medieval strichen, archaeology

7/30/2019 Medieval Strichen, Archaeology

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Andrew David Sturdy KL205N Archaeological Methods &

Student ID 5080099 Assignment One Techniques Prospection

December 2012

1

Report on the Archaeological Potential

of the area formerly known as

Kirktown Strichen

Contents

Page

1. Location 22. Introduction 23. Pre-existing fieldwork 34. Discusions 4

4.1 Pre Historical Period 4

4.2 Historical Period 5

4.2.1 Background 54.2.2 Map of Zones of Potential Archaeology 5

4.2.3 Z1 Mill of Cospatric Macmadethyn 5

4.2.4 Z2 Mill of Cospatric (alternative location) 6

4.2.5 Z3 Church and Ladywell 7

4.2.6 Z4 Settlement 8

5. Proposed Further Prospection Methods of Z4 Settlement 9

6. Conclusion 10

Illustrations

Page

Fig.1 1:25 000 OS map of Site 2

Fig.2 1:25 000 OS map showing relationship of ritual areas to Site 4

Fig.3 1847 Strichen Estate Map, held on micro-film Strichen Library 4

Fig.4 2nd

Edition OS map, enclosure on Site 4

Fig.5 Map of potential archaeology zones 5

Fig.6 2nd

Edition OS map with xxx xx insert and 1768 Estate Map showing Kirktown and Mill 6

Fig.7 1st

Edition OS map and Aberdeenshire SMR map 6

Fig.8 Photo Churchyard, 1794 Portrait of bridge (Strichen Library), Corbel Strichen Town House 7Fig.9 RCAHMS map and 1

stEdition OS map 8

Fig.10 Roy Military map 8

Fig.11 Saterlit Image of Strichen Churchyard (Googlemaps) 9


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1. Location

Fig.1

The area is roughly 1km square and centres on a low lying hill to the south of the modern settlement of Strichen. Its

northern and eastern boundaries are set by a bend in the river Ugie flowing north to south, and its western and

southern limits by a burn running west to east. Rising up 20 meters above these water features the hill plateau out

for an area of 350 meters. For the purpose of this report the area will be referred to as Site. (Fig.1)

2. Introduction

Although the Site today is largely agricultural, before 1763 it was an urban settlement known as Kirktown of

Strichen. Alexander Fraser, 7th

Lord Strichen, had the settlement moved to a new planned town on the northern

bank of the river Ugie where modern Strichen now stands. This deliberate end of occupation at a precise point along

the Sites timeline, suggest that surviving archaeology has not been added to or contaminated by material after the

mid 1700s. The following desk study aims to identify the location and evaluate the potential of this surviving pre-

1763 archaeology. The results of this study may then form a requisite to carry out further non-invasive investigation

that may go on to justify a possible archaeological evaluation on the site with the view of increasing theunderstanding of past life in a Buchan settlement


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3. Pre-Existing Fieldwork Excavation.

The following map and table has been generated from data provided by RCAHMS

i

and Aberdeenshires SMR

ii

:

Ref.Name

Aberdeenshir

e SMR

RCAHMS

Canmore

ID

Description Find Date Comments

1 Howford

Strichen

NJ95SE0021 20728 Urn Cinerary Inverted urn

containing

burnt bone of

adult over 20

and bones of

child under 2.

Bronze Age 2000-800

BC

Excavated 1970

Lockhart RD, now

housed Marischal

Museum.

2 NJ95SEOO32 Cinerary pit, Pit fill

containing

Bones, Wood

Carbon 15 dated, GrA-

28622 calibrated 1890-

1690BC

Excavated 1986

Shepherd IAG

3 NJ95SE0031 Cinerary pit,(urn reported

but not found

on excavation).

Crematedbone of x2

individuals +

burnt flint.

Five clay

pinheads

found during

sieving.

SUERC Lab No 33727 -Context 005 s.1 -

Sample of Betula -

Uncalibrated 3510 +/-

30 = 1890-1770BC to 1

sigma, or SUERC Lab No

33728 - Context 005 s.2

- Sample of Quercus -

Uncalibrated 3600 +/-

30 = 2020-1910BC to 1

sigma

Excavated 1984 GreigM & Ingles J. Now

housed at Mariscles

Museum.

4 Adziel

House

NJ95SE0049 n/a Crop Mark Circular

enclosure with

internalfeature.

