ARTefact analysis

Following on from each excavation season, a phase of preliminary post-excavation analysis operates each year. This work is undertaken in order to catalogue fully all artefacts, ecofacts and soil samples recovered during the archaeological fields schools and permit preliminary analysis of important assemblages of material during the lifetime of the project.

2002/2003

The artefacts from the 2002 excavations are beginning to provide some interesting results. The coins from the longhouse excavation at Balnreich confirm that the excavated structure was occupied during the early nineteenth century. Conservation work has also revealed that the three heel plates (from shoes) recovered from behind the fireplace are 'concealment' shoes. There was a tradition of hiding shoes in buildings between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries in order to bring good luck. The recovery of a copper alloy brooch, bearing a deer motif, may suggest associations with Clan Hay or the Lovat Scouts.

The brooch from Balnriech

Analysis of the metallurgical waste recovered from the hut circle at Croftvellick revealed it was a fragment of metallurgical ceramic, most likely from a furnace where bog ore had been smelted.

Study of the archaeo-botanical samples from Balnreich, Blarmore and Croftvellick has cast light on the sorts of timber used at each site and provided opportunities for radiocarbon dating. At Balnreich, birch, ash, scots pine, larch and oak were common, while at Blarmore ash dominated the sample. At Croftvellick - the earliest of the sites - birch, hazel and oak were predominant.

2003/2004

The finds work has focussed principally upon the pottery and glass assemblages, with some interesting initial results. The preliminary findings from the analysis of the ceramic wares by George Haggarty seems to suggest that the overwhelming picture is that the assemblages from the 2002 and 2003 seasons are dominated by vessels produced in the 19th century. Although this is unsurprising for sites like Kiltyrie farmstead (which dates from the post-1790 period), it is somewhat unusual for the site at Balnreich (which appears on Farquharson's plan of 1769). The implication may be that industrial wares from Scottish potteries were not traded in any quantities along North Loch Tayside until the start of 19th century. Further work on the pottery and glass may allow this to be confirmed in the near future.

2004/2005

The finds work this year has continued with further assessment of the 2002 and 2003 seasons pottery assemblages and specialist analysis of the glass by Robin Murdoch recovered from 2004. Interestingly, the majority of the assemblage was produced in the 19th century, which is comparable with the ceramic vessels as discussed in last year's report. However, there is a small but important proportion of glass vessels identified within the assemblage, which relate to the 18th century. These were generally in the form of finer tableware, e.g. wine glasses. The earliest example was from Blarmore where an early to mid-18th century shard from a sweetmeat glass was recovered.

This recovery of 18th century finer tableware is interesting, given that few traces of ceramic vessels are apparent. It may be as a result of re-cycling of glassware from estate properties, rather than directly being imported into the area for sale to the tenantry of the townships.

Tweezers

Button

Green-glaze pottery

Glass sherd

X-ray of brooch

top of page