| Details |
A programme of archaeological works comprising evaluation, watching brief and excavation was carried out by AOC between January and November 2007 in advance of proposed retail development on a site fronting the medieval thoroughfares of Upper Kirkgate and Gallowgate. The evaluation identified survival of archaeological deposits in the north and east part of the development area, with evidence for settlement and economy of the area from the 12th century to the present day. IFull excavation was carried out in areas where archaeological deposits had survived later disturbance. Medieval phases of activity were marked by the build-up of occupation deposits and pits, which were commonly waterlogged and which contained a significant quantity of organic material including leather and wooden artefacts. Pottery from these phases has been tentatively dated to the 13th to 15th centuries. The presence of worked leather in many of the pits suggests that processes such as tanning may have been undertaken on the site. Linear features included drainage features and the base of stake and wattle fence lines parallel to the Gallowgate. Two large barrel-lined wells were recorded, one topped by a circular stone structure. Probable hearths with associated stone structures were also identified. The structural remains included clay-bonded stone walls representing the remains of boundaries, and perhaps buildings and several stone-filled soakaways. Evidence for late medieval and post-medieval activity included the remains of rubble walls which served as boundaries, and a large deposit of iron slag indicating iron production in the vicinity. Brick and rubble-built cellar structures of 19th - 20th century date were of buildings that fronted Gallowgate and lay behind Upper Kirkgate. The excavation produced a large quantity of artefacts (mainly from the earliest phases of the site) and attesting to a plethora of craft activities. There were nearly 2,000 pieces of wood including structural timbers (most not in situ) and two barrel-lined wells, and artefacts included over 20,000 sherds of pottery, over 1000 metal objects, and over 12,000 pieces of leather material. The majority of the leather pieces were offcuts and scraps, but including almost 1,000 shoe components. The wooden artefacts reflect both domestic and industrial activities, including platters, bowls and knife handles but also some higher status items such as a boxwood handle and maple bowl. One of the wooden barrels came from northern France or Belgium.. Fragments of small crucibles points to metalworking. Roughly 20,000 animal bone fragments were recovered, mainly from 12th-13th century context, probably largely resulting from preparation of hides and other processes. The mainly 12th-13th century assemblage of fish bones comprised over 4,000 fragments of which species could be identified these predominantly cod, but also haccok and saithe were recovered, some possibly imported to the site as a preserved product. A small quantity of glass, comprised both fragments of vessels (one possibly of mid 16th century date) and window glass, a few of which are late medieval in date. A total of 20 different textiles were recovered, most from 13th-14th century and of wool. During the 13th and 13th centuries the area was more industrial than domestic in nature, including tanning. Evidence for diet from the backfilled pits indicates flax, vegetables (turnip, cabbage, leek, onion and parsnip), fruits such as fig, grape, cherry, apple and berries, and nuts( hazelnut and walnut). Macroplant material shows that dyeing was carried out in the area. The ceramics include both local and more wares from England. A watching brief carried out by AOC in 2008 on groundworks associated by the retail development identified additional medieval features, including a square medieval timber-lined well. Artefacts recovered from the well included large quantities of worked timber. Bases of medieval pits and late post-medieval walls were also recorded.
|
Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ90NW1167 - BON ACCORD CENTRE, GALLOWGATE, ABERDEEN