Prehistoric 70% Seen on 1977 areial

black/white photo,

NJ95S2718099.

5 Strichen old

church

NJ95SW0008 245034

180884

20747

Remains of:

1620 church

1799 church

Part of 1620

church that

houses the

burial aisle of

Lord Thomas

Strichen. 1799

church is now

roofed shell.

17th

and 18th

century Scotland Building at

Risk Register:

Ser.1746

6 The Glebe NJ95SW0071 n/a Farmstead Still in use. Post medieval after

1560

Shown on 1st

edition

OS map

7 Buchan

House

NJ95SW0070 180885 Manse Italian Villa

type L-plan.

Still in use.

Built 1853AD Architect Mackenzie

& Mathews


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4. Discussion4.1 Pre-History

The search on the Aberdeenshire SMR and RCAHMS websites show that the known archaeology of the Site isrestricted to its periphery. The Bronze Age cremations at Howford to the east and a Recumbent Stone Circle 1km

west outside the Site area, orbits the Site as areas of ritual. Suggesting the Site was either transited between these

places or was the hub of occupation utilising them. (Fig.2)

Fig.2

The suitability of the Site for occupation is illustrated well on the estate map of 1843iii

with the method of depicting

land relief used at that time (Fig.3). The Site being an area of dry high ground surrounded by water obstacles would

have providing protection and maybe an amount of status for a Bronze Age community.

Fig.3

Although no finds or ancient monuments are recorded relating to this period, the hockey-stick shaped enclosure on

the Site has the potential of being a pre-history feature (Fig.4). The way the field system has always avoided thisirregular enclosed space as if ignoring its existence on the landscape suggest local superstition may be at play.

Further research of the folk law of the community may provide a story for its deliberate exclusion, but further

archaeological evaluation may be needed to discover its original function allocate it a period.

Fig 4


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4.2 Historical Period

4.2.1 Background

The earliestsurviving record of Strichen as a settlement appears in a charter of 1206 by the last Mormoar of Buchan

(Celtic Earl) Fergus (Tocher J.F. 1910)iv. In it Strichen is refer to by another name, Crux Medici, which may be

interrupted from the Latin as either meaning Doctors Crossing or Cross of the Doctors.

The Fergus charter only refers to the Site in its relationship to other settlements on the landscape. The next charter

issued by his son-in-law William Comyns around 1214, after becoming Earl of Buchan through marriage and the

death of Fergus in 1211, gives actual details of the settlement itself (Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, 1845)v.

Williams charter now calls the settlement Strichen and in it records the deed of a mill granted to Cospatric for the

rent of two stone of wax and a pledge of military service. The Mill and wax production denotes industry and

Cospatric , whose name prefix Cos means servant, may be of reasonable high status in society for he also appears

as a witness on the previous Fergus charter.

4.2.2 Map of Zoned Areas of Potential Archaeology

Fig.5

The map depicts zones of archaeology potential derived from the desk study. Each will be discussed with the zone

having the highest estimate value of knowledge to be gained from possible future prospection elaborated on which

methods may be used.

4.2.3 Z1 Mill of Cospatric Macmadethyn

The location of Cospatrics mill is no longer known, however period maps presents two possibilities. A mill at Z1 in

the north of the Site was fed by a mill pond that is now known as the Strichen Community Parks Lake (Fig.6).

Although the sluice gate feeding this mill remains, the mills absence from the landscape since its demolition in 1857to make way for a viaduct of the Formatine and Buchan railway, has been detrimental on the memory of this waters

primary function. The modern concept that the Lake was ornamental in origin dates from around 1820 when the

Key

Z1. Mill, vertical

Z2. Mill, horizontal

Z3. Well, Lady-well

Z4. Settlement, cross-roads


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estate was landscaped by W S Gilpin (Tait, A A 1980)vi. With the arrival of the railway the estate was made a country

club and later a Hydro, adding to the persona of a lake over that of a working mill pond.

The dating of the Lake may help to confirm and re-establish the mills presence in this zone. Underwater prospection

methods to ascertain dating evidence may therefore be justified, especially as its age may have a bearing on thediscussion in Z3.

Fig.6

4.2.4 Z2 Mill of Cospatric (alternative location).

Z2 is recorded only on the SMR as a circular enclosure with a rectangle feature seen from an aerial photographvii

. The

SMR categorised it as a 70% chance of being pre-historic. However its description and location near the junction of

the burn and river is descriptive of a horizontal mills footprint (Cruden S. 1948)viii

.

Fig.7

Horizontal mill technology predates that of the more efficient vertical mill. With no gearing the speed of the

horizontal mill relied solely on the flow rate of the stream or river to turn. Production would have been limited to

supplying local needs only. With the introduction of the geared vertical mill (Z1 mill) a surplus could be generated for

sale.

A charter does mention a mill of Adziel that was granted to the students of Theology, New College, University of

Aberdeen in 1504 (Spalding Club 1847)ix. However, the late date suggests this mill is the one marked as Newton on

the map (Fig.7). Being circumstantial evidence a site visit and walk-over survey of Z2 would be needed to identify


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the practicality of a mill at this location regarding gradient and rate of water-flow, before further methods of

prospection are employed.

4.2.5 Z3 Church and Ladywell

Church

Officially Strichen did not have a church building until 1620, and then only in 1633 was it made a parish by act of

Parliament (Jarvis A 1879)x. This absence of a church in the community is evident with the existence of a Corps Road

that the dead of Strichen were carried along to be buried in Rathen 9 miles away. A Font Stone, on top of Mormond

Hill halfway along this road, is additional evidence marking the place where the minister of Rathen would meet the

parishioners of Strichen for baptism.

Although there are no mentions of a church in the William Charter there is secondary evidence to the contrary. Two

separate accounts refer to the same instance of the Duchess of Buchan, Marjory daughter of Fergus and Wife of

William, gifting the parish of Strichen along with other to the Monks of Arbroath at the time of William the Lion

(Shaw 1827, Watts 1900)xi.

The primary source of the accounts is a charter and if identified it may justify further prospection to find this earlier

Church. The discovery of a Pict Church beneath Talbots church gives the possibility that a similar situation existed

on this Site (Carver M 2004)xii

. (The hockey-stick enclosure mention in Pre-History may have a bearing on this).

The possibility of further prospection under the 1799 church that replaced the 1620 is made easier for it was gutted

of timber in 1975. Today it is a roofed shell owned by Aberdeenshire Council. The exposed floor enables further non-

invasive investigation like Ground Radar, or the cheaper but invasive option of test-pitting, to take place in order to

ascertain the value of the archaeology here.

Fig.8


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Ladywell

The existence of the Ladywell on the site may also provide evidence to justify an early Christian presence. Its actualwhereabouts is sketchy as the map of the RCAHMS places it on the platform of the redundant railway station, and

although Aberdeenshires SMR uses the same grid references, the SMR places it over 1.5km east on its map.

However a well depicted on the 1st

edition OS map on the south bank of the river Ugie just north of the graveyard,

seems a more plausible location. If substantiated its importance increases for such wells were often adopted from

earlier pagan sites. By naming it after St Mary also points to the period of Scottish Christianity before the influence of

the Church of Rome began in earnest around the time of Marjory and William. The Church of Rome would eventually

outlaw pilgrimage to such sites, which adds to notion of its antiquity (Walker R 1883)xiii

.

The archaeological potential of such a site is subject to the imagination of the site director, for it entertains the

possibility of containing pagan, early Christian, medieval and post medieval artefacts. A simple walk-over survey

may locate the well off the map, but excavation would be needed to confirm its function and to what period.

Fig.9

4.2.6 Z4 Settlement

Because of its relationship with the settlement shown on Roys Mapxiv

and its proximity between the church and

irregular wooded enclosure already discussed, the filed to the south of the church yard has been selected as a

plausible site of occupation, and the zone warranting a discussion on further prospection.


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Fig.10

5. Proposed Further Prospection of Z4 Settlement

The fields potential to survey for potential archaeology is made easier because by 1799 the whole surface less the

graveyard and Manse had been cleared of urban habitation. Its present function for agriculture gives an open

levelled working area ideal to set up a survey grid needed to perform more advance scientific non-invasive

procedures. Its ease of access is also a selecting factor for it enables the wider community to engage with surveying

techniques such as field walking and metal detecting thereby promoting archaeology within the community.

