Deers Den is an archaeological site at Kintore, Scotland in Aberdeenshire. The site has mesolithic remains, Iron Age artefacts and is a known Roman Camp.

History

The area includes evidence of settlement dating back to the Bronze Age, with at least seven roundhouses, likely to date from the Iron Age, up to the time of the Roman Empire.[1] Subsequently, the area would have been used as a Roman marching camp,[2] and has associations with the Severan invasion, ca 200 CE.[3][4] The marching camp would have been large enough for 10,000 troops to rest. Excavations in the area have found 44 bread ovens and 20 separate buildings over the area.[5]

The excavation of 44 bread ovens is the largest number of Roman bread ovens found in one location in the UK.[6] They would have been open flat breads topped with vegetables, similar to modern pizzas.[7]

The archaeological discoveries of the area came about due to a proposed housing development in about 2003.[7][8] The roundhouses became scheduled monuments on 30 March 2009, under Historic Environment Scotland.[1]

Location and features

There are ring ditch houses in the area, dating to the Bronze age, somewhere in the range of 1600 - 700 BCE.[9]

The scheduled monument roundhouses are located near the A96 road, to the west of the River Don. They are not directly visible, but instead show through cropmarks visible from the air. Two further roundhouses were likely demolished by the creation of the A96. It is likely there are burial grounds nearby.[1] The site covers a total of 120 acres (49 ha) site is partially disturbed and developed by the western part of Kintore itself.[3]

See also

References

Cook, M and Dunbar, L Rituals, Roundhouses and Romans: Excavations at Kinore 2000-2006, Volume 1, Forest Road. Edinburgh.

  1. ^ a b c "Deer's Den, roundhouses 195m and 250m south of A Scheduled Monument in East Garioch, Aberdeenshire". Ancient Monument. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. ^ https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/kintore/ Deer's Den, Kintore Temporary Camp 1]
  3. ^ a b Aberdeenshire Council: Recent Archaeological Work at Deers Den Archived 2007-09-02 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Aberdeenshire Council: Deers Den, Kintore Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Kintore". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ "The Deer's Den Bar & Diner". Royal Burgh of Kintore. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b Harley, Duncan (2019). The Little History of Aberdeenshire (Illustrated ed.). The History Press. ISBN 9780750991131. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  8. ^ Forder, Simon (2019). The Romans in Scotland and the battle of Mons Graupius : 'they make a desolation and they call it peace' (illustrated ed.). Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445690568. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  9. ^ Johnson, Melanie (2010). "The Excavation of Bronze Age Roundhouses at Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire". Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports. 43.

57°14′08″N 2°21′17″W / 57.23556°N 2.35472°W / 57.23556; -2.35472

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