Pits and Boots: Excavation of Medieval and Post-medieval Backlands under the Bon Accord Centre, Aberdeen

Contents

Preface ;

1 Introduction ;
1.1 Background to the archaeological works ;
1.2 The site and its setting ;
1.3 The archaeological works of 2007–08 ;
1.4 Previous archaeological investigations around Gallowgate and Upperkirkgate ;
1.5 Dating and the chronology of the site ;
1.6 Structure of the monograph ;
1.7 The ceramic assemblage ;

2 Summary of Archaeological Remains by Phase ;
2.1 Introduction ;
2.2 Phase 1 – mid-to-late 12th century (figure 2.3) ;
2.3 Phase 2 – late 12th to mid 13th century (figure 2.14) ;
2.4 Phase 3 – mid-to-late 13th century(figure 2.41) ;
2.5 Phase 4 (early) – late 13th to 14th century (figure 2.53) ;
2.6 Phase 4 (late) – 14th to early 15th century (figure 2.62) ;
2.7 Phase 5 (early) – 15th to 16th century (figure 2.66) ;
2.8 Phase 5 (mid) – 15th to 16th century (figure 2.68) ;
2.9 Phase 5 (late) – 15th/16th to mid-to-late 18th century (figure 2.74) ;
2.10 Phase 6 – mid-to-late 18th to 20th century (figure 2.78) ;

3 Presentation of Artefactual and Ecofactual Evidence by Phase and Feature ;
3.1 Introduction ;
3.2 Phase 1 (mid-to-late 12th century) (figure 2.3) ;
3.3 Phase 2 (late 12th to mid 13th century) (figure 2.14) ;
3.4 Phase 3 (mid-to-late 13th century) (figure 2.41) ;
3.5 Phase 4 (early) (late 13th to 14th century) (figure 2.53) ;
3.6 Phase 4 (late) (14th to early 15th century) (figure 2.63 & Table 3.4) ;
3.7 Phase 5 (early) (15th to 16th century) (figure 2.66) ;
3.8 Phase 5 (mid) (15th to 16th century) (figure 2.68 & Table 3.5) ;
3.9 Phase 5 (late) (15th/16th to mid-to-late 18th century) (figure 2.74 & Table 3.5) ;

4 Specialist Reports – Summaries of the Evidence ;
4.1 Dating evidence ;
4.2 Organic artefacts ;
4.3 Inorganic artefacts ;
4.4 Structural materials ;
4.4.4 Socketed stone ;
4.5 Ecofact analyses ;

5 Discussion: The Site in Its Context ;
5.1 The origins of Upperkirkgate and Gallowgate (phases 1 to 3) ;
5.2 Industrial activity in the medieval gallowgate (phases 1 to 4) ;
5.2.1 Leatherworking and associated processes ;
5.2.2 Other industrial processes ;
5.3 Late medieval and early post-medieval properties (phase 4 to mid phase 5) ;
5.4 Later post-medieval occupation: the gardens of aberdeen (mid-to-late phase 5) ;
5.5 Later post-medieval occupation: houses of the gentry (late phase 5) ;
5.6 The late 18th century onwards: expansion of commerce and industry (phase 6) ;
5.7 Late 19th and 20th century development ;

6 Conclusions ;

References ;

Appendices ;
1 Radiocarbon dating programme ;
2 Ceramic building materials ;
3 Macroplant remains ;
4 Fish bone ;
5 Ceramics

About the Author

Michael Roy currently works as a Project manager in the Post-Excavation sector at AOC Archaeology Group. After graduating from the University of Cambridge in 1993 and the University of Leicester in 1994, Michael has worked in archaeology across the UK, working for several years for the Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust and Essex County Council’s Field Archaeology Unit. Joining AOC Archaeology in 2004, he has directed substantial urban excavations in Edinburgh (Parliament House), Aberdeen (Bon Accord) and Dunbar, in addition to working in their Consultancy sector.

Reviews

‘…the monograph provides a clear, well-researched and well-presented account of excavations undertaken in Aberdeen in 2007–8; it examines medieval backland industry followed by later, more affluent domestic occupants; it explores the burgh’s wider trade connections in Britain and beyond; it synthesises a wealth of remarkable organic material; it discusses extraordinary finds such as a late 12th- or early 13th-century stone-and-wooden composite grinding lathe; and it does all this with good photographs and figures throughout, using clear print on quality paper.’ – Brian Ayers (2022): Medieval Archaeology, 65/2, 2021