Because of the open nature of the field most of the non-invasive methods could be employed like Ground

Penetrating Radar, Thermal Infra Red Imergry and Magetomery. But considering the cost of such equipment and the

need for skilled operators to work it, the Resistivity Method is adequate in this instance for detecting the desirable

features of filled trenches and structure.

Fig.11

Working travesty across the field a team of two could survey the whole field within a day. Considering that

occupation ended just over 200 years ago the archaeology is expected to be of no great depth. The red circle areas


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on Fig.11 are of interest for the dark colouring of the grass denotes a greater depth of top soil and may indicate filled

in pits or robber trenches.

Using probes set one meter apart would give a survey depth of around 3 4 meters. The quick interpreted of the

data using computer software in producing a recognisable map, is beneficial to the archaeologist but also gives

instant feedback to the community, keeping them engaged with the investigation.

Once individual features/households are known, they can be targeted for future invasive evaluation to gain

knowledge of the possible status and employment of their previous occupants. Adding to the understanding of life in

a Buchan settlement.

6. Conclusion

The enigma of the Site is that although today it as an assemblage of quiet fields that house a redundant dilapidating

church, in a former existence it was a hive of community. Bronze Age evidence in the area suggests that this

community is ancient and may have been the first of a period of unbroken occupation from the mid second

millennium BC to 1763. However it is only with the advent of written history in the 13th

century, that a settlement

can be placed here with any certainty. This settlement had a mill and an owner of status that pledged military service

to his overlord. Speculation suggest on, or before, this time an early Christian presence may have been active on the

Site, and the presence of the Ladywell may confirm an even older belief system that was once observed here. The

Site being clear of modern habitation makes it easily accessible for further prospection, and the gains to be made in

the understanding of a post medieval settlement in Buchan, justifies the time and expense required to implement

these procedures.

iRoyal Commision on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/, Nov 2012

iiAberdeenshire Council http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/shire/default.aspx , Nov 2012

iiiStrichen Estate Map, 1843 Micro-film, Strichen Library

ivTocher J.F. 1910, The Book of Buchan, The Buchan Club, Peterhead, Page 135-137

vRegistrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, 1845, Ecclesis Cathedralis Aberdonenensis Regesta Que Extant in Unum, Page 14-15

viTait, A A (1980) The landscape garden in Scotland 1735-1835

viiAdziel House, Crop Mark,http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/shire/detail.aspx?refno=NJ95SE0049Nov 2012

viii Cruden S. 1948, The Horizontal water-mill at Dounby, Orkney, Chapter 4 Page 43,

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_081/81_043_047.pdfixSpalding Club 1847, Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff, page 64

http://archive.org/stream/illustrationsoft04robe#page/64/mode/1upx

Jarvis A., Epitaphs and inscriptions from burial grounds and old buildings in the North East of Scotland, Douglas, Edinburgh,

Page135-144xi

Shaw Lachlan 1827, The History of the province of Moray, Morison, Glasgow; Watt William 1900, The History of

Aberdeenshire and Banff, Blackwood, Edinburghxii

Carver M 2004, An Iona of the East: The Early-medieval Monastery at Portmahomack, Tarbat Ness,

http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/1830/1/carverm2.pdfDec 2012xiii

Walker Russel 1883, Holy Wells in Scotland, Proceedings of the Society, Chapter 4 page 152xiv

Roy W. 1747, Military Survey of Scotland,http://maps.nls.uk/roy/index.htmlNov 2012
http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/shire/detail.aspx?refno=NJ95SE0049http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/shire/detail.aspx?refno=NJ95SE0049http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/shire/detail.aspx?refno=NJ95SE0049http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_081/81_043_047.pdfhttp://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_081/81_043_047.pdfhttp://archive.org/stream/illustrationsoft04robe#page/64/mode/1uphttp://archive.org/stream/illustrationsoft04robe#page/64/mode/1uphttp://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/1830/1/carverm2.pdfhttp://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/1830/1/carverm2.pdfhttp://maps.nls.uk/roy/index.htmlhttp://maps.nls.uk/roy/index.htmlhttp://maps.nls.uk/roy/index.htmlhttp://maps.nls.uk/roy/index.htmlhttp://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/1830/1/carverm2.pdfhttp://archive.org/stream/illustrationsoft04robe#page/64/mode/1uphttp://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_081/81_043_047.pdfhttp://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/shire/detail.aspx?refno=NJ95SE0049http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/

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