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Remains of settlement site recorded during excavations in 1994 - 1996. The remains of possible defensive ditches were uncovered near the site where the Deskford carnyx (NJ56SW0012) was found. Stake holes from a possible fence line were also noted. A disturbed cremation pit and a possible sherd of a cinerary urn were found during fieldwalking area prior to excavation. An area with remains of cooking activities was found along with some pottery sherds and cracked stones. Also found were the remains of several small pits within layers of charcoal which also covered over a partly-disturbed cremation in a shallow scoop. The cremation was that of an adult female and was accompanied by a perforated bone mount. Two possible ard-marks were also noted in one of the trenches. A third season of excavations at the carnyx findspot continued with the excavation of a sizeable area within the bog around the findspot, and a large area of the ridge beside the bog. A trench 7m wide across the bog was opened, and the peat deposit examined. Over much of the area there were stony spreads at the base of the peat, crude in places and well laid in others. These are interpreted as rough cobbling. Among this cobbling some worked wood (in one area) and pottery (in another) was recovered. The wood comprises three chopped pieces and a plank with notches cut into it: a number of other fragments bear possible working traces. The pottery is very similar to that recovered in the immediate area in 1994, and probably comes from the same vessel. At the west of the area a pit dug through the pit into the gravel contained disarticulated animal bones, not yet identified. Stratification within the peat is imprecise, and is confused by subsequent peat loss through desiccation. The current interpretation is that pits were excavated in the bog, bottomed with stone and wood offcuts, and used for ceremonies. The animal bone suggests some form of offering or sacrifice and along with the worked wood, offers dating samples for this activity. Area T, some 40 x 15 m, was excavated to join 1995 area NX with 1994 area M. This revealed a wealth of features, often complex, tailing off to the north and east. Extensive trial trenching (areas V-Z) indicated this was the focus of activity on the ridge. The nature of this activity is enigmatic, comprising large pits and post-holes (two of which were 1.7 m and 2.15 m deep), and a linear ditch, all deliberately backfilled. The ditch is interpreted as a storage ditch similar to a souterrain, and most of the pits were storage pits. The post holes do not as yet conform to any structural pattern, and are in any case so large it is hard to see them belonging to a domestic structure. There was a lack of artefacts on the ridge, with only a few sherds of Iron age pottery and some stone tools. Combined with the lack of rubbish (or even significant charcoal) in the fills and the absence of any visible domestic structure, the site is tentatively interpreted as non-domestic, fulfilling a role as a storage centre, and perhaps also acting as a central ceremonial and ritual site. At the north end of the trench, more artefacts from the disturbed Middle Bronze Age cremation found in 1994 were recovered, including another fragmentary bone mount. Some of the linear charcoal rich scoops in this area may also be linked to Middle Bronze Age activity, as some form of ring-ditch, but this awaits confirmation by radiocarbon dating. A watching brief was carried out in 2001 when a pipeline was laid approximately 10 m south of the settlement site. No archaeological features or artefacts were recovered. The trench continued and approximately 55 m southwest of the Carnyx findspot a short section of peaty bog material was encountered. This may represent an extension of the bog encountered in the 1994/5 excavations (Murray, J.C. 2001).
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Moray
HER -
NJ56SW0027 - LEITCHESTOWN, DESKFORD