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Interim Report Julian Thomas with the assistance of Chris Fowler and Matt Leivers |
Trench A looking southwards
Introduction The complex of cropmark features at Dunragit, Wigtownshire (NX 14805735), was first identified from the air by Marilyn Brown of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monument of Scotland in 1992. A second series of photographs of the complex was taken in 1995, and together these images provide evidence of a remarkable group of prehistoric structures, bisected by the modern railway line. The principal element of the complex is a large enclosure, composed of three concentric settings of posts or pits, intersected by a double avenue of features which appears to represent an entrance structure of some kind (Figure 1). Close parallels for this enclosure are to be found in a group of later Neolithic palisaded enclosures, which include Forteviot and Meldon Bridge in Scotland (Gibson 1998; Burgess 1976), and sites such as West Kennet, Mount Pleasant, Walton and Hindwell elsewhere in Britain (Whittle 1997; Wainwright 1979; Gibson 1998; 1999). The inner two concentric rings of possible posts at Dunragit are well matched at West Kennet, while the distinctive entrance structure is paralleled at both Meldon Bridge and Forteviot. With the exception of Meldon Bridge, all of these large palisaded enclosures are associated with groups of lesser features, including pit and post circles and ring-ditches, as appears to be the case at Dunragit. Unfortunately, of the Scottish sites of this type it has only been Meldon Bridge which has undergone extensive excavation. Intriguingly, at Dunragit the entrance avenue aligns upon the supposed motte at Droughduil, immediately to the south of the cropmarks (Figure 2). In addition to the main enclosure, a series of post- or pit-rings, ring ditches, hengiform enclosures, and alignments of pits or posts can be identified on the aerial photographs. The immediate area is of particular archaeological interest, as the dune system of Luce Sands (to the south) has provided considerable evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age occupation over the past century (McInnes 1964; Cowie 1996). Most of the 'palisade enclosures' in southern Britain are of post-in-trench construction, with contiguous timbers forming an unbroken palisade. Meldon Bridge breaks from this pattern, having large postholes spaced at intervals, between which were pairs of smaller post settings. These, it has been argued, may have held horizontal timbers in place, forming a kind of post-and-panel palisade structure (Burgess 1976). One immediate consideration for any investigation would be to verify whether this mode of construction was more widespread in Scotland, since the large postholes which register in the aerial photographs of the site are again distantly-spaced. Excavations at Dunragit in 1999 were conceived as the first phase of a multi-season project, which will investigate aspects of the prehistoric structures in their broader context. Two of the trenches proposed in the original research design were opened: Trench A immediately north of the railway line, where the two inner palisades and another arc of pits or posts meet, and Trench C, over a supposed ring ditch. index Excavation procedure The subsoil on the site was made up of a series of glacial outwash gravels. In section these were clearly sorted, but in plan they appeared as a complex mass of patches of more or less coarse sand and gravel, dissected by frost wedges. The ploughsoil was largely composed of a well sorted 'A' horizon, which suggested that the gravel surface was severely truncated. For the most part, then, the archaeology of the site consisted of the lower fills of features cut into an unforgiving subsoil. The most effectively way of identifying features was found to be a sequence of shovel-scraping, repeated trowellings, and finally brushing with soft brushes, following the removal of the topsoil by an earth-moving machine. Those features which contained silty upper fills were the easiest to identify: in other cases it was the arrangement of small stones within the gravel which provided the best clue to the presence of a posthole. Given a series of discrete features whose interconnections were mostly only a merging of weathering cones, stratigraphic relations between different structures were difficult to identify. The features are described below, grouped into the structures to which they have been provisionally assigned. A single context recording system was employed (although site diaries were kept in addition, and multiple-context plans were made), and features are identified by their cut numbers. Where a complex sequence of features intersect, the whole is identified by the earliest cut in the series (in stratigraphic terms). Separate pre- and post-excavation plans were drawn of the site, and all finds were individually logged using EDM. Bulk samples were taken for flotation, and monoliths removed from deep features for soil micromorphology and soil pollen analysis. index Trench A In the field north of the railway line, the features visible from the air are more restricted, as a result of differences in cropping regime. While the fields to the south of the railway are cultivated intensively for barley, the northern area is presently kept under grass, used for silage and pasture (although crops of turnips have been grown in the recent past). The two inner circuits of the palisade enclosure are not visible at all in the northern field, and Trench A was laid out on the basis of their presumed extension from the south. At the same time, the trench was placed immediately to the south of an arc of features of smaller diameter than the palisade circuits, also visible on the aerial photographs. 
