Battle Hill 2018

Location: Stirling, US

Season: August 6, 2018 to August 17, 2018

Application Deadline: August 3, 2018

Deadline Type: Exact date

Website: http://www.rampartscotland.co.uk/

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
Rampart Scotland

Project Director:
Dr. Murray Cook

Project Description:

Battle Hill, Huntly – named after a daring raid in 1307 during the Scottish Wars of Independence – contains a variety of previously unmapped prehistoric sites including Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age lithic scatters, a possible Iron Age hillfort, and a 3000 year old upstanding hut circle as well as a potential Neolithic/Bronze Age cairn measuring 20-30m in diameter and up to 3m high! Hillforts are elite Iron Age settlements often surrounded by banks, ditches and palisades, found in prominent locations such as Battle Hill.

Battle Hill preserves a prehistoric landscape of hut-circles and cairns built on higher, more marginal ground at a time when the climate was warmer meaning it was possible to live there. As the climate worsened the structures were abandoned. Avoided by subsequent farmers who built and farmed around them, the remains eventually became preserved within the forest itself.

Join us as we continue the first excavation of Battle Hill and uncover its rich secrets!

The Battle Hill Prehistoric Landscape Project is the 18^th season of a long-term, relaxed and open series of research and training excavations into Prehistoric Aberdeenshire and will run from the 6th to 17th August 2018. The project has to date produced over 12 publications and Dr Murray Cook’s PhD. You can read more about the archaeological landscape and some of the work we’ve done on our website.

Last season we uncovered more of the hut circle and hill fort and found a very large potential cairn while we were at it! This year we hope to continue uncovering all three features as well as delve into some of the possible bank features surrounding the hillfort.The 2016 season report is available here on our website.

The Battle Hill Prehistoric Landscape Project is the 18th Season of research into Aberdeenshire’s prehistoric settlement patterns. Previous seasons have explored Roman marching Camps, vitrified forts, Pictish settlement and Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age lithic sites and cairns.

The training is relaxed and easy going and you can learn as much or as little as you want to. You will have the opportunity to excavate archaeological remains that have never been examined before.

• Project Dates: 6^th to 17th August 2018
• Location:  Huntly, Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland.
• Contribution:  £800 UK pounds. The price includes accommodation, food and transport to and from site. (N.B. Deposit of £200 is non-refundable).
• Project type:  Open to students and volunteers (minimum age accepted: 17 years old) – Places are limited so early booking is recommended.
• Accommodation:  Student halls with comfortable single rooms, kitchen facilities, leisure room and showers. All meals are provided in the cost. Extras are the responsibility of the participant and trips to local stores will be available.
• Experience required:  None, as professional archaeologists will always be on-site to provide guidance.
• Other activities:  Trips to local archaeological/historical sites.
• What to wear:   Scottish weather can change at any time, sometimes with four seasons in one day. It is recommended that you come prepared with a range of clothing including clothes for sunny weather, cold weather and hard rain;  light-weight clothing, a waterproof coat and stout boots, sun block and a hat are suggested.

 

Period(s) of Occupation: Iron age Hill, Bronze Age Cairn, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age lithic scatters

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 day

Minimum Age: 17

Experience Required: none

Room and Board Arrangements:
Individual rooms in University Hall of Residence, all food provided but we share the cookign and cleaning. Cost: