Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby with Contributions by Sue Anderson, Ann Clarke, Mike Cressey, Mhairi Hastie and Melanie Johnson

Illus 1 Site location map. 9 An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby With contributions by Sue Anderson, Ann Clarke, Mike Cressey, Mhairi Hastie and Melanie Johnson

Introduction

During a programme of major upgrading of the A92 features, possibly the remains of a truncated ring-ditch. trunk road between Dundee and Arbroath (NGR NO Approximately 12m to the north of this, two features 454 321 to NO 620 395, Illus 1), an archaeological were located, F1 and F2. F1 was a large pit containing watching brief was undertaken by CFA Archaeology a large quantity of Carinated Bowl pottery and fire- Ltd (CFA) from September 2003 to April 2004, in cracked stones. response to a planning condition placed upon the During work to form a temporary road to the north development by Angus Council. The monitored of the A92, a single pit (F212) containing Bronze Age route ran from Elliot on the outskirts of Arbroath pottery was recorded (Illus 1). to Ardownie, just NE of Dundee, and the watching brief monitored ground-breaking works for the new carriageway and associated infrastructure. The Early Neolithic pit fieldwork was funded by Morgan Est, and the post- excavation works by Angus Council. F1 (Illus 2) was a large pit measuring 2.4m by 2m, Previous phases of archaeological work included an with a depth of 0.3m. It contained a primary fill evaluation (Rees and Cameron 1998) and subsequent (1/5) of red-brown sand containing occasional early excavations (Anderson and Rees 2006; Cameron et al Neolithic pottery sherds and small amounts of hazel 2007), as outlined in the report on Balcathie (Gray and nutshell, and cereal grains. The pit had been re-cut Suddaby this volume). (1/6). The secondary pit measured 1.4m long by 0.3m The watching brief constituted the final phase of deep and contained an upper fill (1/3–4) of heat- archaeological work along the route. Five areas of affected sandstone cobbles and orange-brown sand archaeological features were identified and subject with charcoal flecks. The primary fill (1/2) of the re-cut to excavation. Four sites are reported on elsewhere contained large quantities of Carinated Bowl pottery, (Gray 2010; Gray and Suddaby this volume). These along with fragments of fired clay and flakes and remains include a possible souterrain terminus at blades of flint and quartz and three sandstone slabs. Ardownie Farm Cottages; a series of possibly Neolithic A large amount of oak charcoal, some hazelnut shell, pits at Mains of Kelly and Nether Kelly Farm, and a poorly preserved wheat grain, and very small pieces of putative Neolithic structure and post-arc at Balcathie unidentifiable burnt bone weighing less than 1g were Farm. This report presents the results of excavations also recovered from this context. The presence of a undertaken at Hatton Farm (Illus 1). The site itself high concentration of artefacts and ecofacts within passes through arable land and lies at no more than the primary re-cut fill 1/2 is suggestive of intentional 40m above OD. Subsoil mainly consisted of free- deposition. draining fluvio-glacially derived sands and gravels. Charred hazel and hazelnut shell recovered from 1/2 The main site was located on what was a very slight returned calibrated radiocarbon dates of 3780–3650 cal knoll on the southern side of the A92, 350m to the east BC at 2σ (SUERC-24912–3), an early Neolithic date. of the unclassified road to Hatton Farm (NGR NO 5901 3830 centred, Illus 1). The stripping of topsoil Finds from the pit along a 21m-wide corridor for the new carriageway was conducted under archaeological supervision. All Prehistoric pottery identified archaeological features were excavated by Melanie Johnson hand, and subject to full excavation. Ploughsoil was 0.3m deep and this overlay a deposit 0.15m deep which Pit F1 contained a large assemblage of early Neolithic sealed some of the archaeological features in places, Carinated Bowl pottery. This assemblage (5756g) although all features were cut directly into the subsoil. comprises 602 body sherds, 22 neck sherds and 81 The main concentration of features comprised a rim sherds from at least 132 different vessels. The circular roundhouse defined initially by post-holes sherds were sorted into sherd families and catalogued, and later by the superimposition of curvilinear sunken according to dimensions, fabric, surface finish,

Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal vol 16 2010, 8–29 10 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby

Illus 2 Plan of F1 and F2 and SW facing section of F1. An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 11 decoration, and morphology. A full catalogue has been sees some alterations to the pottery being made, and prepared for the site archive. is found across Aberdeenshire and Moray. Other parts Few of the pots have substantial portions of their of Scotland also see a ‘modified’ variant. The Hatton profiles surviving; in most cases no more than 10% Farm assemblage, however, has no examples of lugs, of any vessel is represented. Most of the pottery came fingertip fluting or other indicators of Henshall’s (1984; from context 1/2 (4615g, 80%), with a small quantity Sheridan 2007) north-eastern regional style, suggesting (344g, 6%) from context 1/5 and the remainder re- the assemblage belongs to the earliest Neolithic. covered from the surface of the pit during hand cleaning Radiocarbon dates from context 1/2 are in the range (797g, 14%). There was no visible difference between 3780–3650 BC, which fits well with the dating evidence the characteristics of the pottery from these contexts suggested by the pottery. other than the percentages of pottery recovered. Finds of early Neolithic Carinated Bowl pottery The fabrics are generally fine and fairly hard, though in Angus are not common; they include Boysack a few more crumbly fabrics were noted. Well-sorted Mills, Inverkeilor (Murray and Ralston 1997) and sand and golden mica are prevalent along with small Douglasmuir (Kendrick 1995), although both of these grit in quantities up to 10%. The surfaces are generally assemblages are very small. Larger assemblages of well smoothed or polished. A few sherds have sooting modified Carinated Bowl were found at Dubton Farm, on the surfaces and some laminar fracture was noted. Brechin (Cameron 2002) and Newton Road, Carnoustie Colours tend to be grey, dark brown and orange. (White et al 2009), likely dating to slightly later than Commonly, the core and interior are dark grey with the Hatton Farm. Good parallels for many of the forms are exterior colour ranging through dark brown, reddish found at Biggar Common (Johnston 1997) and Balfarg brown, dark grey and orange. Some sherds are orange (Barclay and Russell-White 1993). throughout, while others are dark brown or dark grey Assemblages of early Neolithic pottery are found throughout. A few sherds are much paler in colour in a small range of contexts (Sheridan 2007), which (pale orange, pale brown). often includes pits, for example at Kintore (Alexander Where measurable, rim diameters ranged from 2000; MacSween 2008), and Dubton Farm (Cameron 160mm to 340mm. Wall thickness was generally 2002). Single pit finds are known at Carzield, Dumfries thin, ranging from 6mm to 13mm, with the mode and Galloway (Maynard 1993), and Ratho, Edinburgh being 7mm. (Smith 1995). Other contexts include timber halls and A large number of the rim sherds were too small smaller timber structures presumed to be residential to determine any features of the vessel’s morphology, houses, mortuary structures such as long barrows and with about half of the rim sherds weighing around mortuary enclosures, and other monuments distinctive 10g or less. Where identifiable, the vessel shapes and to the period such as cursus monuments (e.g Holywood rim forms comprise classic Carinated Bowls. Most North, Dumfries and Galloway; Thomas 2007) of the carinated and sinuous-profiled vessels have The quantity of pottery in this pit, and the very flaring or curved rims, often thinned towards the tip, large number of fragments from individual vessels, is but there are examples of upright rimmed pots, such worth noting. This is an extremely large assemblage, as P57 (Illus 3), which has a slight carination on the probably the largest collection of Carinated Bowl body. A few vessels have bead rims (eg P155 and P153, pottery from any site in Scotland, and for it all to Illus 3). There is a small component of uncarinated have been recovered from a single pit is remarkable. hemispherical bowls or cups (eg P158 and P159, The proportion of rim sherds (15% of the sherds Illus 3). are either neck or rim) and large number of distinct This style of ‘traditional’ Carinated Bowl pottery vessels has comparisons with other sites and the overall is generally accepted to belong within an early 4th implication is that the sherds were deliberately selected millennium BC context along with the introduction for deposition rather than being the random burying of farming and the inception of the Neolithic period, of rubbish. and Sheridan (2007) has dated the appearance of this A comparable deposition, although later in date, pottery to 4000–3700 BC in northern Britain. The is found at Brackmont Mill, Fife (Longworth 1967). characteristics of ‘traditional’ Carinated Bowl pottery This pit, of c 1.2m diameter by 1m deep, contained 51 are described by Sheridan (1995; 2002; 2007) and sherds (32 of which were rim sherds) from 20 vessels, comprise principally carinated and S-profiled bowls, and included a small quantity of flint. Longworth uncarinated bowls and cups, and collared jars. Lugs interprets the fresh breaks, lack of abrasion and high and decoration are absent, apart from occasional proportion of rim sherds from separate vessels as not fingertip fluting. being indicative of random rubbish disposal; as he Sheridan (2007) noted that regional variants of points out, an assemblage ought to contain a lot more Carinated Bowl pottery developed fairly early on wall sherds if it were representative of broken vessels (known as ‘modified’ Carinated Bowl) and in some dumped as rubbish. He therefore suggests the sherds instances their associated radiocarbon dates are have been deliberately selected for inclusion and offers indistinguishable from ‘traditional’ Carinated Bowl. as an interpretation that the sherds have an inherent In Scotland, Henshall’s (1984) ‘North-Eastern Style’ meaning associated with their function in use; he 12 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby

Illus 3 Pottery from F1. An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 13

suggests this may have been as containers for a funeral The source of the red flint is not fully understood. feast or offerings. The well known Buchan flint deposits are located some The assemblage from Deer’s Den, Kintore (Alex- 100km to the north of the excavations but these are ander 2000) is comparable to Hatton, though just mainly of grey flint and it is estimated that only c 5% of under half the size (274 sherds weighing 4.2kg from 41 the flints here are coloured (Gemmel and Kesel 1979). vessels). While the sherds tended to be very small, there It is likely that red flint is more readily available from was again a lack of abrasion, and while the material along the beaches of the east coast, having been washed was spread between eight pits, much of it came from a up from eroding sub-sea deposits off Heligoland (C single pit and the excavator expressed surprise at the Wickham-Jones pers comm). quantity of sherds and vessels in pit 1028 in particular, Whatever the exact derivation of the red flint, it again suggesting deliberate deposition as a process would appear that, at least at this site, it was selected (Alexander 2000, 39). for larger blades. Recent excavations of early Neolithic pits from east and central Scotland demonstrate that Fired clay blades of varying types of material are a common Sue Anderson feature of these deposits: at Bannockburn, blades and blade-like flakes of chert were confined mainly to pit Six fragments, representing two broken and abraded deposits of the early Neolithic (Clarke 1997), whilst lumps of uncertain function, were recovered from pit blades of exotic Arran pitchstone have been found in fill F1/2. All pieces were in a fine oxidised clay matrix pits with early Neolithic pottery at Elginhaugh, East with few inclusions and no voids. Where surfaces Lothian (Clarke 2007), Chapelfield, Cowie (Atkinson survived, these were generally convex. 2002) and Bannockburn (Clarke 1997) as well as sites in Midlothian and West Lothian (Clarke 2007). Lithics Though not a pit deposit as such, the discrete group of Ann Clarke 28 flints from Lunanhead, Angus is worthy of mention. That assemblage comprised regular flakes and blades An interesting group of flints was recovered from F1, of a uniform grey flint, suggesting that these items were in 1/2, the primary fill of the pit re-cut (Table 1, Illus all removed from just four nodules (Wickham-Jones 4). This assemblage is formed in particular by the and Mackenzie 1996). Many of the blades were larger final products of flint knapping, the blades and flakes; than those from the Hatton pit but Wickham-Jones and there were no cores and little evidence for debitage (it Mackenzie concluded that they are most likely to date is not certain whether the quartz chunks are indeed from the early Neolithic. deliberately flaked or not). A variety of colours of The accumulating evidence across Scotland suggests, flint is present from deep red and orange to grey and therefore, that certain types of lithic material were pale pink, as well as a few flakes of quartz, and these being selected for blade production and that these were indicate the range of materials that were available and then deposited, often together with pottery, in pits. Just selected for use. what significance was attached to the various different Blades and flakes are present in similar quantities raw materials can only be guessed at, but both the shiny but it is the blades that stand out in the group, mainly black Arran pitchstone and the red flint of NE Scotland because of differences in shape and size between the certainly stand out from the normal range of grey and various colours of flint: blades of the red and deep brown Scottish flints. There is also a possibility that orange flint are the largest of the group, 45–50mm the use of red and orange flint was a particular feature in length and 20–24mm in width. In contrast blade of the earlier Neolithic in NE Scotland: a lithic scatter fragments of quartz and the grey flint were narrower near Peterhead identified by Graeme Warren as most with widths of 8–15mm. It would appear that the red likely dating to the early Neolithic had a significant and deep orange flint was being deliberately selected proportion of red flint in contrast to the more common for larger sized blades. grey and brown flints from other features and scatters dated to the late Neolithic (Warren 2003). Further work would be needed to test this hypothesis of Table 1 Flaked lithics from F1/2. chronological flint preference.

* probable fragment from a burnt blade Coarse stone Ann Clarke type red flint grey and pink flint quartz blades 3 (1)* 3 1 Three sandstone slab fragments were recovered from flakes 4 4 1/2. These are broken from thinly bedded slabs and chunks 1 3 none has any indication that it was altered around the edge in order to shape the circumference. The slabs must have been deliberately introduced into the pit, most probably together with the pots; perhaps they were used as covers or lids prior to the breakage of 14 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby

Illus 4 Lithics from F1. Larger blades of red and orange flint (left); blade and blade fragments of grey flint (right). An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 15

the ceramics. The slabs have dimensions of between was no direct evidence for burning in situ and it is 140 to 280mm in length, and 120 to 270mm in width more likely that the material had been dumped into the by 10 to 20mm in thickness. Vessels with diameters pit. The origin of the material is unknown but given of 160 to 340mm are represented within the pottery the large concentrations of oak timbers it is possible assemblage from this context so the slabs could have that the debris is the remnants of a structure that was acted as pot lids. destroyed by fire.

Environmental evidence Radiocarbon dates Mhairi Hastie and Mike Cressey Material chosen for radiocarbon dating was submitted Methods of recovery and analysis are detailed in the to the Scottish Universities Environmental Research environmental section regarding the Middle Bronze Centre (SUERC). A pair of single entity AMS dates Age post-ring and ring-ditch segments below. Table 2 was obtained from F1 of 3780–3650 cal BC. When shows the quantities of material from F1. combined, the paired sample did not fail a chi-squared Small quantities of extremely poorly preserved test, meaning that each pair of dates comes from cereal grain and small fragments of hazelnut shell were material that could be the same actual age or derived recovered from F1. The presence of occasional emmer from a relatively short period of activity (Haselgrove wheat grains from pit F1 would be consistent with an 2009, 188). The dates come from the primary fill of the early prehistoric date and fits well with the established pit re-cut, and so relate to the later stages of the infilling Neolithic date for the feature. of this feature, although they provide a terminus ante Fragments of oak timber (800g) and roundwood quem for the initial cutting and re-cutting of this fragments of hazel (1.3g) were also collected. A feature. The dates support the pottery and lithic finds number of fire-cracked stones were noted during suggesting an early Neolithic date for the pit. Results the excavation in the fill of the pit, although there are summarised in Table 3 and Illus 5.

