Aberdeenshire HER - NJ52SW0008 - CAIRN MORE

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ52SW0008
NameCAIRN MORE
NMRS Card No.NJ52SW9
NMRS Numlink17723
Site Form Earthwork
Site Condition Incomplete
Details A small circular fort on a slight spur on the northern- western edge of the ridge running west from Bennachie towards Rhynie. It comprises a double-banked sub-oval enclosure measuring at its maximum 64m by 48m. There is an additional external bank and ditch located solely at its south-facing entrance. The inner rampart measures 1.6m wide and 0.4m high, the middle rampart 4.5m wide and 0.3m high and the outer 1.3m wide and 0.2m high. The outer ditch is 0.5m wide and 0.22m deep. The interior is featureless though heavily overgrown with gorse and whin. Part of a bank and ditch can be seen around the slope on the north side. ONB describes it as a large rough cairn. On an aerial photograph, taken in 1978 pre-afforestation, a spread of stones can be see on the nortwest facing slope. Small scale excavation was carried out by M Cook in 2010. Charcoal from a destruction layer above the middle rampart has given a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 500-630, whilst charcoal from the foundation cut of the outer rampart was dated to AD 410 - 550. Two brooch moulds and a pin mould of likely early medieval date were recovered from this cut. The enclosure was probably constructed and destroyed between AD 410 and AD 630. A trial trenching evaluation was carried out by University of Aberdeen in September - October 2018 to further elucidate the for, character and chronology of the fort. Seven trenches were excavated, three targeted at the inner rampart, exposing the core, a possible wall face and a charcoal spread. . Trench 5, over the inner rampart and possible entrance, uncovered part of the rampart surviving to 3m wide with a tumble of stones extending to the east on the downslope side. A shallow pit or ditch terminal was also uncovered. Trench 6, over the outer rampart, revealed an extensive spread of stones but the core of the rampart could not be clearly identified and there was no definite wall facing. Outside the rampart wall was a shallow pit or truncated post-hole. Slag and a possible gaming piece were recovered from the rampart core. Trench 7 in the interior of the fort recorded the remains of a structure, including a stone-built hearth and stone post-pad as well as an extensive spread of large stones. It was not clear whether this spread was associated with the structure. A large spread of small stones recorded in various sondages may be a possible occupational surface. A flint blade and gaming piece were recovered from Trench 7. Trench 4 did not reveal any archaeological features.
Last Update03/04/2024

National Grid Reference: NJ 5036 2493


Easting: 365920, Northing: 819500

Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Event Details

Event DateEvent Type
1905 Excavation
1905 Evaluation

Excavations and Surveys

Date MDate YTypeDurationDirector / OrganisationAuspicesFundExtent
92010 Excavation 14Murray CookresHS2
92018 Excavation  UoAUoA  

Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
 2018FLINT BLADEUoA Excavation  
 2018GAMING PIECEUoA Excavation  
 2010BROOCH MOULDSM Cook Excavation Unknown Unknown  
 2010PIN MOULDM Cook Excavation Unknown Unknown  

Ecofact

Samples 
Palynology 
Ecofact Notes 

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
RAMPARTS  B100
SLAG  C100
GAMING-PIECES  D100
BLADESFLINT E100
PITS  F100
POST-HOLES  G80
HEARTHS  H100
STRUCTURES  I100
FORTSHILLREMAINS OFA100

Google Map for NJ52SW0008


National Status

National Status

Regional Status

Regional Status
Site of Regional Significance

Photo Details

SourceReferencePhoto TypeFilm TypeDate
AASAAS/00/05/CT90-3 Air-oblique Colour Transparency 17/02/2000
AASGR2925-9 Ground Digital 22/09/2010
AASGR2852-64 Ground Digital 03/10/2010
AASAAS/78/09/R8/11 Air-oblique Black & White 22/08/1978
AASAAS/78/9/CT31 Air-oblique Colour Transparency 22/08/1978

Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
11468DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 11, 2010 2011   p.14 2011
16423OPEN OR ENCLOSED: SETTLEMENT PATTERNS AND HILLFORT CONSTRUCTION IN STRATHDON, 1800BC - AD1000 IN PPS 79, PP327-352M COOK2013   PPS, 79, 327-352 2013
11131NEW EVIDENCE FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF PICTISH POTENTATES IN ABERDEENSHIRE: THE HILLFORTS OF STRATHDON. M COOK2012  PSAS 141 (2011), 207-229PSAS, 141, 207-229 2012
01656Ordnance Name Book    EDINBURGHNo14(1866) 95  
00601PREHISTORIC SCOTLANDRW FEACHEM1963  LONDON105  
16156DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 19, 2018 2019   p.9 2019
20386A LAD O'PAIRTS: A DAY CONFERENCE IN MEMORY OF IAIN SHEPHERD 2010 Y pp62-65 2010

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Auchindoir and Kearn
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 15-20m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale Unknown
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Unknown Extent

Environment

Constraints Privately owned, access by arrangement - difficult access.
Altitude320
Geology 
Topography Spur
Aspect 1N
Aspect 2 Open
Current Land Use Rough Grazing
Vegetation
Soil Type 
Hydrology 

Measurements

Plan 
Shape 1 Oval
Shape 2 Open
Diameter 
Length51.81
Width45.72
Thickness 
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Early Medieval (400 - 900 AD) B100415 AD - 623 AD   
Prehistoric period uncertain A100    
Iron Age (800 BC - 400 AD) A100415 AD - 623 AD   

Period Notes

Period Notes Radiocarbon dates: SUERC-32839 (GU-23037) from Alnus charcoal - 1510 +/- 30 BP (which equals 435 AD - 623 AD at 2 sigma); SUERC-32840 (GU-23038) from Corylus charcoal - 1580 +/- 30 BP (which equals 415 AD - 547 AD at 2 sigma).

Architect Details

Architect Details

Maritime Archaeology

empty