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Prehistoric (Neolithic) and medieval/post-medieval features recorded during evaluation and excavation by Headland Archaeology (NO43SE0117) in 2021 ahead of onshore transmission works. This identified prehistoric activity concentrated in the north-western part of the site, and medieval activity mainly at the south end.
The prehistoric evidence comprised five concentrations (Groups 1-5, and possible Neolithic hall) of post-holes and curvilinear ditches with associated pits and occupation layers as well as a single potential enclosure ditch. Group 1, of seven post-holes and associated occupation layers, was interpreted as a small wind-break structure, the layers yielding a mix of lithics (including an end scraper), prehistoric pottery. Radiocarbon dating gave a date of 3911-3652 BC. Group 2 comprised two sections of curvilinear ditch which contained some prehistoric pottery: it is possible they formed semi-circular enclosures or ring ditches but they are heavily truncated and it is not certain that they represent structures. Group 3 comprised nine post-holes and two pits, eight of the post-holes arranged in a rough oval measuring 5 m by 8.5 . Group 4, a cluster three post-holes, all containing prehistoric pottery, one with three sherds that could be dated to the Neolithic period. Group 5 comprised three post-holes with no diagnostic material but thought to be prehistoric give their location and similarity with other prehistoric features. A further concentration of 21 post-holes, two pits and two short sections of ditch, formed the southwestern half of a probable large rectangular structure, interpreted as a possible Neolithic timber hall. Radiocarbon dating of a nutshell from one of the pits gave a date if 3779-3647 BC. Medieval and post-medieval activity, in the southern half of the site, comprised a series of ditches of varying complexity (generally aligned southwest to northeast), a number of pits spread across the area, four stone spreads of varying complexity, an area of surviving old ground surface associated with one of the stone spreads, a section of fenceline, furrows (across the site as a whole), and evidence of extensive quarrying at the very south-eastern limit of the excavation area. At least one of the ditches was constructed as a palisade. The stone spreads could be evidence of structures within the enclosed space. The ditches are likely medieval in date, the other features more likely to be post-medieval. Finds from the excavation included pottery (the majority prehistoric, mainly undiagnostic body sherds, though two are probable early to middle Neolithic vessels) with some medieval pottery of 12th – 16th century date, 14 objects of metal (mainly unstratified and undiagnostic), 50 lithics (technologically undiagnostic), and a spindle whorl. Environmental sampling yielded large concentrations of cereal grains from two features both thought to date from the Neolithic, with a scatter from across the area. The main cereal crops were hulled barley, naked barley and wheat.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Angus
HER -
NO53SW0156 - BALHUNGIE