Discussion Table 2 Summary of cereal and other plant remains from F1. Pit F1 was a large pit, re-cut and infilled with a large context F1 collection of Carinated Bowl pottery sherds, flint flakes sample size (litres) 127 and blades, and burnt remains including bone, oak Latin name plant part common name charcoal, some charred hazel nutshell and occasional poorly preserved cereal grain. The infilling of the wild taxa primary cut also produced some sherds of Carinated Corylus avellana nutshell hazel 134 Bowl. This suggests that the time between the two Galium aparine L seed goosegrass/cleavers 1 pit digging and infilling events was not lengthy. The material deposited within the re-cut of F1 cereals is suggestive of deliberate deposition rather than Triticum dicoccum caryopsis emmer 4 the accumulation of material through time, as there Triticum sp caryopsis wheat 22 is a small percentage of a large number of vessels cf Triticum sp caryopsis wheat 1 represented, concentrated in mostly one context. Triticum/Hordeum sp caryopsis wheat/barley 12 Furthermore, the depositional sequence is not Hordeum sp caryopsis barley 306 suggestive of simple domestic waste disposal given cf Hordeum sp caryopsis barley 104 the number of vessels represented and the presence cereal indet caryopsis indeterminate 735 of finished lithic products that may have already quantity of grain per litre of soil 24.3 taken on some significance in the choice of material

Table 3 Summary of radiocarbon determinations (calibrated using OxCal 3.10). lab number context material radiocarbon age BP calibrated (2σ) δ13C (‰) SUERC-24912 1/2 hazelnut shell 4930 ± 30 3780–3650 BC -22.4 SUERC-24913 1/2 hazel charcoal 4930 ± 30 3780–3650 BC -26.5

Atmospheric data from Reimer et al (2004); OxCal v3.10 Bronk Ramsey (2005); cub r,5 sd:12 prob usp[chron]

Illus 5 Radiocarbon plot for F1. 16 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby used to make them (Clarke, above). The selection of parts of vessels within a single pit reflects either and deposition of early Neolithic pottery and lithic collection of material through time by a small number material within pits has been interpreted as intentional of individuals, or the joint endeavour of several groups or structured deposition at sites such as Kintore (Cook of people. The lack of abrasion on the sherds might and Dunbar 2008) and Carnoustie (White et al 2009), suggest the latter interpretation, or at least that the and this practice is widely attested in the Neolithic sherds were kept from becoming damaged prior (Thomas 1999). to deposition. The lack of erosion of the F1 pit cut and re-cut, At Hatton, depositional activities were occurring suggests that the cuts were not left open for long. at the location of pits already excavated and infilled, Alternatively, this could also suggest that the pit may suggesting the locale of deposition and the re-excavat- have been kept clean prior to infilling. The finds and ing may both have been important, referencing and plant macrofossil remains are not necessarily associated repeating previous actions. The marking of the with the primary use of the feature. The presence of landscape in this way may have helped to create a cereal grain suggests that some crop processing was physical and mental sense of place that was potentially being undertaken in the vicinity of the pit, but not that shared by a large number of people but focused on a the pit was being used for storage or for crop processing very specific locale. This stands in contrast to sites such itself, and, as Thomas (1999) has persuasively argued, as Dubton Farm and Carnoustie where clusters of pits ‘bowl-shaped’ pits would not have been suitable for were found. This may represent the result of activity grain storage. There was no evidence of in situ burning by larger numbers of people undertaking the same in the base or sides of the pit that would have created practices, however it is worth noting that many of these the charred plant material or suggest that the pits pits do not contain anywhere near the same number of were used for cooking. The excavation of the pit may vessels represented as the single pit at Hatton Farm, or have been its main function, either for quarrying for the combination of pottery, lithics and carbonised plant material, or indeed to contain the material that was remains. Indeed, many early Neolithic pit sites often later deposited within it. consist of several pits, only a few of which contain any The deposition of artefacts within pit contexts, datable material at all. At Carnoustie for example, 89 and the digging of pits themselves is not uncommon vessels were represented across the whole site, and not within the early Neolithic of Angus and NE Scotland all of this material was early Neolithic. (Dunwell and Ralston 2008), and pit F1 certainly fits in Two pits containing early Neolithic pottery sherds well with other excavated examples such as Carnoustie representing 26 and 34 vessels respectively, were (White et al 2009) and Dubton Farm (Cameron 2002). excavated at Coul Brae, Mosstodloch, Moray (Gray Those pit features show little sign of extended use, and and Suddaby forthcoming). One of the pits re-cut the the archaeobotanical remains suggested that they were other and both contained several fills containing some not being used for storage (White et al 2009). Similarly, lithic material and charred timber-derived oak. In at Dubton, pottery and charcoal-rich soils were often close proximity to these features were several smaller deposited within a re-cut, and overlying a more sterile pits containing only one or two sherds each within an primary fill. In contrast to the pit at Hatton, lithic otherwise relatively sterile single fill. finds were not associated with those features. The As these features have no stratigraphic relationships archaeobotanical remains indicated a seasonal crop with the larger pits it is difficult to say if all the activity processing regime that included the exploitation of of pit-digging and infilling was contemporary, but what wild foodstuffs (Cameron 2002). may be important therefore, rather than the physical As a more precise function of the pit remains isolation of a pit feature, is the amount and variation uncertain, such intentional deposition is suggested to of material deposited within a pit, reflecting a different, be the result of ritual activity. However, the separation and possibly wider sense of community, played out of ‘domestic’ from ‘ritual’ activity has been challenged through a recognised social practice of pit digging (Bradley 2005) and a mix of early Neolithic lifeways and artefact deposition. may have been played out within these features (Brophy 2006). The choice, collection and deposition of artefacts and materials representing a range of everyday activities, Middle Bronze Age features and potentially a range of places and people in the landscape may have acted as a way of formalising individual The Middle Bronze Age remains at Hatton Farm and group links to different places through time. consist of a primary post-ring structure and secondary Without a greater insight into how many vessels an truncated ring-ditch segments. The secondary individual or group might use or acquire over a lifetime, truncated ring-ditches are not distinguishable or indeed if every person or group of individuals within chronologically from the earlier post-ring through a community would have pottery vessels, it is difficult artefactual material or radiocarbon dating, although to say how far such a large number of vessels within one this secondary phase of activity is suggested by the pit represents individual or group activity. However, it superimposition of these ring-ditch segments on the seems likely that the deposition of such a large number earlier post-ring structure. An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 17

Illus 6 Plan of post-ring and ring-ditch structures.

