Three Forts on the Tay: Excavations at Moncreiffe, Moredun and Abernethy, Perth and Kinross 2014–17
By (author) David Strachan By (author) Martin Cook By (author) Dawn McLaren
Hardback (Published)
(December 2023)
ISBN: 9781803276588
8.07 x 11.46 inches
Price: $60.00
In stock
Despite a resurgence in Scottish fort studies, few sites have been investigated, especially at the scale reported in this volume. Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (with AOC Archaeology Group) excavated three hilltop forts on the Tay estuary to explore their enclosing works and internal buildings, uncovering an impressive assemblage o
Despite a resurgence in Scottish fort studies, few sites have been investigated, and fewer still at the scale reported in this volume. Over 2014-17, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, working with AOC Archaeology Group, excavated three hilltop forts on the Tay estuary to explore both their enclosing works and internal buildings, and uncovered an impressive assemblage of small finds. At Moredun fort on Moncreiffe Hill, a previously unknown monumental roundhouse, a rare La Tene bird-head brooch, and evidence of shale bangle industry were uncovered. At Castle Law, Abernethy, excavated in the 1890s and the type-site of Childe’s ‘Abernethy complex’, re-excavation prompted reassessment of the artefacts from original excavations to reveal new evidence of the deposition of artefacts and animal bones within its cistern. Excavation of the enclosing works of these sites, and Moncreiffe fort, suggest an evolution of fort defences from simple earth and stone ramparts to massive timber-laced walls – the murus Gallicus described by Caesar – reflecting high status sites with restricted access for a social elite. Hillforts of The Tay was part of the Tay Landscape Partnership Scheme, a community heritage initiative and the results of this citizen science project make a significant contribution to establishing Tayside as a well-studied area for the site type both within Scotland, and further afield.
1. Introduction
2. Moncreiffe fort
3. Moredun fort: survey and excavation results
4. Moredun fort: the small finds
5. Moredun: environmental evidence
6. Castle Law, Abernethy
7: Discussion and conclusions
References
Appendix A: Archaeological sites in the area
Appendix B: Moncreiffe small finds catalogue
Appendix C: Moredun small finds catalogue
Index
David Strachan has worked in curatorial field archaeology in Wales, England and Scotland for over 30 years, at both national and local level. As ‘county archaeologist’ with Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust over the last 20 of these, he has led several research projects, often delivered through community archaeology. They range from the recovery of the Late Bronze Age logboat from Carpow on the Tay estuary to the excavation of early medieval longhouses in the uplands of Glen Shee.
Martin Cook is Head of Fieldwork at AOC Archaeology Group and has worked in commercial archaeology since 1999, having managed over 500 fieldwork projects, including over 35 excavations ranging from the prehistoric of Kilmartin Glen to modern industrial structures at the Commonwealth Games site, Glasgow. Martin has worked closely with Historic Environment Scotland on major infrastructure projects, and with the City of Edinburgh Council at the Tron Kirk and Cramond Roman Fort.
Dawn McLaren is Associate Director of Post-Excavation and Head of Artefact Studies at AOC Archaeology Group and has published widely on prehistoric Scotland, with a particular focus on Bronze Age and Iron Age material culture. Her specialisms include the analysis of coarse stone tools, rotary querns, and early ironworking across Britain, and her recent work includes analysis of artefacts from Clachtoll broch, Assynt, and the important assemblage of Neolithic Grooved Ware pottery from Newmills, Perth and Kinross.
- By (author) David Strachan
- By (author) Martin Cook
- By (author) Dawn McLaren
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