Excavation of Neolithic enclosures at Cowie Road, Bannockburn, Stirling, 1984-85

Abstract

Excavations undertaken in 1984 and 1985 on cropmark sites identified as pit and post alignments revealed a bow-ended pit-defined enclosure dated to late-fifth to mid-fourth millennium BC, a post-defined enclosure dated to the mid-fourth to early-third millennium BC, and possible domestic activity. The pits of the enclosure showed up to three phases of use with deposits containing Carinated Bowl-type pottery in the later phases. Medieval or post medieval `rig & furrow' overlay the site and a small assemblage of medieval pottery is also described. There are notes on: `Geology, geomorphology, and soils' by David Jordan (29--31); `Archaeological background' by J S Rideout (31--2); `The palaeochannel' by David Jordan (43--4); `Neolithic pottery' by Trevor Cowie (44--7); `Stone artefacts' by Ann Clarke (48--51); `Radiocarbon dated charcoals' by Michael Cressey (51); the results of radiocarbon dating; `Macroplant assessment' by Tim Holden (53--4); and `Appendix 1' (60--5) presenting tabulated information of phases in pits, and `Appendix 2: medieval and later features' (65--6) including `Medieval pottery' by D Hall (65--6) and cartographic sources.