Aberdeenshire HER - NO79NW0014 - BALBRIDIE

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO79NW0014
NameBALBRIDIE
NRHE Card No.NO79NW16
NRHE Numlink 36669
HES SM No. 4084
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Crop Mark (Includes Soil Mark)
Site Condition AP visible Only
Details Timber hall, first identified during the dry summer of 1976 when an aerial photograph was taken of a cropmark of a timber hall. Initially it was thought to be a Dark Age or Medieval building but excavation proved it to a Neolithic structure of considerable size. The wall posts had been set into a continuous foundation trench while the ends of the hall had been angled outwards on a slight v-shape. Some of the large internal posts had been of squared oak. Pottery sherds of Unstan Ware, some flints and burnt grain were found inside. The hall was subdivided by two internal divisions and two types of screens stood in front of the entrances at the east and west ends. The hall measured 24.5 m in length and 13 m wide, rising 8.5 m to a roof ridge. It appears to have been a substantial house/barn for an extended family of farmers. The hall came to an end when it burnt down. Fully excavated over summer seasons between 1977-1981.
Last Update02/11/2022
Updated Byjnicholson
CompilerIAGS
Date of Compilation01/01/1977

Google Map for NO79NW0014

National Grid Reference: NO 7329 9593



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
1981 Excavation
1980 Excavation
1979 Excavation
1978 Excavation
1977 Excavation

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
01980 UNSTAN-WARE POT Excavation  
 1980 FLINTS Excavation  
   POTTERY SHERDS Excavation  

Ecofact

Samples C14 samples and wet-seiving samples from excavation.; grain and charcoal fragments.
Palynology Palaeoenvironmetal samples taken on excavation. Pieces of turf.
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
HALLSTIMBERSITE OFA100
TRENCHESFOUNDATION B100
PITSPOST C100
PARTITIONS  D100
TIMBERSSQUAREREMAINS OFE100
POTTERY UNSTAN-WAREF100
FLINTS WORKEDG100
GRAIN WHEATH100
GRAIN BARLEYI100
GRAIN BURNTJ100