Moray HER - NJ16NW0002 - BURGHEAD WELL

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ16NW0002
NameBURGHEAD WELL
NRHE Card No.NJ16NW2
NRHE Numlink 16157
HES SM No. 90044
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 1
Details Well, comprising a subterranean rectangular chamber cut out of rock which lies within the Pictish fort at Burghead (NJ16NW0001). The floor is bordered by a ledge with rounded corners. A flight of steps lead down to chamber. The well is fed by a spring. On diagonally opposite corners are a semi-circular pedestal and a sunken basin. The well was reconstructed in the early 19th Century. The original is date uncertain but possibly early Christian. Class I and III symbol stones were found when the well was cleaned out, along with a possible Celtic stone face, and possibly one incised with a bull (see also NJ16NW0005). The bull stone ECMS 1 (Allen and Anderson's numbering for the Burghead stones) was said to have come from the well: Rhind (1839) notes a slab with a bull rudely carved on it found when the well was cleared out. Other sources state that ECMS 1 was found at the fort ramparts. A Celtic head is recorded as ECMS 15: it may be the head (reported to have been from the well), which was brought into Inverness Museum for identification in the early 1990s. An archaeological watching brief was carried out by Kirkdale Archaeology in January 2007 during excavation of a small trench near the well to allow access to the south external wall of a nearby 19th century building for repointing work. No finds or features of archaeological significance were recorded.
Last Update04/05/2023
Updated Bycpalmer
Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Google Map for NJ16NW0002

National Grid Reference: NJ 1102 6915



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
2007 Watching-Brief kirkdale1-249645

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
01809 BULL SYMBOL STONE Stray Find Personal Possession  
01809 BELL METAL JUG Stray Find Burghead  
01809 SPANISH COINS Stray Find Burghead  
01809 CLASS III STONE Stray Find Burghead  

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
STONES PICTISH IJ100
STONES PICTISH IIIK100
WELLS  A100
PEDESTALSSEMI-CIRCULAR B100
BASINSSUNKEN C100
STONES PICTISHD100
SYMBOLS BULLE100
JUGSMETAL F100
COINS SPANISHG100
STONES PICTISHH100
SYMBOLSKNOTWORK I100