance  To establish the presence or absence of further cists or other archaeological features in the immediate vicinity of the cist  To provide a lasting record of the site prior to its destruction during development  To minimise delays to the development

Figure 1: Location map

2.1.2 The specific objectives of the archaeological excavation were:

 To record and excavate the cist and to create a written record of the site and immediate area, to include details on the nature and extent of the archaeological remains present and a description of the disturbance with reference to the processes at work on the site  To recover all artefacts on the site and to sample all archaeological deposits  To accurately locate the position of the excavation area by DGPS survey and tie it into the National Grid  To document the condition of the site including site access through a series of photographs taken on arrival and departure  To collect and carefully transport the human remains and artefacts to the AOC lab for conservation and analysis  To produce a report on the results of the fieldwork and a plan for the post-excavation analysis of the recovered materials

2.2 Excavation

2.2.1 Due to the nature of the discovery, the cist had already been disturbed and the capstone removed prior to the archaeological excavation. After an initial site visit to assess the cist, the site was covered with tarpaulins to ensure protection during several days of sub-freezing temperature. The burial site had been enclosed within a 4m x 4m area of fencing by the building contractor to allow for development work to continue outside of the area. By the time of the initial visit, the development site had already been cleared and partially landscaped. The entire site was walked over and inspected by archaeologists to check for any other surviving archaeological features or deposits.

2.2.2 As soon as the weather conditions improved, a team of two archaeologists conducted the excavation. All of the archaeological remains at risk were excavated and recorded by hand and all recording was carried out according to AOC Archaeology Group’s standard practices. The human remains were excavated in accordance with AOC quality, environmental and safety procedures and in accordance with Historic Scotland’s operational policy (2006).

2.2.3 The fenced-off area was cleaned back by hand using draw hoe and hand trowel and the site was recorded using plan drawings and digital photography. Prior to excavation of the cist contents, a plan was drawn to show the cist and surrounding area prior to excavation. A square grid of 20cm divisions was laid out inside the cist to enable methodical recording and sampling.

2.2.4 The loose skeletal remains were removed, carefully bagged and labelled in accordance with a pre- excavation plan drawing of the inhumation. The cist fill was half-sectioned, with half of any in situ fill removed carefully in spits and 100% samples of the cist fill being taken per grid. The locations of all bones uncovered during excavation of the fill were recorded on the pre-excavation plan and the finds were lifted, bagged and labelled. The contents were recorded in section drawing and digital photographs, while a written record was made on pro-forma sheets.

2.2.5 The cist was emptied with further sampling, and the structure was recorded using plans, elevations and photography. Control soil chemistry/pollen samples were retrieved from the natural subsoil. The constituent stones were disassembled and examined for carvings or other markings. The base of the cut was further excavated to ensure that there were no underlying features and the empty cut was recorded.

A82

Development site

Figure 2: Development site plan (provided by NHS Highland) showing the location of the cist

3 Results

3.1 Due to the advanced progression of construction works by the time of the initial site visit, there was very little potential to identify the presence or absence of further archaeological features on the site. Remnants of a possible early soil horizon containing charcoal flecks were noted. Although the topsoil had been cleared off the site completed, the spoil mounds were checked and there were no artefacts identified within this cleared material. Therefore the excavation was confined to the fenced off 4m x 4m area enclosing the cist.

3.2 The development site had been levelled prior to the archaeological work and as a result the full stratigraphy of the site was not able to be assessed. At the time of excavation, both the cist and beaker pit were partially buried below what appeared to be a clean subsoil layer. This could have been due to a natural movement of the sediment in antiquity, which had covered the features. It is also likely that previous centuries of field ploughing had truncated the overlying stratigraphy. Therefore it was unclear if there had been a mound or cairn originally covering the feature.

3.3 The cist [003] was covered by a gravelly, sandy silt matrix [001] containing sub-rounded cobbles with some larger stones mixed into the material. This layer appeared to be natural subsoil and did not contain any identifiable archaeological material. The machine operator described the material as a homogenous subsoil across the site, the only variation being a siltier soil with less stone along the northwest side of the site where the ground level was lower. Although the excavators initially thought

that the overlying material [001] was an in situ deposit, given the cobble fill and compact appearance of the layer, there was nothing to differentiate it from the natural subsoil (Plate 1).

