Angus HER - NO25SE0002 - DURWARD'S DIKE

Main Details

Primary Reference	NO25SE0002
Name	DURWARD'S DIKE
NRHE Card No.	NO25SE2
NRHE Numlink	31057
HES SM No.	NULL
HES LB No.	NULL
Site Form	Earthwork
Site Condition	Incomplete
Details	The remains of a Deer Park built in the 13th century for Sir Allan the Durward surviving to the south and west of Lintrathen Loch. There is an extensive enclosure on the west side of the Loch of Linthrathen, with vestiges of wall remaining between the Knock of Formal and the loch. It is comparable in situation and construction with the Buzzart Dykes which enclosed a (possibly late) medieval deer park. The Dyke enclosing the park survives in areas as a turf-covered earth and stone bank with a ditch. Elsewhere its course is visible on aerial photographs taken by the RAF. At NO 2684 5406 is a stone with the inscription 'Durward's Dike' BA 1881. Parts of the dyke are visible in the forest on the south side of the loch. In places the bank is unusually high (up to 1.2m).This section is not known locally as 'Durward's Dike'. A single trench was excavated in 2010 across the upstanding bank and ditch close to the northwest corner of the park on Knock of Formal. Possible evidence for a former palisade line was found on the top of the bank.
Last Update	22/09/2020
Updated By	cpalmer

Compiler
Date of Compilation

Google Map for NO25SE0002

National Grid Reference: NO 2651 5450

Event Details

Event Date	Event Type	OASIS ID
2010	Evaluation

Excavations and Surveys

Date M	Date Y	Type	Duration	Director / Organisation	Auspices	Fund	Extent
10	1970		1	RD	OS	OS
6	1976		1	NKB	OS	OS
5	2010	Excavation		D Hall		UOS

Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples	Samples for palaeoenvironmental analysis and radiocarbon dating taken from peat rich old ground surface under the bank, in 2010 excavation.
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1	Monument Type 2	Monument Type 3	Order	Probability
DYKES		DEER	D	95
DEER-PARKS		REMAINS OF	B	100
DYKES		REMAINS OF	A	95
INSCRIPTIONS	STONE		C	100