Moray HER - NJ16SE0009 - QUARRY WOOD

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ16SE0009
NameQUARRY WOOD
NRHE Card No.NJ16SE4
NRHE Numlink 16231
HES SM No. 3923
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Earthwork
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Known locally as the 'Danish Camp' this site has been traditionally interpreted as a henge, though it is more likely, given its location on a local hill summit, to be an Iron Age settlement enclosure. Further work will be needed to clarify this. The site consists of a near level area surrounded by a segmented ditch cut into the excavated earth and stones forming a bank of similar proportions on its outer lip. The entrance in the west is well-defined by a 4 m wide causeway across the ditch corresponding to a 3 m break in the bank. For about 11 m south of the entrance the ditch has been cut through a stony area and there is a gap of about 2 m where it has presumably been too difficult to dig and has been left uncompleted. In this section are two boulders, one seeming to revet the inner edge of the bank, but probably naturally placed. Around the north arc of the ditch are three similar breaks. There may be others, less well-defined especially in the southeast, but vegetation prevents an accurate assessment. In the south southwest arc of interior are 2 rough boulders (A and B), on edge, which may be the remnant of a circle of stones: (A) is 1 m high x 1.3 m long x 1 m wide while (B) is 0.9 m high and 1.2 m x 0.9 m. Immediately inside the south side of entrance, the top of another stone (C) protrudes through the soil, but this may be naturally placed. Around 4 m to the south of it is a hollow, about 3 m in diameter by 0.7 m deep, containing 2 boulders. This appears to be a quarry hole dug in an attempt to remove these boulders, of which one would have originally protruded through the soil in a similar fashion to (C). Much smaller, loose stones appear in parts of the interior, but deep heather makes it uncertain whether these are naturally or artificially placed. This could be viewed as an aberrant henge rather than a settlement enclosure. A contour survey of the site was undertaken in 1997 by Headland Archaeology to assist in the management and interpretation of the site. Geophysical survey and trial trenching were carried out in October - November 2011 by Rathmell Archaeology to assess the extent of damage to the site from visitor erosion and previous use of the ground for forestry. The survey identified a circular arrangement of features which may represent post or stone settings covering an area circa 20 m in diameter, a possible penannular feature, and three linear features which may represent marks left by forestry ploughing. Other anomalies may reflect further activity within the enclosure such as burials, burning or occupation areas. Targeted hand excavation demonstrated the construction of the enclosure bank (possibly to have been in two stages) and the level of disturbance from the presence of trees and understorey vegetation, as well as from foot traffic. The trench excavated in the centre of the site revealed no archaeological features. Several pieces of flint debitage were recovered from under the northern bank of the enclosure.
Last Update18/08/2022
Updated Bycpalmer
Compiler 
Date of Compilation10/10/1987

Google Map for NJ16SE0009

National Grid Reference: NJ 1857 6305



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
2009 Estate Management Survey
2011 Geophysical Survey rathmell1-111520
2011 Evaluation rathmell1-111520
1997 Survey

Excavations and Surveys

Date MDate YTypeDurationDirector / OrganisationAuspicesFundExtent
 1997  M DallandHDLHS 
 2011 Survey  RATFCSFCS 

Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
ENCLOSURESSETTLEMENT D80
HENGES CLASS IA50
BANKSEARTH B100
DITCHES PENANNULARC100