3.4 There were two sandstone slabs lying next to the disturbed area at the time of excavation. These were identified as the capstones removed by the machine operator. The remaining capstone comprised a slab broken into three fragments (Figure 3, Plate 2). The capstones, which may have been broken by machine movement, may have originally comprised two large slabs.

3.5 The cist structure [003] comprised four, upright side slabs of a pink/red fine-grained sandstone aligned NNE-SSW (Figures 4, 5; Plates 3-6, 8). One side slab had cracked and the structure had suffered some inward collapse of the slabs. The cist measured 0.76m long NNE-SSW by 0.55m wide and 0.71m deep from the top of the side slab. The cut [009] for the cist was difficult to identify due to homogenous nature of the surrounding subsoil. During excavation, the extent of the cut was identified by the presence of very small charcoal flecks and more soil content in the fill [008]. The cut measured approximately 2.1m NNE-SSW by 1.8m and 0.75m deep. The SSW end slab of the cist was supported in the cut by two small upright slabs and stacked cobbles [015] within the fill. The remaining end and side slabs were supported in the cut by small to large cobbles in the fill. The edges of the cist slabs had been visibly dressed with a stone tool and evidence of mineral staining was visible on the base of the interior of the slabs.

3.6 The cist contained a single crouched adult or adolescent inhumation burial (Plate 3). Some spalling had occurred, probably as a result of the recent machine movement on site, and had caused some recent damage to the remains, particularly the skull, of which approximately one half survived. In general, the skeletal remains were in a degraded, though mostly stable condition, with mostly long bones and up to six teeth surviving. The bones were partially exposed at the surface and partially buried within the upper floor surface of a lightly compact silty gravel matrix [004]. The underlying floor layer [006] comprised an organic, moderately compact dark silty gravel deposit. This overlay a lower floor [007] on to which the cist had been constructed. There were no artefacts or environmental remains identified with the fills of the cist.

3.7 During excavation of the enclosing area, a darker gravel deposit [010] was identified within the natural subsoil approximately 1m to the northwest side of the cist (Figures 3, 4; Plates 5, 6). Excavation revealed an elongated pit [011] measuring 2m NE-SW long by 0,8m wide and up to 0.14m deep (Plate 7, 8). The upper fill contained a charcoal-rich area around in situ base sherds of a pot near the centre of the pit (Figure 5). A concentration of decorated sherds of a Beaker vessel was recovered from the area around the pot base giving the impression that a pot had been crushed. A stone wrist guard, broken during excavation, was recovered from this same area of the pit. The underlying layer [013] did not appear to contain any artefactual or environmental material.

Figure 3: Pre-excavation plan of the cist (bottom right) and the beaker pit (top left)

Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of the cist (bottom right) and the beaker pit (top left)

Figure 5: Section drawings of the beaker pit (top) and cist (bottom)

Figure 6: Plan drawings of the cist showing the burial layout with grid locations (left) and bone locations (right)

4 Discussion

4.1 The landscape of the site was formed by a flat plain defined by two river courses to the north and south, a steep-sided knoll to the west and a bay within the loch to the east. The particular location of the cist, which displayed a slight rise in ground level, may have been selected as it stood just high enough above the surrounding terrain to be visible within a prehistoric flood plain. Loch Ness would have been a prominent landscape feature, with the cist site overlooking one of the few natural bays on the loch. This location would have been deliberately selected for the burial site.

