Tayside Fife Archaeol J 5

Reports discovery of this axe-head and considers possible importation from Denmark.

Concludes that a group of recumbent stone circles at the southern edge of their distribution, in Kincardine and Angus, is a variant group, challenging identification of some of these sites as stone circles. Mentions possible regional differences between north-east Scotland and Angus and the Mearns in the earlier and later Neolithic.

The objectives of this Field School include: management of crop-mark archaeology -- involving investigation of agricultural attrition of crop-mark sites, scheduling practice, public archaeology, rabbit erosion and rescue: study of settlement evidence and its patterning in the crop-mark record: and environmental changes and their relationship to human activities. The project area represents the archaeologically under-studied fertile sector of lowland Scotland.

Excavations recovered evidence for a much wider Arbroath High Street in the medieval period. Remains of one possible medieval stone building were located. Evidence of the earliest occupation of the Burgh was found in a pit and midden of late twelfth and thirteenth century date beneath the wider High Street, whose street surfaces abutted a clay-bonded wall set back from the present street frontage. Remains of medieval metalworking were also found. There are specialist reports on `The pottery' by D W Hall (58-- 61), `The artefacts' by Adrian Cox (61--4), `The animal remains' by Catherine Smith (64--6), and an `Assessment of soil samples and charred plant identifications from 77--79 High Street, Arbroath' by Tim Holden (66--8).

Further structural components of the medieval occupation north and west of earlier excavations (96/594) were identified. These probably represent expansion of the site during its transition from leper hospital to poor house in the late sixteenth century. A much-disturbed long-cist burial and pit were also uncovered. George Haggerty contributes `The pottery from St Nicholas Farm, St Andrews' (97--101), R K Murdoch `The glass from St Nicholas Farm, St Andrews' (101--2), Jennifer Thoms `The animal bones' (102--3), Rob Sands `The wood from St Nicholas Farm, St Andrews' (103--4) and Nick Holmes `The coins from St Nicholas Farm, St Andrews' (104).

Upgrading of power lines within a scheduled ancient monument led to archaeological work, including demarcation of sensitive areas and excavation and reinstatement of part of an enclosure dyke. Fiona H Chrystall (142-- 3) contributes `Soil micromorphology report'.

The remains of the stand associated with the racecourse at Uthrogle have been identified, its background researched and a survey and photographic record produced.