Post-ring structure

A post-ring (Illus 6) of 10 relatively small post-holes post-holes, such as F116 and F126, were oval in plan (clockwise from north: F110, 109/11, F117, F127, F124, suggesting either that some posts had been removed F121, F122, F116, F120, F126) defined an area c 8m in obliquely, or that this was the result of angling the posts diameter, with most of the posts spaced at c 2m apart to lever them upright during construction. There was centre to centre. There was no definite evidence for some evidence that posts had been left to rot in situ. an entrance and the later excavation of a ring-ditch F120 contained a post-pipe within its packing fill, as segment F118 (cut 118/5) may have truncated any did F124 (Illus 7, E–F). F110 contained a single fill remains of an entrance to the post-ring structure. which may have contained the remains of a burnt- The entrance then could potentially have been out post. facing SE. A plough-truncated pottery vessel (P55, Illus 8) was The post-holes in the post-ring measured 0.2m to located upright in a small pit, 121/5, adjacent to post- 0.4m in diameter, and had depths of 0.2–0.3m. The fills hole F121. Only the base of the pot remained, and it were generally re-deposited natural subsoil, probably appears to have been placed in a very tightly fitting pit the remains of post packing material. There was no near to the post. evidence to suggest the posts had been replaced as Pottery sherds of ‘flat-rimmed ware’ were recovered there were no re-cuts or juxtaposed post-holes. Several from F117, and 10 small pieces of fired clay were found 18 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby

Illus 7 Sections of F107, F129, F114, F109, F118, and F124.

during sample processing of the fill of post-hole F116. A large quantity of well-preserved grain was recovered from F110. Poorly preserved grain was recovered from post-holes F117 and F120. Similar post-ring remains excavated on sites such as Kintore (Cook and Dunbar 2008), Dalladies (Watkins 1980), Ironshill (Pollock 1997) and Auchrennie (Cameron et al 2007) have been interpreted as the remains of circular dwellings common to the later prehistoric period across Scotland. The presence of post-pipes and the remains of cereal grain and pottery would support an interpretation of the post-ring as the foundation of structural elements of a roofed domestic structure. The overall diameter of the structure would Illus 8 Base of pottery vessel P55 adjacent to F121 from thus probably have been larger than 8m as the post- the south-west. ring would likely have supported rafters rather than the ends of roof timbers, as suggested at Ironshill (Pollock 1997).

Possible ring-ditch

Two elongated and shallow curvilinear features, F109 and F118, overlie, and hence post-date, the post-ring structure. The relationship between these curvilinear An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 19

associated with each other and that they are not the remains of a roundhouse structure. However, both F109 and F118 are demonstrably later than the post- ring, F109 through stratigraphy and F118 through its location in plan. The position of F118 is such that it occupies the area in which a post from the post-ring would be expected to occur. The post is thus assumed to have been truncated entirely by the excavation of 118/5. Both F109 and F118 contained material associated with domestic contexts in the form of charred cereal grain and the saddle quern. These two features are thus interpreted as the truncated remains of a discontinuous Illus 9 Possible stone paving 118/4 in base of ring ditch internal ring-ditch that possibly contained stone paving segment 118/5 from the south-east. in its base, and are thus suggestive of a secondary roundhouse structure partially superimposed upon the post- ring house remains. sunken features and the post-ring was seen in F109, where the putative ring-ditch (109/1) cut the upper Associated features levels of post-hole 109/11, part of the post-ring (Illus 7, A–B). In addition to these features, several other pits or post- Both 109/1 and 118/5 were approximately 5m in holes were excavated that could not be ascribed to length and up to 1.5m in width, with depths of 0.1m either phase, although assuming the outer wall of the to 0.2m. The northern feature, 109/1, was aligned post-ring structure was further out from the post-ring, east-to-west and was filled with dark brown fill (109/2) all of the unassigned features could have been inside the surrounding numerous medium and large sub-angular post-ring structure. stones (109/3), including a saddle quern. Some of They include features F113–14, which were centrally these stones appeared to have been laid and may have placed between F109 and F118. Both contained re- originally been paving. The saddle quern appeared not deposited subsoil fills without any indication of to be in situ and had possibly been re-used as a paving function or date, and were very truncated (Illus 7, stone. What may have been the remains of a large, G–H). F107 (Illus 7, K–L) contained two angled stake- degraded, piece of wood (109/7) was preserved running holes (107/3-4) in the base of the feature and, along along the southern edge of F109, within the fill 109/2. with nearby F108, contained well-preserved and high It was defined as a linear area of a dark mottled silty concentrations of grain, mostly naked barley. The deposit approximately 3m in length by 0.15m wide. stake-holes within F107 may have originally been part Hazel charcoal was recovered from this context. It of some kind of internal screen between post-holes F110 does not appear to have been a structural beam; the and F126. A similar interpretation could be suggested hazel fragments suggest that it is more likely to relate for F108, which may have supported small posts or to some kind of internal fitting or furniture. Two stake stakes in a bedding trench. Similar deposits of charred holes (109/17, 109/29) were located in the base of F109 plant remains were recovered from posthole F110, in the western terminal end. suggesting that F107 and F108 are associated with The southern elongated feature, 118/5, was aligned the post-ring structure rather than the ring-ditches. ENE to WSW and contained similar fills to 109/1, with a brown charcoal-flecked soil (118/2) forming the main Finds from the Bronze Age structures fill (Illus 7, C–D). This surrounded numerous stones (118/4), again possibly paving (Illus 9) and contained Pottery parts of smashed pottery vessels of ‘flat-rimmed ware’ Melanie Johnson (P22, P17) and a pounder/grinder. F118 also contained a large amount of charred cereal grains, predominantly Pottery was examined and catalogued as for the early naked barley. Neolithic feature F1 (see above). The distribution of It is very difficult to say how these related sherds is summarised in Table 4. structurally to each other as there do not appear to be any post-holes or pits, apart from 118/6 and F129, which could form structurally associated posts. F129 Table 4 Distribution of pottery assemblage. contained four fills (129/2–5, Illus 7, I–J). Context 129/3 comprised a series of flatly laid stones between feature number weight (g) number 129/2 and 129/4 suggesting that the stones represented of sherds of vessels a re-cut or re-use of the feature. The stones may well F117 2 22 1 represent post-pads for the support of a secondary post. F118 173 880 12 The segments were also on different alignments 121/5 1 866 1 to each other, which may suggest that they were not total 176 1768 14 20 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby

The post-ring roundhouse produced two plain body sherds from F117, and a spread of sherds came from the southern ring-ditch segment F118. Radiocarbon dates from charred palaeobotanical remains found within features associated with these structures date to 1450– 1120 cal BC at 2σ. A small pit (121/5) adjacent to post- ring post-hole F121 contained a substantial portion of vessel base. Within the southern ring-ditch (F118), sherds from 12 different vessels were recovered, including 142 plain body sherds and a small number of rim sherds (P17, P18, P22). The rims are all flat-topped and no diameters were measurable. In addition, P17 has a double ridge on the exterior and is slightly out- turned (Illus 10) while P22 has a triple ridged exterior and seems to be from a bowl (Illus 10). Surfaces were smoothed and fabrics were coarse with sand and mica content. Wall thickness ranged from 8mm to 12mm and colours ranged from orange to brown and grey, indicating a range of oxidisation had occurred. Stones up to 8mm in size were included in the fabrics, along with small grit, sand and mica. These sherds are likely to be mid to late Bronze Age in date. Such vessel types are typical of the period c 1600–800 BC, and commonly referred to as ‘flat- rimmed ware’. Although the assemblage is very small, parallels can be found in similar domestic contexts in eastern Scotland at, for example, Kintore (Mac- Sween 2008), Deer’s Den (Alexander 2000), and Ednie (Strachan and Dunwell 2003), all Aberdeenshire, and Pitlethie Road, Leuchars, Fife (Cook 2007). There are also parallels elsewhere in Scotland, for example Green Knowe in Peeblesshire (Jobey 1980) and Lintshie Gutter, Illus 10 Pottery from F118, F212 and 121/5. Lanarkshire (Terry 1995). Sherds from the Auchrennie structures (Cameron et al 2007) included a rounded rim of the same period. The base (P55, Illus 10) was recovered from a cut to either the Bronze Age or Iron Age on morphology 121/5 adjacent to post-hole F121, one of the posts alone, it seems unlikely that the vessel was deposited forming part of the post-ring of the structure. It was so close to a post of the roundhouse some thousand or placed upright within the cut and it may have been more years after the house went out of use, suggesting deposited as a whole vessel which had been plough- that a Bronze Age date is more likely. The vessel was truncated to leave just the base remaining. The placed upright within the pit and was badly truncated, surviving portion stands to a maximum height of suggesting that the material which has ended up inside 110mm, and the vessel has been squashed on one side the vessel derived from a later event. It is possible that so the wall is not circular. The diameter is 120mm the vessel was only buried up to a certain depth in the and the wall thickness is 10mm. The fabric is coarse, ground, with the rest of the vessel still accessible above crumbly and soft with stone inclusions up to 20mm ground, and may have been used to store dry foodstuffs recorded. The vessel is very clean both inside and out, or other small items. It was perhaps tucked behind an with no sign of any sooting, suggesting it had not been internal post, to be away from the traffic of passing used for cooking. feet and to be partially hidden from view when inside This unusual deposition may belong within a small the centre of the building. Alternatively, the vessel may group of Bronze Age and Iron Age discoveries of whole have been a foundation deposit inserted into the ground or substantially whole vessels deposited within features during the construction of the house. associated with roundhouses, for example a ring-ditch house at Drumyocher, Aberdeenshire (Johnson and Fired clay Richardson in prep) and the central post-built structure Sue Anderson within the palisade at Ironshill East, Inverkeilor, Angus (McGill 2003). The radiocarbon date obtained from Ten small pieces were collected during the sieving of charcoal lying inside the vessel, however, dated to a sample from post-hole F116/2. No traces of wattle 250–410 cal AD. While the vessel is not closely datable impressions were present on any fragments and it is An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 21 unlikely that the pieces were fragments of daub, but smooth though this may be a natural feature. These the material was undiagnostic and its function could cobble tools are common in both Bronze Age and Iron not be determined. Age assemblages. A chunk of pebble quartz and a small flake of honey- Coarse stone tools and lithics coloured flint also came from the fill of this feature. Ann Clarke Burnt bone A saddle quern came from the fill of F109 (Illus 11). Sue Anderson The quern is a nice example of the type, with a very shallow concave face which has been worn smooth Small fragments of calcined and abraded bone, all of right out to the edges. These features would suggest it which were too small for identification, were recovered was made and used in the early Iron Age since saddle from samples of features F107, F109, F114, F117, F118 querns from the Neolithic, though often shallow, and F124. All context groups weighed less than 1g each, tend to have a rim around the grinding area which is with the exception of 109/6 which contained an abraded missing from later examples (Close-Brooks 1983, 288). fragment of calcined medium/large mammal long bone However, the dating of the forms and use of querns weighing 3g. across the regions of Scotland is not fully understood and it is uncertain how early these shallow saddle querns appear in Scotland. Environmental evidence A large pounder/grinder came from the fill of F118. Mhairi Hastie and Mike Cressey On the unbroken end there is a rounded facet formed by rough pecking. A patch of pecking is located in A selection of samples was processed for the retrieval the centre of the upper domed face and the lower face of small finds and palaeoenvironmental remains. This is naturally concave and appears to have been worn report concentrates on the cereal grains, wood charcoal and other plant remains recovered from these samples.

Methodology

A system of flotation and wet sieving was used to separate the archaeological material from the soil samples. Initially, the floating debris was collected in a 250µm sieve and, once dry, scanned using a low-powered microscope (magnification x10–x200) to identify the archaeological material. Material remaining in the flotation tank was wet-sieved through a 1mm mesh and air-dried before being sorted to identify any remaining significant material. Identification of cereal remains and wild taxa were made with reference to CFA Archaeology’s modern comparative reference collection and seed atlases. Samples that contained large concentrations of charred remains were sub-divided using a riffle box and a proportion of the sample sorted. The number of grain/wild taxa present in the sorted fraction was then multiplied to give a representative quantity for each species within the whole of the sample. Identifications were carried out on charcoal fragments at or greater than 2mm in diameter using a binocular microscope. Charcoal fragments less than 2mm in diameter were considered to below the level of identification. Anatomical keys listed in Schweingruber (1992) and CFA Archaeology’s reference charcoal was used to aid identification.

Results

Out of the 55 samples processed, 29 contained carbonised cereal grains and other plant remains. Results are summarised in Tables 5 and 6. Large concentrations of cereal grains were recovered from Illus 11 Saddle quern from F109. two spatially distinct areas: the southern half of ring- 22 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby ditch (F118) and two spatially close pits (F107 and F108) Fragments of charcoal large enough for identification which were possibly part of the northern edge of the (greater than 2mm in diameter) were recovered from 18 post-ring. samples. Preservation of the charcoal was good. Oak The grains recovered from the pits potentially was most abundant, but fragments of smaller shrubby associated with the post-ring (F107 and F108) were species including alder, birch, hazel and willow, were exceptionally well-preserved, the flot fractions from also identified. Results are summarised by feature in these features consisting almost purely of carbonised Table 5. grain. Only small quantities of cereal grains were recovered from a post-hole F110 which lies between Discussion pits F107 and F108, although the grain recovered from this post-hole fill was also extremely well The vast majority of the grain recovered from the preserved suggesting that it originated from the site (over 90%) was identified as naked barley. Chaff same burning event as the grain from F107 and F108. fragments were rare, but where present identified as Small quantities of poorly preserved grain were the two-row variety (Hordeum distichum var nudum). also recovered from the northern half of the ring-ditch Naked barley was the main cultivar during the early (F109) and from three unphased features (F114, F129 prehistoric period in Scotland, principally grown during and F130). the Neolithic and Bronze Age, before being replaced by Barley grains dominated the samples, the majority the hulled variety in the late Bronze Age / early Iron Age of which was identified as the naked variety (Hordeum (Dickson and Dickson 2000). var nudum). Several wheat grains, six of which were identified as emmer wheat Triticum( dicoccum), Post-ring and one grain of oat (Avena sp.) were also present. Occasional chaff remains (rachis and culm node The cereal assemblages recovered from three spatially fragments) were recovered from pit F107. Although close pits (F107, F108 and F110) were extremely well- only present in very small numbers the chaff remains, preserved and this would suggest that the grain was similar to the cereal grain recovered from this pit, were charred at low temperatures possibly in oxidizing very well preserved. Most of the chaff consisted of two- conditions. Occasional rachis and culm node / spikelet row barley internodes, although two spikelet forks and fragments, and small-headed seeds were recovered a glume base of glume wheat (emmer or spelt) were from these features, particularly post-hole F107, along also recovered. Small fragments of charred hazelnut with the cereal grains. Nevertheless, in general the shell were recovered. In addition, small fragments of early stage by-products of crop processing, including monocotyledon rhizome (underground stem fragments) straw, large seed heads and rachis were absent from were recovered from the fill of the post-ring (F107, F108 the assemblages, and this would tend to indicate that and F120), and ring-ditch (F118). the assemblage represents cleaned grain. This large Carbonised weed seeds were extremely rare concentration of grain would appear to represent and generally poorly preserved; these include nutlet the debris from the destruction of a storage context fragments of knotgrass (Polygonum cf. aviculare), or processing facility by fire. During the excavation persicaria / pale persicaria (Polygonum persicaria there was no evidence to suggest that the grain had lapathifolium) and sedge (Carex sp.); seeds of fat hen been charred in situ. The extremely good condition of (Chenopodium album); ribwort (Plantago lanceolata); the grain does however suggest that it was probably goosegrass (Galium aparine); and grains of grass deposited / dumped into the pits very quickly after (Gramineae indet.) and brome or rye grass (cf. Bromus the burning event and may represent the remnants / Lolium sp.). Increased amounts of weed seeds were of demolition debris from a nearby storage structure. recovered from samples containing large quantities Modern ethnographic parallels of subsistence of cereal grains (F107 and F118). farming suggest that bulk cereal crops may have been

Table 5 Weight (grams) of wood charcoal species by feature.

feature post-ring ring-ditch pit feature number F127 F110 F117 F109 F118 F125 F107 F129 Latin name common name Alnus sp alder Betula sp birch 1.4 2.2 Corylus avellana hazel 0.7 40.4 4.8 20.4 2.7 Salix sp willow 7.4 Quercus sp oak 4.7 21.0 11.9 31.1 0.8 23.6 1.3 An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 23 p-h F130 2 1 0.5

F129 16.5 11 2 1 6 0.4 pit F114 4 1 0.3

1 1 1 1 1 2 30

F118 45 134 212 16 3 2 151 110.4

8 1 3

ring-ditch F109 4 2 3 5.3

5 p-h F128 2 4 4.5

1 F120 2.5

0.4

1 F117 1 1

F110 7 64 6 10

F108 3 1 102 100 87 71 120

1 2 1 1 1

post-ring F107 34 5 1 1 1 2 13 2 1 1 3562 11 7 1 89 2 211.7

common name feature context sample size (litres) hazel perscaria/pale persicaria knotgrass fat hen fat hen ribwort goosegrass/cleavers medium-grained grass brome / rye grass sedge seed indet rhizome emmer wheat wheat wheat wheat wheat / barley naked barley naked barley naked barley barley barley two-row barley two-row barley oat indeterminate straw fragment

plant part nutshell nutlet nutlet seed seed seed seed caryopsis caryopsis nutlet seed caryopsis caryopsis caryopsis spikelet fork culm node caryopsis caryopsis caryopsis caryopsis caryopsis caryopsis internode internode caryopsis caryopsis culm node

L (ST) (TW) L sp sp

L (2-row)

sp aviculare

olium nudum nudum nudum

L cf indet (medium)

sp sp

sp var var var sp sp

sp Summary cereal of remains by feature. sp sp sp sp post-hole Triticum Avena Bromus / Hordeum Hordeum atin name p-h L wild taxa Corylus avellana Polygonum persicaria/ lapathifolium Polygonum Chenopodium album Chenopodium Plantago lanceolata Galium aparine Gramineae cf Carex indeterminate cereals dicoccumTriticum Triticum cf Triticum Triticum / Hordeum Triticum Hordeum Hordeum Hordeum Hordeum cf Hordeum cf cf cereal indeterminate quantity of grain per litre of soil Table 6 Table 24 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby routinely stored outside in unprocessed stacks. While is a consistent spread of cereal grain throughout the further evidence from recent excavations at Kintore, whole of the ditch. Similar concentrations of poorly Aberdeenshire (Holden et al 2008) suggests that preserved and abraded grain were also recovered from unprocessed / unthreshed grain, still on the ear, was other deposits and features within close proximity to being stored within one of the roundhouses when the the ring-ditch (for example F114, F128). building burnt down, the recovery of large quantities There are two possible sources for this grain: the of cleaned grain from the pit fills at Hatton Farm does, reworked and diluted products of the larger burning however, raise the possibility that some grain was event lying immediately NW of the ring-ditch and stored in a fully cleaned state. associated with the post-ring (F107, F108), or an accumulation over time of small quantities of grain Possible ring-ditch burnt during domestic activities, such as grain-drying or the domestic hearth, being carried out within the A relatively high concentration of cereal grain was putative ring-ditch structure. Both events would present in the fill of F118. The plant remains from produce the same dispersal of grain, and thus in this feature were not as well-preserved as the cereals this case neither can be ruled out. recovered from the features associated with the post- ring (F107, F108 and F110) and this is reflected by the Radiocarbon dating large quantity of grain that could not be identified to species level (indicated in the ‘cereal indeterminate’ Material chosen for radiocarbon dating was submitted row in Table 6). to the Scottish Universities Environmental Research At first glance it appears that the majority of grain Centre (SUERC). Pairs of single entity AMS dates recovered from the roundhouse ditch was present in were obtained from F107, F118 and F129. Single dates the primary fill (118/2) (details in archive). However, were obtained from post-hole F110, and from inside the taking into consideration the volume of soil sampled truncated pottery vessel 121/3. Results are summarised from each separate ditch fill, it is apparent that there in Table 7 and Illus 12.

Table 7 Summary of radiocarbon dating (calibrated using OxCal 3.10). 13 Note: SUERC-25014 does not have a δ C result as the sample was too small to sub-sample for CO2 content. lab number context feature material radiocarbon calibrated date age BP (2σ) d13C (‰) Bronze Age dates SUERC-25014 110/2 post-ring naked barley grain 3060 ± 60 1450–1120 BC SUERC-24914 129/2 pit barley grain 2990 ± 30 1370–1120 BC -24.1 SUERC-24915 129/2 pit hazel charcoal 3055 ± 30 1410–1220 BC -24.9 SUERC-24916 118/2 ?ring ditch naked barley grain 3065 ± 30 1420–1266 BC -22.9 SUERC-24917 118/2 ?ring ditch naked barley grain 3090 ± 30 1430–1270 BC -25.0 SUERC-24921 107/2 pit naked barley grain 3050 ± 30 1410–1210 BC -23.8 SUERC-24922 107/2 pit naked barley grain 3100 ± 30 1440–1290 BC -24.6 Iron Age date SUERC-24923 121/3–4 pot content hazel charcoal 1715 ± 30 250–410 AD -24.8

Atmospheric data from Reimer et al (2004); OxCal v3.10 Bronk Ramsey (2005); cub r,5 sd:12 prob usp[chron]

Illus 12 Radiocarbon plot for post-ring, ring-ditch segments and pottery vessel. An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 25

The majority of the dates range from 1450–1120 BC, same occupants. The dating of the two structures falls the Middle Bronze Age, and encompass both the post- within the same calibrated radiocarbon range and ring (F110) and the second phase possible ring-ditch so it is unclear whether this represents continuous, (F118), as well as features that could not be assigned to permanent occupation of the site or if there was a either of these two structural components (F107, F129). gap between the suggested two occupational phases. The taphonomy of the dated samples is uncertain. In Angus, most post-ring structures, such as that The dates from F107 and F110 are likely to come from excavated by Watkins (1980) at Dalladies, date to the a single burning event that occurred somewhere out- latter half of the 1st millennium BC (Dunwell and with the house structure (Hastie, above), but the Ralston 2008). However, similar structures to those material from this event has been re-deposited during at Hatton have been found across Angus and NE house construction, occupation or abandonment The Scotland dating to the Middle to Late Bronze Age. In dates from F129 come from infilling of a secondary particular, a post-ring structure and later ring-ditch cut, and those from the truncated ring ditch F118 house were excavated at Auchrennie as part of the A92 could come from the similar burning event suggest- upgrade work. The post-ring, Structure B, had similar ed by F107, or be part of a general accumulation of dimensions to that of the Hatton post-ring. Two post- carbonised material throughout house use, or during/ holes had been sealed beneath paving within the eastern following house abandonment. ring-ditch of Structure A, a later roundhouse structure. The two phases of the structure demonstrated The calibrated radiocarbon dates for both of the through excavation are not distinguishable in the Auchrennie roundhouses fell into the Middle Bronze radiocarbon dates. The finds and environmental Age, Structure B at 1740–1400 cal BC and Structure A evidence do not generally contradict this, although at 1670–1300 cal BC. Material from a pit from within F109, which is undated through radiocarbon dating, the later house, but not actually structurally associated, does contain a saddle quern. These have previously was dated to 1400–1120 cal BC (Cameron et al 2007). been associated with early Iron Age contexts, but Ring-ditch houses are a much more common their chronology is not certain in NE Scotland and prehistoric house form in Angus than post-ring so it is possible that this find is Middle Bronze Age structures (Dunwell and Ralston 2008). Ring-ditches in date. dating to the Middle Bronze Age have been excavated The radiocarbon dates obtained from this structure in NE Scotland, for example at Old Meldrum, Aberdeen- are thus suitable for dating in general terms only. The shire (White and Richardson 2010) and Kintore (Cook dates are all broadly contemporary and suggest that and Dunbar 2008). These structures are all suggested both phases of the house structure were in use some to be part of unenclosed settlements, of which the crop- time in the Middle Bronze Age. A late Iron Age date mark record in Angus is particularly rich (Dunwell and was obtained from charcoal within the truncated Ralston 2008). The possibility therefore remains that pottery vessel found adjacent to post-hole F121. Given the Hatton structures were also part of an unenclosed that the vessel was in situ, upright and truncated, it settlement site, particularly given the similarity of the is likely that the material from which this date was nearby Auchrennie roundhouses. obtained is intrusive to this context, and the vessel Cook and Dunbar (2008) have produced a tightly itself is Bronze Age. dated sequence of roundhouse architectural types from None of the paired samples, when combined, failed the Middle Bronze Age until the late Iron Age based a chi-squared test, meaning that each pair of dates upon excavations at Kintore in Aberdeenshire. The comes from material that could be the same actual Hatton post-ring fits most readily into Type 4, a post- age or derived from a relatively short period of activity. ring without an entrance. The ring-ditch structure is either a very truncated Type 1b, a ring-ditch within Discussion a post-ring with no definite entrance, or potentially a Type 3, a ring-ditch with no internal or external post- One Middle Bronze Age post-ring built house was holes and with a turf-bank supported roof similar to excavated with what appears to be a later ring-ditch a wigwam (Cook and Dunbar 2008). house superimposed on its eastern side. The presence Type 3 houses do not occur until the middle to late of further roundhouses nearby cannot be ruled out due Iron Age at Kintore (Cook and Dunbar 2008) and there to the limited scope of excavation afforded by the road are also no post-ring houses in the Middle Bronze Age development. The post-ring structure is suggestive of a at Kintore. The presence of two post-ring structures single residence that shows little sign of refurbishment along the A92 route, Hatton and Auchrennie, that and probably represents the remains of a short-lived are Middle Bronze Age, pre-dating the ring-ditch roundhouse occupied for a single generation, as has houses, suggests that certainly this area of Angus has been argued more generally for timber roundhouses a different chronology of roundhouse architecture to by others (eg Barber and Crone 2001). The ring-ditch that from other north-eastern areas, and care should structure probably represents a secondary roundhouse, be taken when extrapolating models from one site to built partly on top of the primary structure footprint, another region (Dunwell and Ralston 2008). suggesting that the ring-ditch house was constructed The creation of ring-ditches is suggested to result with reference to the post-built one, possibly by the from either erosion from particular repeated activities 26 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby in one place, or through deliberate excavation. The The saddle quern within F109 may be an example of latter is suggested to be the case for most of the Middle re-use of this object in another context, possibly to form Bronze Age ring-ditches at Kintore, due to the irregular paving. Recent literature (eg Cook and Dunbar 2008) nature of their bases suggesting repeated excavation has suggested similar re-use of these objects in similar of intercutting pits (Cook and Dunbar 2008). Due contexts and has also pointed to the possibility of such to truncation it is difficult to confirm this at Hatton, deposition being associated with foundation deposits. although F118 does have deeper parts in the eastern end. Other stratigraphically unrelated features are the The function of the ring-ditches is unclear. The two internal pits F113 and F114, and F125. The latter possible disturbed paving within the ring-ditch seg- may be a continuation of F109 given its location. ments suggests that they were intended to be walked Structure A at Auchrennie had a sub-rectangular upon, potentially by animals as well as humans, or feature set off-centre within the roundhouse, of act as surfaces or hard-standing of some kind. Similar unknown function. functions have been postulated for paving within the ring-ditches at Old Meldrum (White and Richardson 2010) and at Kintore (Cook and Dunbar 2008). Other features The subject of ring-ditch function has been With contributions by Sue Anderson, Melanie Johnson rehearsed elsewhere (eg Pope 2003; Harding 2004; and Ann Clarke Cook and Dunbar 2008), and the Hatton remains shed no further light on these debates given the uncertainty Pit F2 of the taphonomy and nature of the deposits and artefactual material within the ring-ditch segments. Adjacent to pit F1, was F2 (Illus 2) a sub-rectangular However the higher grain assemblage recovered from pit measuring 2.2m by 1m by 0.2m in depth. It partially F118 might suggest that the activities postulated by underlay a drystone field wall which ran alongside the Hastie (above) may have been occurring nearer to F118. existing A92, and contained a roughly paved surface Whether the post-ring structure functioned any (2/3–4) overlying an orange-brown sand (2/2) in the differently in relation to the ring-ditch structure is base. The primary fill (2/2) contained ten sherds (104g) uncertain. Change in shape and useable space would from two vessels, both of which comprised body sherds have occurred with the formation of the ring-ditch which were concave, suggesting they were from the segments, which may reflect different uses of floor necks of vessels. Neither vessel was decorated and space within the two buildings. both were abraded. In terms of fabric, they were coarse, The post-ring shows less evidence for domestic sandy and heavily gritted. Their date is uncertain and use, in terms of pottery sherds and crop-processing could come from