<< Our Photo Pages >> Birnie Roundhouses - Misc. Earthwork in Scotland in Moray

Submitted by cosmic on Thursday, 02 October 2008  Page Views: 14667

Multi-periodSite Name: Birnie Roundhouses Alternative Name: Birnie Kirk, Dykeside
Country: Scotland County: Moray Type: Misc. Earthwork
Nearest Town: Elgin
Map Ref: NJ210585
Latitude: 57.609548N  Longitude: 3.323819W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 3

Internal Links:
External Links:

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Pictorial representation of Roundhouse (Vote or comment on this photo)
After a metal detectorist uncovered some Roman coins in 1996 subsequent excavation into some previously seen crop marks revealed two hoards of Roman coins and the post-holes of several roundhouses. The site has been worked as a summer project by National Museum staff for the last nine years (usually for a four week spell in August-September).

It is thought that the hoards were pay-offs to the local tribes from the Romans to keep the peace. The site seems to have been occupied for several hundred years with the "main" roundhouse moving around the site as the previous one decayed.

See Current Archeology Issue 181 and RCAHMS site for more details.

Note: Chariot find at Iron Age settlement site, see latest comment.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Iron working area over a previous hut (Vote or comment on this photo)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : The first hoard (Vote or comment on this photo)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Fourth roundhouse from South with ironworking area beyond (Vote or comment on this photo)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Roman brooches found on the site. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : The aerial photo which added to coin finds led to original dig. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Shattered quern from 3rd Roundhouse - it is thought that this roundhouse had two floors and that the quern was left on the upper floor when the house was burned down.

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Postholes 2nd Roundhouse

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Posthole 1st roundhouse

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Hearth 1st Roundhouse

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : First roundhouse

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Entrance 3rd Roundhouse

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Internal divisions (3rd House)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Cracked cooking stones - stones were heated over the fire then put into pots to heat the water - they eventually shatter leaving debris like this.

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Burnt turf from roof (3rd House)

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : The 3rd Roundhouse

Birnie Roundhouses
Birnie Roundhouses submitted by cosmic : Under the Blue Buckets - the blue/purple buckets mark the spots where hoards were recovered from.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 421m WNW 300° Birnie Pictish Stone* Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ20645872)
 2.5km WSW 248° Upper Manbeen* Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ1868957615)
 4.4km N 9° Elgin Museum* Museum (NJ218628)
 4.7km NNE 14° Elgin symbol stone* Class II Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ2219263057)
 5.0km SE 137° Netherglen* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NJ24315476)
 5.2km NNW 330° Quarry Wood* Henge (NJ185631)
 6.0km ENE 76° Errol circle Stone Circle (NJ26905984)
 6.4km NW 311° Alves Stone Circle* Stone Circle (NJ162628)
 6.8km ENE 69° Bogton Mill* Stone Circle (NJ2743060765)
 8.1km NE 41° Urquart Stones* Stone Circle (NJ26456450)
 9.0km NW 312° Easterton of Roseisle* Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ144647)
 9.7km NE 54° Innesmill* Stone Circle (NJ28956407)
 10.5km N 349° Gordonstoun Ogston Cross* Ancient Cross (NJ19276892)
 10.7km NNW 345° Gordounstoun Class II Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ184689)
 10.9km NW 322° Tappoch of Roseisle Round Cairn (NJ145673)
 11.0km N 6° Drainie 3, 13, 26 Class III Pictish Cross Slab (NJ223694)
 11.4km NNW 329° Inverugie Cup marked stone* Rock Art (NJ15296838)
 11.4km NE 52° Binn Hill* Round Cairn (NJ30166532)
 11.4km NNW 329° Camus Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NJ15306840)
 11.5km NNW 326° Inverugie Souterrain* Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (NJ148682)
 11.5km NW 326° Inverugie Cup and Ring Marked rocks* Rock Art (NJ147682)
 11.6km NNW 330° Inverugie* Round Cairn (NJ154687)
 11.7km ESE 105° St Mary's Well (Inchberry)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NJ323552)
 12.6km NNW 336° Clasach Cove* Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ16007013)
 12.7km NNW 343° Sculptor's Cave* Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NJ175707)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Cocking Down

Dolmen du Thyl >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Contribute!

· NEW: I have visited
· I would like to visit
· Submit an Image
· Add a description
· Give accurate position
· Add a comment or news about this site

Cures and Curses, Ritual and cult at holy wells

Cures and Curses, Ritual and cult at holy wells

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Birnie Roundhouses" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Birnie Excavations Open Day, Sunday 12th September by Andy B on Tuesday, 17 August 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)
Sunday 12th September. Tours for adults at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Tours for families at 11am, 1pm and 3pm
Location:
Dykeside, Birnie, – two fields to the E of Birnie Kirk, NJ 210 585

Why were two Roman silver coin hoards buried in an Iron Age farm? Archaeologists reveal Birnie’s hidden secrets. This is our final season – take your last chance to visit!

http://www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/?q=node/1676
Scottish Archaeology Month 2010
[ Reply to This ]

Iron Age discovery unearthed at farm by coldrum on Thursday, 01 October 2009
(User Info | Send a Message)
Iron Age discovery unearthed at farm

ARCHAEOLOGISTS find remains of 2,000-year-old roundhouse.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the floor and timber beams of a 2,000-year-old roundhouse in the heart of a Moray farm, it emerged yesterday.

Experts believe the structure unearthed at Dykeside Farm, Birnie, was once the multistorey-power centre of an Iron Age settlement.