Site plan of Trench A On excavation, Trench A revealed a series of features which was considerably more complex than anticipated. Both of the sets of palisade posts were present, but a third ring of postholes also cut across the site, parallel with these two. It is proposed that this is a consequence of the replacement of the palisade structure on at least one occasion. Some of the smaller postholes may be in some way related to these very large structures. In addition, a series of arcs of postholes cut across the north-west corner of the trench. These were of various diameters, but as they did not share a common centre it is not imagined that they constitute parts of a single structure. In all possibility, they represent a series of structures built on the same site over a period of time. Finally, in the central southern part of the site a series of small, stone-packed postholes seem to represent a small timber circle, possibly with an inner concentric ring. index The Inner Palisade Ring This group of features is composed of an arc of very large postholes, some of them with the vestiges of post-ramps. Where it was possible to make any judgement concerning the history of these features it appeared that the posts may have rotted in situ, rather than having been withdrawn. There was no obvious trace of smaller posts interspersed between these uprights, so it is hard to argue that they were connected by horizontals to form a true palisade. It may be that this was a ring of free-standing posts, but whether this was contemporary with the other rings, or replaced them, is presently unclear. 063: Cut of a large round posthole with slightly sloping sides and flat base 063, with primary fill of friable sandy gravel 244 (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). 244 contained a large piece of carbonised wood, that appeared flat in section. Set within 244 was a post-pipe of loose sandy material 058 (7.5 YR 3/2 dark brown). Above this was a silting, 022, composed of friable sandy clay (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). 084: Oval cut of a large palisade post with rounded base 084, almost vertical on three sides but more gradual on the west, which may have been the remains of a ramp. The primary packing was loose sandy gravel 080 (7.5 YR 4/3 brown). Above this was 085, a firm loamy sand (7.5 YR 3/4 dark brown) In the western part of the cut the earliest fill was a run of loose sandy gravel 086 (7.5 YR 3/4 dark brown). 082 (above 086) was a firm loamy sand, which had probably been thrown in as part of the packing (5 YR 3/4 dark reddish brown). Above this in turn was 081, a loose sand (7.5 YR 4/4 brown). Above 081 was 079, tenacious loamy sand (7.5 YR dark brown) (equivalent to 085). All of these layers are judged to have been elements of the post packing. In the centre of the feature was a clear post-pipe 078, composed of loose sandy gravel (7.5 YR 4/4 brown). This material had presumably run into the post void as it had rotted out. Above the post-pipe was 077, a layer of firm silty loam (7.5 YR 4/3 brown), which was probably a silting into the stabilised post void. Finally, 003 above this was a friable sandy clay loam (7.5 YR 3.3 dark brown). 087: A steep-sided oval posthole cut with flat base 087, containing a primary packing of friable loamy sand and gravel 094 (7.5 YR 4/6 strong brown). 089, a friable silty sandy gravel (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown) was probably the equivalent of this material. 088, above 089, was a lens of firm clay loam (10 YR 4/3 brown). Between 094 and 089 was a steeply-pitched postpipe, made up of 037, friable silty sand (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). Two lenses of silty brown sand, 218 and 220 lay above 037, while 014 was a silting into the top of the post void, made up of firm loamy sand (5 YR 2.5/2 dark reddish brown). 319/332: This complex series of intercutting features began with two large cuts, 332/413 and 246/319. Both of these can be identified as postholes of the palisade enclosure. The precise stratigraphic relationship between the two cuts was unclear, and the sequence could not be identified. The southernmost cut (413/332) had a primary fill of loose sand with a very high gravel content (336). This was sealed by 254, a layer of weathering/silting. In the more northerly cut (319/246) the primary fill was a gravel in loamy sand (406), which seems to have been generated by the weathering of the sides of the feature. Immediately above this was 328/367, a run of loose gravel, and above this was a layer of slumped material, 405, which contained 315, a possible decayed turf. This was sealed by 376/411, a friable loamy sand, a further layer of collapse. All of the above were truncated by a wide shallow cut (098/327/331/357/412). The principal fill of this cut was 097/333, a friable sand/silt/loam with limited gravel content, which appeared to have contained a small post. A very shallow layer of fine gravel (346) lay over this fill in the central portion of the cut. Sealing this in turn was a thick layer of friable sand/silt/loam with about 20% gravel (314/318/334/410). At the northern end, this was capped with 096/313. Three features cut into these fills, none of which are stratigraphically related to each other. Cut 355 was broad and shallow, at the southern end of the complex, and was filled with the collapsed packing 335, above which was a gravel weathering layer 347. 