| Abstract: |
The evaluation excavation had the main purpose of establishing the presence and character of any archaeological remains surviving on the site. The following areas of the Bastle were to be investigated: Floors. It was proposed to investigate the floors in key locations to determine what remains of the original floor surfaces, confirming levels and informing future decisions on conservation and restoration. In particular, it was to be ascertained whether any of the original floor surfaces remain and, if so, in what condition. (Upper floor, Trenches A-E, all approximately 1x1m, Lower floor, Trenches F1, F2, G,H, all 1x1m except G which measured 2x1m). External Levels. It was proposed to investigate several key and representative areas through strip trenches arranged orthogonal to the building in order to determine the level of overburden, whether any floor surfaces survive and if any other features lie hidden around the outside of the bastle, notably remains of the attached building on the south side. (Trenches I-O, generally measuring 1.2x5m, with Trench I measuring 12m long, and Trench O also continuing into the newel stair area). Newel Stair. It was proposed to evaluate this area by removing overburden to the level of solid masonry and/or floors, thereby deriving evidence regarding the structural composition and phasing of the stair and form of the outer wall, as well as how the stair was accessed. (Trench O, which covered the area of the stair itself and an adjacent area outside). Former structure on south wall. It was proposed to explore the footings of the structure to see how far they extended to the south, and to find any evidence of what form the building took, the state of its floors and possible functional indications. (Trenches I-J as mentioned above). The evaluation took place during September 2022, its aims being to identify and determine the character of any remains uncovered during groundworks on the site, and to make an appropriate record of such finds by photographic and other means. The external trenches were opened by mechanical excavator using a toothless ditching bucket. All excavations were closely monitored by a suitably trained and experienced archaeologist from The Archaeological Practice Ltd. Following this, all subsequent excavation was undertaken by hand. All of the internal trenches were excavated by hand. Owing to the substantial amount of undergrowth, loose rubble and other overburden found to exist on the first floor of the building, in consultation with Historic England the trenches here were reduced in size from those initially proposed (see WSI, Appendix 1). Those on the ground floor were also reduced, generally to 1 x 1 m test-pits, in order to reduce overall impact and avoid destruction of the cobbled floor fund to exist there, in line with Historic England advice. The investigation works took the form of trenches excavated around the outer walls of the building, as well as trenches inside the building on both the ground and first floors. Within the building, the trenches on the ground floor uncovered a rough cobble surface throughout the whole of the main floor area, while those on the first floor recorded a substantial build-up of comparatively recent material post-dating the final abandonment of the structure in the 18th century. Beneath this was clay-based packing and levelling material over the underlying barrel-vault. A small area of flagging remaining towards the entrance to the newel stairs on the upper floor may have been the last remaining patch of a once more-extensive flagged surface. Externally, within the area of the newel stair, additional stairs the ground floor passage were exposed beneath later infill, while outside these were the remains of two phases of a plinth or foundation for a step or stairs overlying an earlier path. |
