Tayside Fife Archaeol J 3

Reports on seven sites in Perthshire: a short-cist cemetery at Almondbank (including contributions from J Close-Brooks on `The finds from Cist II' (25--6), `The finds from Cist X' (31) and `The finds from Cist XI' (31), J Close-Brooks & I A G Shepherd `The finds from Cist VII' (28) and `The finds from Cist IX' (30), P Wilthew & M Davis `Analysis of the composition of the [`jet'] necklace from Cist VII' (28--9) and `Analysis of the composition of the necklace from Cist IX' (30), I A G Shepherd `The finds: comparanda and discussion' (31--2) and G J Barclay `Recent discoveries' (33)); 2 Westhaugh of Tulliemet (including `The human bone' by Richard Grove (36--7), `Food Vessels from Westhaugh of Tulliemet' by A Sheridan (37--41) and `Comment on the site' by G J Barclay (41)); 3 Farleyer cist; 4 Muirhall Farm cist (including `The [flint] knife from Muirhall Farm' by J Close-Brooks (43--4)); 5 White Cairn, Glen Cochill (including `A fragment of Beaker from White Cairn, Glen Cochill' by A Sheridan (44--6)); 6 Loch Luig cairn; 7 Carse Farm stone circles (including `Collared Urn from Carse Farm 1, Perthshire' by A Sheridan (51--2) and `Discussion' by G J Barclay (52)).

A flanged axe and a socketed gouge.

Two excavations of crop-mark sites revealed separate sequences of buildings at each site, both of which included distinctive structures built over a scooped hollow. Radiocarbon dates indicate construction in the sixth and seventh centuries, thus among the earliest peasant dwellings from medieval Scotland and with wider implications for Pictish studies. Camilla Dickson (107--11) contributes `Palaeobotanical analysis'.

One-hundred-and-twenty-one inhumations were recovered from the cemetery associated with the Church of the Holy Trinity, St Andrews, Fife, dating from its building in c 1410. Evidence relating to a phase of medieval burgh development predating 1410 was also found sealed below the cemetery. Amanda Cardy reports on `The human skeletal remains' (154--5), Peter Cheer on `The pottery' (156), Catherine Smith on `The animal bone' (156--7) and Adrian Cox on `Artefacts' (157--8).

Summary concentrating on the archaeological and historical background of a management study, which also provided new data on one of the least-studied classes of medieval site in Scotland. Includes a list of moated sites in Tayside and Fife.

Charles Hill, Dalgety, is the most modern example of the mainland coast defences of Fife built under the National Coast Defence policy between 1856 and 1956. The report highlights the layout, function and manning of the battery, presents those parts which remain, and identifies further defended sites on the Firth of Forth.