235 was a postpipe descending through these fills. Cut 352 was a much smaller posthole, with a single fill, 353. Cut 415 was similar to 355, being b road and shallow. Its fills, 409, 408 and 407 wee successive layers of packing, while 37/234 was the fill of a postpipe. Another small feature cut into the top of the complex was cut 460, which was small and shallow, and filled with layer 461, which held a small fragment of glass. The feature is presumably a modern intrusion. 449: Cut of a large semicircular posthole with gradually sloping sides and a flat base 449. The lowest fill was packing 466, a tenacious clay loam (7.5 YR 3/4 dark brown), above which was 448, a friable silt post-pipe (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). At the top was 477, a friable silt (10 YR 4/3 brown), which represented a silting into the top of the feature. index 
Plan showing the Inner Palisade Ring, The Second Inner Palisade Ring and the the Middle Palisade Ring The Second Inner Palisade Ring The presence of this arc
of large postholes was unexpected, although close study of the aerial photographs
of the enclosure reveals that in places some of the posts are 'doubled',
suggesting that all or part of the enclosure was replaced on one or more
occasions. Where the stratigraphy was clear enough to support an opinion
it would seem that the posts of this ring were withdrawn. This was clearest
in the case of posthole 215, where a cremation had been deposited inside
the void left by the removed post. The withdrawal of posts appears to have
resulted in considerable disruption of the profiles of these features,
and would presumably have involved a certain amount of digging-out and
leverage to free the timber. The 'second inner palisade ring' was more
variable in terms of depth and morphology than the inner ring. However,
as with that ring, it is difficult to identify any features which suggest
that this set of uprights was joined by horizontal timbers.
This was cut by 217, the ragged surface of disturbance caused by the removal of the post, into which a number of layers had collapsed. The lowest of these was 216, a friable sandy loam (5 YR 2.5/2 dark reddish brown), which slumped down over the northern side of the post-pull. Within this matrix, and resting on the underlying gravel was a cremation (defined as context 227), in a compact mass 40 x 20 cm in extent. The cremation appeared to consist entirely of burnt bone, without ashes or pyre material. It is possible that 216 represented a deliberate throw of backfill to cover the cremation. The main body of the post-pull was 214, a loose to friable dirty sandy gravel, which contained patches and lenses of more loamy or gravely material (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). Several clear tip lines could be distinguished, and one lens of gravel was defined as a separate context 249: loose to friable sandy gravel (mottled 5 YR 3/2 to 3/4, dark reddish brown). This simply represents a part of the overall collapse of material into the post-pull. Above the stabilisation of 214 was a layer of silting 092, a friable silty clay loam with c. 5% small rounded pebbles and charcoal flecks (7.5 YR 3/4 dark brown). 306: Cut of a large posthole with sharp break of slope, vertical sides and flat base 306, partially excavated in edge of trench. The single fill 075 had been heavily disturbed by root penetration and animal burrowing, and consisted of a loose loamy sand with small and medium sized stones (7.5 YR 2.5/2 very dark brown). 319/332: see above. index The Middle Palisade Ring As with the second inner palisade ring, the postholes of the middle palisade gave the visual impression of having been withdrawn, as they show little sign of the clear post-pipes which were visible in the innermost ring. Such interpretations of sectioned features must be approached with caution, however, and the most that can be said with confidence is that rather different stratigraphic histories can be discerned amongst the groups of postholes. If the posts from the middle palisade were indeed removed, this must prompt us to consider whether they were contemporary with either of the other two excavated post-rings, or whether all three form a sequence. Unlike the other two rings, there is some indication that the middle palisade postholes were associated with smaller features, which might form elements of a true palisade (see below). However, this possibility must also be treated with caution until further work has been undertaken. 027: A large, deep round cut with relatively round sides and flat base 027, with primary fill 026, a friable silty sand (5 YR 3/4 dark brown), a comparatively organic fill at the edge of the edge of the feature. This may be dark material thrown in as part of the packing, or may have been post-depositionally altered. Above this was 025, a friable silty clay loam with much gravel (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown), concentrated in the southern part of the cut. The uppermost fill was 010, a friable silty sand (2.5 YR 3/4 dusky red). This would appear to have been a posthole from which the post had been withdrawn, with a series of disrupted lenses tipping into the post-pull. 099: Cut of large posthole 099, with sides weathered from the vertical and rounded base, and with a clear ramp on the western (inner) side. The primary fill was a firm silty sand with 30% small pebbles (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown), representing an event of silting after the cutting of the feature. The first fill above this was 210, a loose sand on the southern side, probably packing (10 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown). 