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Cropmarks of a tri-vallate fort overlain by cropmarks of rig and furrow, discovered by the RCAHMS in 1976 during aerial reconnaissance. The site is on the north side of a low hill immediately northwest of Mains of Edzell steading and a site visit by the RCAHMS in 1989 found no above ground evidence for the cropmark sites. Initially interpreted as an enclosure, the fort has been subject to continued reconnaissance which has recorded that it measures about 40 m from northwest-southeast, within the inner ditch. What may be an original gap in the middle and outer ditches is visible on both the north and southeast, the gap in the middle ditch being 5-6 m wide. The width of the ditches varies considerably probably due to the differential processes of plough damage. The exterior of the fort measures 90 m by at least 45 m over the two outer ditches set 10 m apart. There are no indications of features within the fort, nor that it continued into the wooded area to the immediate south-west of the cropmarks. In September 1998, an archaeological excavation was undertaken as part of Edinburgh University's Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School. The objectives were to examine the effects of agricultural attrition, rabbit erosion, tree root action and quarry erosion of the site. Excavation confirmed the presence of the features noted as cropmarks to the south within the wooded area and uncovered a number of features inside the enclosure. The three ditches were shown not to run concentrically, nor did they symmetrically encircle the hilltop. The inner ditch displayed an entrance on the east side with several related structural components. The middle was the largest of the three ditches and significant deposits of burnt material were found in all sections of this ditch, which allowed for radiocarbon dating to be undertaken. It seems likely that the three ditches were not contemporaneous. Internal features included clay and stone-lined pits, a palisade slot, pits and post-holes. The ground level on the arable side of the hill was approximately 1 m lower than its equivalent on the woodland side, probably as a result of horizontal truncation from ploughing. It was thought that the greater accumulations of hilltop deposits within the wooded area would provide a better preservation environment for underlying features. However, initial comparative analysis of the erosion patterns resulting from the different land-uses on the hilltop suggests that better preservation occurs on the farmed side of the hill. This is probably a result of tree root penetration and rabbit burrowing.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Angus
HER -
NO56NE0026 - MAINS OF EDZELL