4.2 Bronze Age inhumation cist burials are a well-known occurrence throughout Europe and have been found across the whole of Britain. The practice may have been socially restricted to certain individuals within society (Cowie and Shepherd 2003) and certainly varied social status was reflected in different burial rites. The evidence demonstrates a big difference between simple pit burials and elaborate stone cists containing prestigious grave goods, such as the example at Dunrobin, which contained the crouched skeleton of a young woman who was accompanied by a Beaker, 118 shale beads, 18 quartzose beach-rolled pebbles and three flints (HHER No.MHG10900). While beaker pots are a common grave good in inhumation graves (Thomas 1990), there were diverse ceramic and funerary traditions taking place during the early Bronze Age (Bradley 2007) with considerable overlap in cultural traditions and the practices of inhumation and cremation burials (Gibson and Sheridan 2004: 260). So while there are two separate and different burial features at Drumnadrochit – a cist containing an inhumation burial with no grave goods and a pit containing a Beaker and stone wrist guard – it is likely that the pit and the cist are contemporary and possibly associated with one another.

4.3 There are at least 55 known examples of Beaker pottery within the Great Glen and Highland region, both complete and fragmentary. Whilst Beakers are comparatively common, wrist guards are a much rarer artefact with only 24 examples previously known in Scotland (HHER 2015). Seven of these specimens were found within the Highland region: three from Broadford Bay on Skye (HHER Nos.MHG13994, MHG6271, EHG3464) and one each from Dalmore, Dornoch, Fyrish near Evanton, Culduthel (HHER Nos.MHG6311, MHG11738, MHG8104 and MHG3776) and now the recent addition from Drumnadrochit. The examples from Drumnadrochit, Culduthel and Fyrish are all of a similar style – a slender, roughly rectangular shape which gently arches out from a narrower centre to wider curved ends and perforated with four symmetrical holes positioned in proximity to each corner of the rectangle – although each made of quite different materials. The Beaker sherds from the same pit at Drumnadrochit show patterns including bands of crosshatching, horizontal lines in groups of three and bands of inverted ‘V’s’. This design may draw parallels with an example of a complete Beaker uncovered in Poolewe (HHER No.MHG7709) on the west coast of Scotland which displays similar patterns.

4.4 Beaker pottery has been discovered within the Great Glen associated with cist inhumation burials. Fragments of a Beaker found at Balnalick near Loch Meiklie also in Glen Urquhart, showed no design or decoration on the exterior of the pot (Grant 1888). The same applies to the undecorated Beaker found in another inhumation cist burial at West Torbreck on the opposite side of the loch to the northeast (Kilpatrick 2014) and to the beaker found in a pit with a plano-convex flint knife at Raigmore in Inverness (Suddaby 2008). It is still unclear as to how Drumnadrochit, with its isolated inhumation cist and Beaker pit with a wrist guard, fits into this region’s Bronze Age traditions.

5 Conclusion

5.1 Although it is possible that further archaeological features were damaged or destroyed by the site clearance, which was not subject to archaeological monitoring, it is fortunate that the building contractors safeguarded the cist upon its discovery. This enabled the objectives of this emergency

fieldwork to be met, with the added bonus of the identification of pit containing the pottery and wrist guard.

5.2 In contrast to the cist, which contained a single inhumation burial with no grave goods, the pit next to it contained no known skeletal remains and yet two typically Bronze Age grave goods. Samples from the elongated pit will be analysed, which could provide evidence that it contained a burial. The decorated Beaker and the wrist guard will both provide typochronological evidence for the date of the burial, which is likely to be Early Bronze Age. Radiocarbon dating of the bone, if possible, and other residual carbonised material will be useful for assessing the contemporanaiety of both features.

5.3 The discovery of the site has been an extremely important find for Drumnadrochit and Urquhart Bay, an area for which there is very little specific evidence about this period. The results of the analysis, particularly the finds of the Beaker pot and wrist guard, will also contribute significantly to wider studies of the Bronze Age. A programme of post-excavation analysis has been recommended on the recovered materials and this analysis will enable the results of the excavation to be fully assessed and the significance of the finds to be fully understood.

6 References

Cowie, T G., and Shepherd, I A G., 2003 (2nd edition) ‘The Bronze Age’, in Edwards, K J and Ralston, I B M (eds) Scotland after the Ice Age. Environment, Archaeology and History, 8000BC – AD1000. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, 151-168.

Gazetteer for Scotland 2015 Accessed online at http://www.scottish-places.info

Grant, A., 1888 ‘Notice of the Opening of a Sepulchral Cairn at Balnalick, Glen Urquhart, Inverness- shire; with Notes on Cup-Marked Stones in Glen Urquhart’ in Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 22, 42-51.

Sheridan A 2004 Scottish Food Vessel Chronology Revisited in Gibson, A and Sheridan, A ed. “From Sickles to Circles”. Tempus: Port Stroud, 243-267.

Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER) 2015 Accessed online at http://her.highland.gov.uk

Historic Scotland 2006 The Treatment of Human Remains in Archaeology.

Kilpatrick, M C., 2014 ‘AR08: A Highland Funeral: Portrait of an Early Bronze Age Beaker Burial at West Torbreck, south-west Inverness’ Archaeology Reports Online, Glasgow.

National Library of Scotland (NLS) 2015 Accessed online at http://www.nls.uk

Sheridan, A. 2007 ‘Scottish Beaker dates: the good, the bad and the ugly’ in Larsson, M., and Parker Pearson, M., (eds) From Stonehenge to the Baltic: Living with cultural diversity in the third millennium BC, BAR 4nternational Series 1692, Archaeopress, London 91-123.

Smith, J D 1834-45 United Parishes of Urquhart and Glenmoriston in The Statistical Account of Scotland 1834-45, Vol 14.

Suddaby, I 2008 Bingo! An undecorated beaker from Beechwood Park, Raigmore, Inverness in Archaeology Scotland Issue 1.

Thomas, J 1990 Reading the Body: Beaker Funerary Practice in Britain in the Sacred and Profane Conference Proceedings.

Plate 1: Looking north over the cist prior to excavation images shows the two capstone slab fragments leaning against the fence; scale = 1m and 2m

Plate 2: Cist with capstones in place, facing NNE; scale = 1m

: Plate 3: Cist contents and inhumed remains after capstone removal (left) and close-up of skeletal remains after initial excavation (right), facing NNE; scales = 1/2m and 1m

Plate 4: Image of the cist after excavation of opposing quadrants of the cut, facing NNE; scale = 1m

Plate 5: Pit [011] (left) before excavation, facing NE; scale = 1m

Plate 6: Pit [011] (left) before excavation, facing NE; scale = 1m

Plate 7: SW-facing section of the pit fills[010]/[013], facing NE; scale = 50cm and 20cm

Plate 8: Pit [011] (left) after excavation, facing NE; scale = 1m

Appendix 1: List of Contexts

Context Type Description Under Over Finds Samples Interpretation No. Mid brown-orange gritty and gravelly sandy silt with small- Redeposited subsoil covering medium sub-rounded cobbles (5-15cm long x 5-10cm wide) cist capstone and water-worn pea gravel. Some larger stones mixed in the material, particularly around (003) and (011). 001 Deposit Described by the machine operator as homogenous across - 002 the site with the mound of material over the cist being slightly higher than the surrounding area

Mid brown-orange gravelly gritty sand (same as (001), and 003, Natural subsoil 002 Deposit 001 underlying it, but undisturbed 008 Cist structure formed by pink/red fine grain sandstone Cist structure comprising 4 side slabs and 3 in situ capstone slabs. The cist is aligned NNE-SSW, measuring 0.76m x 0.55m and 0.71m deep from top of side slab. Edges of the cist slabs have been visibly dressed with a stone tool and spalled had 003 Structure started to occur on the E side long slabs. Some white 001 002 residue and mineral staining visible on the base of the slabs. Additional packing slabs used at the NNE and SSW ends.

Loose gravel layer (20-30mm deep) - mid grey-brown fine 03.1 - Upper cist surface after 004 Fill shingle with pea gravel and sub-rounded clasts (<30mm in - 006 03.8, capstone removal diameter). 0.4, 0.5 Hardened white residue adhering to cobbles within context Mineralisation staining (004). Also seen at the base of upright slabs in cist (003) associated with the skeletal 005 Deposit - 006 06 material decomposition and wet environment 5-10mm deep floor layer underlying the skeletal remains, Lower floor layer of cist 004, 006 Fill may include organic material. Dark brown fine shingle and 007 08 a few small sub-rounded cobbles (<20mm long) 005 Mid-brown to orange gritty sand/silt with small rounded to Lowest floor level of cist - same sub-rounded stone clasts forming basal deposit of cist. No as [002] 007 Fill visible archaeological material present, but some matrix 006 002 09 discolouration from (006). Mixed fill, mid-orange to brown gravelly shingle with small- Fill of cist (003) construction pit - 10, 11, 008 Fill large cobbles (20-150mm) and mid brown-grey soily silt 003 009 mixed gravel and soil layer with rare charcoal flecks 12

Context Type Description Under Over Finds Samples Interpretation No. Wide sub oval cut for cist (003), with steeply sloping sides Cist construction cut 003, 009 Cut within (002). Aligned NNE-SSW, 2.15m x 1.8m, up to 002 0.75m deep 008 Elongated charcoal-rich silty sand/gravel spread overlies Fill of pit/cut compact small to medium-sized cobble fill [014]. Aligned 01, 02, 010 Fill NNE-SSW, with rounded end to SSE. Beaker pot sherds 012 013 13 present, and archer's wrist guard within upper surface of 03, the deposit. 04

Cut of an elongated charcoal-rich pit, with shallow angles Truncated pit contained Beaker sides and an undulating base. 2m x 0.8m, with a maximum 010, pot sherds and wrist guard; 011 Cut 002 depth of 0.14m. Contains a stony base. Aligned NNE-SSW. 013 possible basal remains of a In situ broken Beaker pot. Cut into the natural subsoil. burial pit Overlying (010) is spread of small to large sub-rounded Re-deposited subsoil material 012 Deposit cobbles with a buff to light brown silty matrix. Darker than 010 surrounding context Lower primary fill of (011). Buff-coloured silty sediment with Silting within base of pit/grave 013 Fill small stones/cobbles, is primary fill of cut (011) 010 011 14 Sub-rounded small cobbles within matrix [010] are packed 01, Stone fill, part of [010] into fill/cut 02, 014 Fill 012 013 13 03, 04 Stack of 6 medium to large sub-rounded cobbles at SSW Support for end slabs of cist Fill / 008, 015 end of cist (003) - medium sized cobbles forming support 008 (003) structure for end slabs of cist 009

Appendix 2: List of Samples

Sample Context Volume Sample Justification No. No. L/g 01 002 5L Control sample from the subsoil 02 002 Charcoal sample from subsoil outside cist to NW side Skeletal remains from the cist, comprises mostly long bones and skull 03.1 - 03.8 004 fragments Skeletal remains including skull fragments and surrounding sediment - grid 04 004 1/4 L B 05 004 Teeth x 6 - from grids A, C, E

06 005 2L Stones with hardened white residue, associated with the inhumation

07 004 8 x 1L Loose gravel and upper floor layer around the inhumation

08 006 8 x 1L Cist floor layer below the skeletal remains 09 007 4L Basal deposit in cist floor below inhumation 10 008 Charcoal from cist cut fill - NE quadrant Sample of cist construction cut fill NE quadrant- contains some charcoal 11 008 5L flecks

12 008 5L Sample of cist construction cut fill from the SW quadrant

13 010 5 x 5L Charcoal-rich upper fil of pit [011], contains Beaker sherds and wrist guard

14 013 3L Lower/primary fill of cut [011] 15 010 1/2 L Sediment adhering to Beaker sherds

Appendix 3: List of Small Finds

Find Context Material Description and Notes Approx. Dating No. No. Sherds of a degraded Beaker pot from basal remains of Early Bronze 01 010 Ceramic an oval pit [011]; appears to have cord and geometric Age decoration Fragment of stone wrist guard with two perforations at Early Bronze 02 010 Stone either end Age Two small fragments of wrist guard - modern breakages Early Bronze 03 010 Stone from excavation Age Small fragments and base of Beaker pot - crushed in Early Bronze 04 010 Ceramic stone infill Age