211, on the northern side of the section was another layer of packing, a loose silty sand (5 YR 4/4 reddish brown). Above 210 was 209, a fill which extended into the post ramp, made up of firm silty sand with pea grit and a number of large stones (7.5 YR 3/5 dark brown). It is possible that this material had slumped forward out of the ramp after the post was withdrawn. Fill 208, in the centre of the feature above 209 was a loose silty sand (5 YR 4/3 reddish brown), which lacked the definition of a post-pipe, and was more likely to have been the filling of a post-pull. 207, the lens above this was a loose silty sand (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown), and above this was 206, a friable sandy silt (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). Above this in turn was 205, a loose sandy loam with fine gravel (10 YR 4/3 brown). These lenses, and the more extensive 204 (friable silty loam 2.5 YR 4/2 dark greyish brown) had all collapsed from north to south, into the post void. Much the same could be said for 203, a friable silty loam (2.5 YR 4/2 dark greyish brown), while 202 was a small lens of loose reddish brown sand (5 YR 6/4). Above this, 201 was a loose loamy sand (10 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown), and the final fill was 200, a firm loamy sand (10 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown). The sequence as a whole suggests the packing and removal of a post, followed by a series of collapses of the sides of the feature into the resulting void, followed by the silting of 201 and 200. 230: Cut of a posthole with flat base and steep sides 230, with a primary fill of loose stoney sand 229 (7.5 YR 3/4 brown). Above this was a fill of friable sandy loam flecked with charcoal 064 (5 YR 4/6 yellowish red). The latter may have been the fill of a post removal. 255: Cut of an oval, medium-sized posthole with sides a little off vertical and flat base 255, with primary packing of friable sandy clay loam 267 (10 YR 4/2 dark greyish brown). Two lenses of sand, 265 and 266 lay above this (both 10 YR 4/3 brown). The principal fill of the feature was 243, a friable loamy sand (5 YR 4/2 dark reddish grey). This may have been a silting into the void of a withdrawn post. 310: Cut of large, steep-sided oval posthole 310, which contained two layers of packing material. 276 was a friable sandy clay (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown), while 277 was also a friable sandy clay (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). They were stratigraphically equivalent. Immediately above these layers was 312, a mass of friable silty clay with 40% fine to coarse gravel (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). This could easily represent the filling of a post-pull. Above 312 was a small lens of loose loamy sand and gravel 264 (2.5 YR 3/3 dark brown), which presumably represents a collapse from the side of the feature. The uppermost fill was 307, a friable sandy clay (2.5 YR 3/3 dark olive brown), which constitutes a silting into the top of the post void. index Smaller Postholes, Perhaps connected with the Middle Palisade The shallow arc formed by middle palisade postholes 027, 099, 230, 255 and 310 is also occupied by a number of smaller features, all of them postholes. This arrangement may be coincidental: it is evident that a complex series of structures has existed on the site, and these might represent vestiges of any number of timber circles or alignments. Moreover, these features do not form a particularly homogeneous grouping, in terms or shape, size or contents. Some of the postholes are rather larger (024, 035 and 285), while those with stone packing (422, 423, 433, 440 and 450) appear to be closely spatially associated with the middle palisade postholes. These are perhaps the best candidates for integral parts of a palisade structure, but they certainly do not possess the ordered regularity which was observed at Meldon Bridge. 024: A small circular posthole, with gradual sides and a rounded base, which contained 028, a gritty sand (10 YR 3/6 dark brown) with many small pebbles. The uppermost fill was 011, a friable silty clay (7.5 YR 4/3 brown), with a few stones - a silting into the top of the feature. 035: The deep, narrow posthole cut 035 had straight sides and a flat base. The principal fill was 034, a friable sandy gravel (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). Within this was a post-pipe, 012, of silty sand loam (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). However, the post-pipe was not clear-edged or vertical, and may have been a post-pull. 268: Intersects with palisade post 255, but no stratigraphic relationship could be established. Small bowl-shaped cut 268, filled with sandy clay loam 358 (10 YR 4/2 dark greyish brown). 