any period between the late Neolithic equipment and grain. However, the deposition of these and the Iron Age. artefacts and archaeobotanical remains could be related A smoother and a grinding slab were found in F2, to house abandonment rather than house use, and ring- from context 2/2, the orange sand under the roughly ditches by their very nature (and scale by comparison to paved surface. The smoother is a quartz cobble with a post-holes), allow for the preservation of material more naturally flat face which has been worn to a smooth and easily than do post-holes. polished finish. The original worn face of the sandstone The truncated upstanding pot located adjacent to grinding slab has been mostly destroyed by weathering post-hole F121 is suggestive of deliberate deposition of which has caused the natural bedding layers to split off. this vessel, seen in other later prehistoric domestic struc- Traces of this smoothing do survive around the edges. tures. Unusually, the vessel is not within a house feature, A large fragment and two smaller pieces of fired clay, but within a very small pit, suggesting that the cut may one of which was heavily vitrified, came from F2; the have been specifically created to hold the vessel. large fragment contained voids and may have had an The dating of the pot is uncertain, given the un- organic temper such as grass. All pieces were in a fine diagnostic nature of the pot itself, and the late Iron oxidised clay matrix with few inclusions and no voids. Age radiocarbon date from what is assumed to be an Where surfaces survived, these were generally convex. intrusive piece of hazel charcoal. It is assumed that the Similar features have been interpreted as ‘working deposition of the pot relates to the post-ring, given the hollows’ (eg pit M5 at Dryburn Bridge, Dunwell proximity to post-hole F121, but ultimately we cannot 2007). The paving is suggestive of a deliberately laid rule out the possibility that this pot was placed into surface. The fact that it is later than the soil and the subsoil several centuries after both the post-ring artefact deposition suggests that the paving repre- and ring-ditch houses were no longer visible. Given sents a secondary use of the feature, maybe to form a that the vessel is stratigraphically unrelated to any of surface to be worked upon or to act as hard-standing the features, the point at which the vessel was placed for something. F129 associated with the roundhouse in the ground relative to the construction, use and structures is also suggestive of having a later use with abandonment of the post-ring house is uncertain. It the addition of laid stones over the lower fills. would seem likely, however, that the post-ring must It is possible that F2 is Neolithic, but given the have been at least partially standing, given the location pottery, the pit would be, at the earliest, late Neoli- of the vessel. thic. It may have functioned in a similar way to F1, but An early Neolithic pit, a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse and other features at Hatton Farm, Elliot, Angus 27 given the very different artefact and ecofact assembl- While thanks are due to the above, responsibility for ages, this is unlikely. This suggests that the feature the final form and content lies with CFA Archaeology is more likely to be later prehistoric, and possibly Ltd and the authors. associated with the roundhouse structures, than early Neolithic and associated with F1. References Pit F212 Alexander, D 2000 ‘Excavation of Neolithic Pits, later Pit F212 (Illus 1) was an isolated feature, elongated in prehistoric structures and a Roman temporary camp plan, measuring c 1m by 0.2m. The cut (212/2) was along the line of the A96 Kintore and Blackburn steep-sided with a rounded base and was filled with Bypass, Aberdeenshire’, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 130, dark silt 212/3. It contained sherds of ‘flat-rimmed 11–75. ware’ (P12). The pottery suggests this pit dates to Anderson, S and Rees, A R 2006 ‘The excavation of a the mid to late Bronze Age and may thus be con- large double-chambered souterrain at Ardownie Farm temporary with the occupation of the roundhouse Cottages, Monifieth, Angus’,Tayside Fife Archaeol J, structures, however the function of such an isolated 12, 14–60. feature is unclear. Atkinson, J A 2002 ‘Excavation at a Mesolithic and The pit contained six sherds (76g) from four vessels Neolithic occupation site at Chapelfield, Cowie, (P9–12). A very abraded rim sherd with a small internal Stirling’, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 132, 139–92. bevel (P9) was found to be undecorated. P12 (Illus Barber, J and Crone, A 2001 ‘The duration of structures, 10) consisted of a rim sherd and two body sherds settlements and sites: some evidence from Scotland’, comprising a flat-topped rim with a ridge to the in Raftery, B and Hickey, J (eds) Recent Develop- exterior. It had sooting on the interior. Two abrad- ments in Wetland Research, 69–86. Department of ed plain body sherds (P10-11) were also found. The Archaeology, University College Dublin, Monograph fabrics were fairly sandy and heavily gritted. In terms Series, Vol 2 (=WARP Occasional Paper 14). of morphology, these vessels are mid-late Bronze Age Barclay, G J and Russell-White, C J 1993 ‘Excavations ‘flat-rimmed ware’. in the ceremonial complex of the fourth to second millennium BC at Balfarg/Balbirnie, Glenrothes, Fife’, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 123, 43–210. Conclusions Bradley, R 2005 Ritual and Domestic Life in Prehistoric Europe. Routledge, London. The excavations at Hatton Farm have provided further Brophy, K 2006 ‘Rethinking Scotland’s Neolithic: information on early Neolithic and Middle Bronze Age combining circumstance with context’, Proc Soc activity within Angus. The early Neolithic pit forms Antiq Scot, 136, 7–47. part of a wider corpus of Neolithic activity in lowland Cameron, K 2002 ‘The excavation of Neolithic pits and Angus represented by pit digging and infilling (Dunwell Iron Age souterrains at Dubton Farm, Brechin, Angus’, and Ralston 2008). The presence of Carinated Bowl Tayside Fife Archaeol J, 8, 19–76. pottery and flint blades of specific lithic material Cameron, K, Rees, A R, Dunwell, A and Anderson, S adds to the known distribution and number of these 2007 ‘Prehistoric pits, Bronze Age roundhouses, an artefacts and the contexts in which they occur. The Iron Age promontory enclosure, Early Historic cist Middle Bronze Age post-ring and ring-ditch houses aid burials and medieval enclosures along the route of the our understanding of such settlement in Angus, and A92, Dundee to Arbroath’, Tayside Fife Archaeol J, help to clarify the chronology of these structures with 13, 39–73. respect to other regions in the north-east and Scotland Clarke, A 1997 ‘The stone artefacts’, in Rideout, N as a whole. The site in general thus has potential to ‘Excavation of Neolithic enclosures at Cowie Road, contribute to future research in these periods. Bannockburn, Stirlingshire’, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 127, 29–68. Clarke, P A 2007 ‘Flaked lithic assemblage’, in Hanson, Acknowledgements W S Elginhaugh: a Flavian Fort and its Annexe, 537- 65. London (=Britannia Monogr Ser No 23). CFA Archaeology Ltd would like to thank Angus Close-Brooks, J 1983 ‘Some early querns’, Proc Soc Council for their curatorial services, and Morgan Est Antiq Scot, 113, 282–9. and Angus Council for their funding of this project. Cook, M 2007 ‘Early Neolithic ritual activity, Bronze Illustrations were produced by Graeme Carruthers. Age occupation and medieval activity at Pitlethie Earlier drafts of this report were commented upon by Road, Leuchars, Fife’, Tayside Fife Archaeol J, 13, Sue Anderson, Melanie Johnson and Andy Dunwell. 1–24. The site archive will be deposited with the National Cook, M and Dunbar, L 2008 Rituals, Roundhouses Monuments Record of Scotland and the artefacts will and Romans. Excavations at Kintore, Aberdeenshire be allocated through the Scottish Archaeological Finds 2000–2006. Vol 1 Forest Road. Edinburgh (=STAR Allocation Panel. Monogr 8). 28 Helena Gray and Ian Suddaby

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Abstract Keywords Excavations during a watching brief at Hatton Farm, Bronze Age near Elliot, Angus, revealed the remains of an early Neolithic pit Neolithic pit containing large quantities of Carinated post-ring Bowl, lithics and charred oakwood. To the south of this ring-ditch feature lay the remains of a Middle Bronze Age post- ring roundhouse with a later Middle Bronze Age ring- This paper was published with the aid of a grant from ditch structure partially superimposed on top. This Angus Council. contained ‘flat-rimmed ware’, a saddle quern and a truncated pottery vessel adjacent to a post-hole. The watching brief was conducted during topsoil stripping for the A92 upgrade between Dundee and Arbroath.