Last night, the archaeologist leading the excavation said it was the best-preserved roundhouse discovered on the site.

National Museums of Scotland curator Fraser Hunter said the “huge, impressive building” had a diameter of 50ft and had stood nearly 30ft high and showed how sophisticated the Iron Age settlers really were. He added: “People tend to think they were scratching around living difficult existences and staying in huts, but this is no hut. This was a huge and impressive building.”

The archaeologist said he believed there had been lots of smaller structures around the roundhouse but this had been the major power centre. “It’s absolutely remarkable,” he said. “Each time we come here it throws up surprises. It just shows what an important place this was 2,000 years ago. It’s giving us completely new insights into the Iron Age.”

The remains will be recorded before the timber is lifted carefully and sent away for analysis to gain insight into the type of wood used, and how the house was built.

The Birnie field has been excavated by archaeologists for the last 12 years.

Mr Hunter said the most significant discoveries had been five other roundhouses found this year, plus two hoards of Roman coins. In total 20 roundhouses have been found. Sheila McColl, Elgin Museum volunteer and archaeological representative of the Moray Society which manages the museum, said the site had put Moray on the Iron Age map.

“We have a case in the museum which displays the best finds made at Birnie, including the two hoards of Roman coins. We’re obviously very grateful to the National Museums of Scotland for letting us have this display.”

The National Museums of Scotland has organised an open day at the site on Sunday. Maps to the site can be picked up from Elgin Museum, High Street, Elgin. Booking is not required. Phone 0131 247 4050 for information.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1391588?UserKey=
[ Reply to This ]

Chariot find at Iron Age settlement site by Andy B on Thursday, 02 October 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
Archaeologists have uncovered a small - but vital - clue to the use of
a chariot in Moray (Grampian, Scotland). The piece for a horse harness
was found during the latest dig at an Iron Age site at Birnie, near
Elgin. Dr Fraser Hunter, of the National Museums of Scotland, said it
was further evidence of the high status of its inhabitants. Glass
beads that may have been made at Culbin Sands, near Nairn, in the
Highlands, a dagger and quern stones for making flour have also been
found previously.

An army of archaeologists, students and volunteers have slowly
been excavating two roundhouses that date back to 2,000 years ago. Two
further years of work are planned before the site is restored to
farmland. An open day allowing the public to tour the dig was held
on the 7 September.

Dr Hunter said the metal piece for a horse harness was among
this summer's finds. He said: "It comes from a chariot and it shows
something of the contacts these people had and their aspirations, I
suppose. The chariot was the flashy run around of the period." The
horse-drawn transport and equipment may have come from the south of
Scotland, or north England.

The team have been painstakingly picking through the remains of
one of the roundhouses, which was badly damaged in a fire. The blaze
has "fossilised" oak timber beams and seeds, but the process of
excavation has been described as being like "digging through a
bonfire". Previously, a fire investigation officer with Grampian Fire
and Rescue Service and a Grampian Police scenes of crime officer
helped to determine that the fire was started deliberately. The pair
were able to point to a fire being started at the base of the inside
wall. What is not known is whether this was while the house was still
in use, or at the end of its life.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7585922.stm
[ Reply to This ]

Volunteers join archaeologists in Moray by Andy B on Tuesday, 19 August 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
Volunteers join archaeologists in Moray
Latest phase of Birnie dig begins to reveal more historical objects

Employees of National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh joined students from universities in Glasgow and Carlisle, as well as local volunteers, on the site.

Over the last 10 years, archaeologists have been looking closely at the site, about four miles from Elgin, which they believe had up to 15 houses during the Iron Age.

“These were not small houses. They were about eight metres high,” said Fraser Hunter, principal curator of Iron Age and Roman collections at the national museum.

More, with photo in the Press and Journal
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/791745?UserKey=0
[ Reply to This ]

Experts return to 'power centre' by Andy B on Thursday, 10 July 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
Archaeologists are to return to an Iron Age "power centre" to further investigate the influence of the Romans on the north of Scotland.

Dr Fraser Hunter, of the National Museums of Scotland, will lead the dig at Birnie, near Elgin, next month.

Roman coin hordes have previously been found in the area.

Dr Hunter said he hoped the work would further uncover clues to an Iron Age community there and the emergence of ancient people known as the Picts.

The archaeologists will look at a number of key target sites in what will be the final phase of excavations at Birnie.

Dr Hunter, principal curator of Roman archaeology, said it had been a "power centre" going back 3,000 years.

He said: "Around the Roman Iron Age it really flourished and was a place with Roman connections."

Silver coins discovered previously were believed to be bribes to keep the chieftan and local population on side with Rome, said Dr Hunter.

He said: "The site shows the influence of Rome beyond the edge of the empire."

The coins were thought to have been buried as a religious offering.

Dr Hunter said: "A series of strange things have also been found recently.

"One was an intact decorative pot buried upside down and a whet stone, a lovely rectangular object hardly used and not the kind of thing that would be have been discarded.

"We think these were buried as sacrifices as offerings to the gods."

Evidence of Roman influence outside the boundaries of the empire have been found across northern Scotland.

Last July, the BBC Scotland news website told how ancient coins were found on a beach in the Western Isles.

Archaeologists believed the pieces of copper alloy date from the middle of the 4th Century.

They were found in a sand dune, but the location in the Uists has been kept secret to protect the site.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7487985.stm
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.