285: Oval cut of posthole with vertical sides and flat base, with weathered edges. Contained packing 339, a friable loamy sand (7.5 YR 2.5/2 very dark brown), which contained 340, a clear post-pipe of silt (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). 290: Cut of a small, bowl-shaped posthole 290, which intersects with palisade posthole 255, although no stratigraphic relationship could be established. Filled with 359, a friable sandy clay loam (10 YR 4/2 dark greyish brown). 304: An oval, steep-sided cut with a distinct weathering cone and flat base 304, filled with 248, a friable loamy sand with 40% small pebbles (7.5 YR 2.5/3 very dark brown). 388: Cut of a small round posthole 388, which contained 383, a form sandy clay (10 YR 3/2 very dark greyish brown) with 40% small stones. 422/423: Two related features. The earliest cut was 422, a round, steep-sided posthole with a concave base, filled with 394, a friable silty clay (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown), with small gravel, packing stones and flecks of charcoal. This was cut by 423, a smaller, round, steep-sided posthole with a concave base. 423 was filled with 395, friable silty clay (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). 424: Circular posthole cut with sloping sides and flat base 424, which contained 382/404, and friable sand clay (10 YR 3/3 dark brown), with packing stones and a block of charcoal. 427: Step-sided concave-based cut 427, filled with 426, a friable gravelly sand (10 YR 2/2 very dark brown). Above this was 402, a friable loamy sand (7.5 YR 2.5/5 very dark brown). 433: Shallow, bowl-shaped cut of a small posthole 433, filled with 431, a friable loamy sand (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown) with some large packing stones, some of these tipped upward. Between the packing stones a clear post-pipe 435 of friable loamy sand (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). 440: Circular cut of a posthole with steep sides and concave base 440, which contained 339, a friable sandy clay with packing stones and pebbles (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). 450: Oval cut of a posthole with flat base and distinct post socket 450, which contained 434, a friable sandy loam (7.5 YR 2.5/2), with one possible packing stone. 455: Circular cut of posthole with rounded base 455, contained packing 452, a friable sandy loam with 50% small pebbles (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). index North-West Post Setting A This is the innermost of four lines or arcs of features cross the north-west corner of Trench A. It is composed of a relatively small number of postholes, which are not especially homogeneous as a grouping. However, they appeared to the eye to be concentric or parallel with Post Ring B, and might form part of the same structure.
Site plan showing North-West Post Setting A 064: Oval cut of a small posthole with vertical sides 064, filled with 041, a friable loamy sand (7.5 YR 5/4 brown). 070: Small, shallow, round cut 070, filled with friable sandy clay 069 (5 YR 3/4 dark reddish brown). 225/300: Flat-based, steep sided cut of posthole 225, containing friable loamy sand (2.5 YR 3/3 dusky red). These were cut by 300, a posthole with rounded base, which contained 221, a compact loamy sand (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). 279: Cut of a small posthole with straight sides and concave base 279, filled with 259, a compact sandy clay loam with eight packing stones (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). Above this was compact silty clay loam 311 (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown), which represents a silting into the top of the feature. 396: Shallow circular cut which deepened to the south, with a concave base 396, contained 384, a friable loamy sand (5 YR 4/4 reddish brown) with a series of clear packing stones. 473: Rather small circular posthole cut with sloping sides and rounded base 473, which contained 471, a friable sandy clay loam (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). index North-West
Post Setting B
016: A steep-sided oval cut, containing a primary silting 018, loose yellow sand with small stones. Above this was 017, a friable light grey sand with many stones, including packing stones. The uppermost fill was 006, a friable loamy sand with small stones and charcoal flecks, dark brown/black in colour. 040: A shallow, flat-based, straight-sided cut 040, was packed with friable loamy sand 039 (7.5 YR 2.5/2 very dark brown), with packing stones. Above this fill was a silting of sandy clay loam with much charcoal 039 (10 YR 2/1 black). 044: An oval, bowl-based cut with gently sloping sides 044, filled with a loamy sand 043 (5 YR 2.5/2 dark reddish brown). Above this was 015, a loose sandy fill (5 YR 4/3 reddish brown). 091/393: 091 was the circular cut of a posthole with near-vertical sides, filled with 072, a friable clay loam (2.5 YR dusky red) and three large packing stones. This was cut by 393, another posthole with sloping sides and rounded base, which was filled with 376, a firm loamy sand (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). 226: Circular cut of moderately-sized posthole with concave sides and flat base 226, filled with 073/247, a friable loamy sand (10 YR 3/2 very dark greyish brown), which contained a few large pebbles. 301: Vertical-sided posthole cut with rounded base 301, containing primary fill 238, a loose sandy loam with 50% fine gravel and packing stones (7.5 YR 4/6 strong brown). Above this was 231, a friable sandy loam with 20% medium pebbles and charcoal flecks (7.5 YR 2.5/3 very dark brown). index North-West
Post Setting C
091/393: see above. 241: Steep-sided cut with flat base 241, with a principal fill of loose sand 240 (10 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown). Two small postholes were cut into the top of this feature. Cut 416 was a post base filled with 239, a sticky silt with a concentration of pebbles at its centre (7.5 YR 4/4 - 4/6 brown to strong brown), while cut 417 contained a firm silty loam 095 (10 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown). 319/332: see above. 349/351: A complex feature, in which the earliest cut was 349, a gently sloping posthole which contained the packing 374, a friable sandy loam (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). Within the post-pipe was a series of fills. The earliest of these was 364, a loose loamy sand (10 YR 4/6 dark yellowish brown), above which was 391, a loose sand (10 YR 4/4 dark yellowish brown). This was followed by 392, another loose sand (10 YR 4/6 dark yellowish brown), and finally 350, a loose and slightly humic loamy sand (10 YR 5/8 yellowish brown). It is possible that these lenses of material had slumped into the void left by a withdrawn or rotted-out post. All of these fills were truncated by the broad shallow cut 351, the lower part of which was filled with 373, a friable loamy sand (7.5 YR 4/4 brown). This might represent either a slump or a deliberate backfill. Above this was a loose sandy gravel fill (7.5 YR 5/6 strong brown), 372, concentrated in the eastern part of the feature. These two fills were then in turn truncated by the smaller, shallower cut 390, an oval feature with a rounded base. This contained 389, a loose sandy gravel layer (10 YR 5/6 yellowish brown), and above this was 324, a loose loamy sand with gravel (7.5 YR 5/6 strong brown). 371: Cut of moderately-sized posthole with continuous U-shaped sides and base, with primary packing 369/370, friable sandy silt loam with small stones (2.5 YR 4/4 dusky red). Between these two bodies of packing was a post-pipe, the lowest fill of which was 368, a friable sandy loam (5 YR 5/6 yelloeish brown). Above this was 365, a compact yet friable sandy loam (7.5 YR 3/3dark brown), presumably a silting into the top of the post void. index North-West
Post Setting D
050: A round, flat-based posthole cut with slightly sloping sides 050, containing primary fill 049, a friable loamy sand with large packing stones (10 YR 3/3 dark brown). Above this was 048, a friable loamy sand (19 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown). Finally, a silting of compact sand (10 YR 3/3 dark brown) filled the top of the feature. There was no trace of a postpipe. 054/057: see above. 091/393: (see above). This could belong to either Ring C or Ring D, or indeed the two successive features could relate to two succesive circles. 233: Steep-sided, round-based cut of a small posthole 233, containing friable loamy sand with much stone and pebbles 232 (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). 241: (see above). It is unclear whether 241 belongs to Post Ring C or D. 283: Shallow, irregular cut with gradual sides 283, which had perhaps been disturbed by animal burrowing. Filled with 274, a truncated feature. 444: Step-sided posthole
with a rounded base 444, containing a lower packing 453 of friable sand
(5 YR 6/6 reddish yellow). Above this was the postpipe 445, a compact loamy
sand (5 YR 4/6 yellowish red) pitched vertically into the feature. index
Site plan showing Small Southern Post Circle or Round House, Outer Ring 061: Straight-sided posthole cut with bowled base 061, with a packing of loose loamy sand with packing stones 009 (5 YR 4/3 reddish brown), containing a post-pipe of friable humic sandy clay 029 (2.5 YR 3/2 dusky red). 237: Cut of a circular posthole with a sharp break of slope and bowled base 237, with primary packing of loose loamy sand 090 containing pebbles and stones (10 YR 3/2 dusky red). Above this was a loamy sand 236, not very distinct from the lower fill, but more stone-free (10 YR 3/2 dusky red). 271: Round, slightly sloping-sided, flat-based cut of a small posthole 271, containing 305, a firm loamy sand packed with pebbles clustered at the centre of the feature, perhaps collapsed into the post void (10 YR 3/4 dark yellowish brown). 281: Small, bowl-shaped posthole cut 281, filled with 280, a friable sandy loam with 10% medium rolled pebbles and two packing stones (2.5 YR 3/3 dusky red). 292: Circular posthole cut with vertical sides and concave base 292, filled with friable loamy sand 260 containing a group of packing stones (10 YR 3/3 dark brown). 298: Vestigial cut of severely eroded posthole 298, containing 291, a tenacious silty clay with 25% small stones (7.5 YR 2/2 very dark brown). 343: Cut of a small deep posthole with steep sides and pointed base 343, which contained 341, a friable silty loam with one packing stone (7.5 YR 3/2 dark brown). 348: Oval cut with vertical sides and flat base 348, contained 361 and 362, similar layers of friable sand (both 7.5 YR 4/2 brown), which probably represent packing of the posthole. These contexts were divided by 338, a friable silty material (10 YR 6/3 pale brown), which is presumably a silting into the post-pipe. Cutting across the top of this was 363, a friable loamy sand (7.5 YR 4/4 brown). 360: Oval cut of posthole with steep sides and flat base 360, filled with 337, a friable sand with packing stones (10 YR 3/3 dark brown). 401: Cut of a narroew posthole whose sides tapered toward a flat base, 401, filled with 375, a firm clay (10 YR 2/2 very dark brown with many packing stones. index Small
Southern Post Circle or Round House, Inner Ring
282: Cut of small oval posthole with straight sides and bowled base 282, filled with loose to friable loamy sand 045, with a number of large packing stones (5 YR 2.5/2 dark reddish brown). 286: Cut of a small posthole with straight sides and rounded bottom 286, filled with a friable loamy sand 261 with one possible packing stone (10 YR 3/3 dark brown). 354: Shallow, elongated cut with one steep side 354, containing 345, a teancious silty clay with small stones (10 YR 2.5/2 very dark brown). index Small
Southern Post Circle or Round House, 'Porch' Structure
065: Shallow, bowl-based cut of posthole 065, containing 062, a firm loamy sand with small stones (10 YR 2/2 very dark brown). 288: Oval cut of posthole with sloping sides and flat base 288, filled with 275, a tenacious silty clay with 30% medium pebbles, burnt stones and charcoal flecks (5 YR 2.5/2 dark reddish brown). 320: Oval cut of small shallow posthole with a rounded base 320, containing compact loamy sandy gravel 284 (3/3 7.5 YR dark brown). 397: Shallow truncated cut of a small round posthole 397, containing 385, a loose sandy loam (5 YR 2.5/2 dark reddish brown) with numerous small packing stones. index Miscellaneous
Features
032: A shallow dip in the subsoil 032, which contained a friable sandy clay with medium stones (5 YR 3/2 reddish brown). Above this was 030, a layer of silty loam with small round stones (2.5 YR 3/2 dusky red) This contained flecks of charcoal and a number of Beaker sherds. Presumably this was the truncated base of a feature. 064: Oval cut of a shallow posthole with flat base and sloping sides 064, filled with 041, a friable loamy sand (7.5 YR 5/4 brown). 219: Circular posthole cut with abrupt break of slope, concave sides and flat base 219, filled with 093, fairly loose loamy sand with four large packing stones (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). 263: Small, round, flat-based posthole cut 263, containing a primary fill of fairly loose loamy sand with much small stone 262 (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). Above this was 256, a firm sandy loam with 30% pebbles and one large stone (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown), 293: Small circular posthole cut with steep sides and rounded base 293, filled with 257, a tenacious clay loam with 20% small and larger packing stones. 294: Very shallow cut of a small saucer-shaped feature 294. Filled with friable loamy sand 289 (2.5 YR 3/3 dusky red). 299: Cut of small posthole with vertical sides and flat base 299, containing 242, a fairly loose loamy sand with two large packing stones and one potsherd (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). 344: Natural frost wedge. 379: Cut of a very small round posthole with vertical sides and rounded base 379, filled with 378, a friable to compact sandy clay loam, with pebbles concentrated in the centre of the feature (7.5 YR 3/4 dark brown). 387: Circular cut of small posthole with steep sides and flat base 387, containing 377, a firm loamy sand with few stones (7.5 YR 3/3 dark brown). 400: Linear cut with two distinct lobes, one at either end 400, contained 381, a friable humic silty clay (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). 403: Steep-sided cut of a posthole with a rounded base 403, containing a compact loamy sand, 386 (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown), with packing stones which tipped in toward the centre of the feature. 414: Round posthole cut with vertical sides and a flat bases 414, containing 399, a friable silty loam (7.5 YR 4/4 brown). 429: Small, round cut of a posthole with steep sides and flat base 429, which contained 442, a firm loamy sandy gravel with some packing stones (5 YR 3/3 dark reddish brown). 470: Cut of a small linear feature with rounded profile 470, which contained 468, a friable sandy clay (7.5 YR 3/2 dark brown). Above this was a compact sand(7.5 YR 4/3 brown), 468, which contained a small fragment of modern glass. 472: The small circular cut of a posthole with concave sides and base 472, contained 463, a friable sandy loam (5 YR 4/4 reddish brown) with some quite large packing stones. 476: Round cut of a posthole with steep sides and flat base 476, whose primary filling was the packing 475, a fairly loose sandy gravel with 80% pebbles (5 YR 4/6 yellowish red). Above this was 474, a fairly loose sandy gravel (7.5 YR 4/4 brown), which also appeared to have been part of the packing. Both of these layers butted up against 452, a distinct post-pipe of loose silt (10 YR 5/8 yellowish brown). 480: Cut of a small
oval posthole with vertical sides and a flat base 480, containing 459,
a friable silt with charcoal flecks and small stones (7.5 YR 4/6 strong
brown).