Appendix 4: List of Plans

Drawing Direction Drawn Scale Description Contexts Date No. Facing By S1 1:10 SSW-facing section through cist (003) SSW 001, 003 SB 26/01/2015 Pre-excavation plan of cist with capstone in 1 1:10 - 003 MKP 26/01/2015 place 2 1:10 Plan of cist floor and skeletal remains - 003, 004 MKP 26/01/2015 S2 1:10 WNW-facing section through cist WNW 001, 003 SB 27/01/2015 3 1:10 Post-excavation plan of cist [003] - 002, 003 MKP 27/01/2015 Pre-excavation plan of cut (011) and 003, 011, 4 1:10 - SB 28/01/2015 associated contexts 010 SW-facing section through cut (011) and S3 1:10 SW 010, 011 SB 28/01/2015 fill/ceramics (010) Post-excavation plan of cut (011) to overlay S4 1:10 - 003, 011 SB 28/01/2015 Plan 3

Appendix 5: List of Site Photographs

Photo No. Direction Facing Description Taken By Date

General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 1 NNE MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 2 NNE MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 3 N MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 4 N MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 5 E MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 6 W MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 7 N MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 8 NE MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 9 NNW MKP 26/01/2015 back General pre-excavation image of the cist after initial clean- 10 NE MKP 26/01/2015 back 11 NNE Image of the cist after initial excavation MKP 26/01/2015 12 NNW Image of the cist after initial excavation MKP 26/01/2015 13 NNE Image of the cist after initial excavation MKP 26/01/2015 14 NNE View from above, showing cist contents pre-excavation MKP 26/01/2015 15 ENE View from above, showing cist contents pre-excavation MKP 26/01/2015 16 ENE View from above, showing cist contents pre-excavation MKP 26/01/2015 17 ENE View from above, showing cist contents pre-excavation MKP 26/01/2015 18 ENE Remains of skull from the burial MKP 26/01/2015 19 ENE Remains of skull from the burial MKP 26/01/2015 20 ENE Image of sample of (005) MKP 26/01/2015 21 ENE Long bones revealed after skull removal MKP 26/01/2015

22 NNE Post-excavation images of cist before section excavation MKP 27/01/2015

23 WNW Post-excavation images of cist before section excavation MKP 27/01/2015

24 WNW Post-excavation images of cist before section excavation MKP 27/01/2015

25 SSW Post-excavation images of cist before section excavation MKP 27/01/2015

26 N Working shots, excavation of the cist cut MKP 27/01/2015 27 NNE Post-excavation images after sectioning of the cist cut MKP 27/01/2015 28 NE Post-excavation of the cist SW quadrant MKP 27/01/2015 29 NNE SSW-facing section in SW quadrant of the cist MKP 27/01/2015 30 ENE SW quadrant of the cist, post-excavation MKP 27/01/2015 31 NNE Looking SSW over the cist after excavation MKP 27/01/2015 32 SSW NNE-facing section in NE quadrant of the cist MKP 27/01/2015 33 WNW SSE-facing section in NE quadrant of the cist MKP 27/01/2015 34 WSW SSE-facing section in NE quadrant of the cist MKP 27/01/2015 35 NW Post-excavation image of the cist MKP 27/01/2015

Photo No. Direction Facing Description Taken By Date 36 NE Post-excavation image of the cist MKP 27/01/2015 Upper fill [010] of pit [011] after initial clean (pre- 37 NE SB 27/01/2015 excavation) Upper fill [010] of pit [011] after initial clean (pre- 38 NE SB 27/01/2015 excavation); shows position relating to cist 39 NE In situ pot base from [010] SB 27/01/2015 40 NE Images showing relationship of cist and pit [011] SB 28/01/2015 41 NE SW -facing section through feature [011] SB 28/01/2015 42 NE SW -facing section through feature [011] SB 28/01/2015 43 NE SW -facing section through feature [011] SB 28/01/2015 44 NE Post-excavation image of cut [011] and cist [003] SB 28/01/2015 45 - Wrist guard (SF03-04)- front MKP - 46 - Wrist guard (SF03-04) - back MKP - 47 - Beaker pottery sherds (SF01) from pit [011] MKP -

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