Relationships
Amongst Structures Revealed in Trench A
Probably the most important set of stratigraphic relationships within Trench A lies within the 319/332 complex. Here, the two large 'palisade' postholes are cut across by a shallower feature, 098/327, which is presumably a part of Post Setting C. This would appear to document the temporal priority of the palisade structure over at least one of the other post structures. More vexing is the relationship between the palisade structures and Post Setting D. Feature 054/057 consists of a deeper posthole cutting a more shallow feature. It is tempting to assume that the deeper cut must be that of a palisade post, which would thus be later than the less substantial post circle feature. Another piece of circumstantial evidence would support this interpretation. The largest assemblage of pottery from the site came from 050, another of the features within Post Setting D. Inner Palisade posthole 087 was immediately to the east of 050, and it too produced substantial numbers of sherds. This was unique amongst the palisade postholes. One explanation which was suggested for this state of affairs was that these truncated features might have intersected at a higher level, so that the pottery found in 087 might originally have derived from 050. This would require that 084 was cut later than 050. However, given that the mixed assemblage from the two features included both Grooved Ware and coarse Beaker sherds, this would require that both palisade and timber circle must date to the very end of the Neolithic. As it stands, the relationship between the palisade structures and Post Circle D cannot be said to have been resolved satisfactorily. On the northern edge of Trench A, the four post settings and the Middle Palisade and its attendant lesser postholes all intersected in a rather confused arrangement, within which it was quite difficult to assign particular features to given structures. In consequence the intercutting relationship between 393 and 091 was not entirely illuminating, since arguments could be raised to attribute either feature to quite different structures. In all probability it documents the intersection of the post avenue and the post circle, but further work will be needed to identify the sequence of priority.index Trench C
The ring ditch consisted of a single shallow cut 133 (also identified as 116, 177, 131, 136, 135 and 138), which had gradually sloping sides and a flat base. It contained two distinct fills. The uppermost of these was 121 (also 113, 119, 120, 125, 127 and 134), which was a friable loamy sand (5 YR 3/1 very dark grey). Below this was 128 (also 112, 115, 122, 128, 132, 140, 141, and 142), a friable sandy loam (5 YR 3/2 dark reddish brown). There was nothing about these fills to suggest anything beside a normal silting process Cutting through the ditch deposits were two possible postholes, cut 118, filled with 110, a firm sand loam (10 YR 3/3 dark brown), and cut 114, filled with 111, a form sandy loam (2.5 YR 2.5/1 reddish brown). Although the aerial photographs suggested the presence of an internal feature within the ring ditch, none was identified save for a small rabbit burrow. It would appear that the ring ditch represents a small funerary structure, which might be assumed to have been later than the main monumental complex. At many other sites in Scotland, Wales and England, such Early to Middle Bronze Age structures were 'attracted' by the presence of already ancient and venerated sites, whose precise significance might already have been partially forgotten by the time of their construction.index Preservation
Discussion
Burgess, C.B. 1976 Meldon Bridge: a Neolithic promontory complex near Peebles. In: C. Burgess and R. Miket (eds.) Settlement and Economy in the Third and Second Millennia BC, 151-79. Oxford: BAR.
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