Archaeological Excavations at Nethermills Farm, Deeside, 1978-81

This publication is grant aided by Historic Environment Scotland.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Multi-disciplinary Approach to the Archaeological Investigation of a Bedrock-Dominated Shallow-Marine Landscape:An example from the Bay of Firth, Orkney, UK

Investigation of shallow-marine environments for submerged prehistoric archaeology can be hampered in many localities by extensive bedrock exposure and thus limited preservation potential. Using the concept of 'seamless archaeology' where land-based archaeology is integrated across the intertidal zone through to the offshore, a multi-disciplinary approach is essential. This approach taken in the Bay of Firth, Orkney uses geophysics, historical archive and ethno-archaeology, coastal geomorphology, palaeo-environmental analyses and sea-level science, and allows a clearer understanding of the landscape in which prehistoric settlers lived. While acknowledging the limitations of the preserved environment, we are successful in identifying areas of archaeological potential on the sea-bed for both upstanding structural elements as well as sediment preservation that contains evidence for human occupation. This has wider implications beyond Orkney's World Heritage sites to provide a blueprint for similar studies elsewhere in the coastal zone. (C) 2012 The Authors</p

A Multi-disciplinary Approach to the Archaeological Investigation of a Bedrock-Dominated Shallow-Marine Landscape:an example from the Bay of Firth, Orkney, UK

Investigation of shallow-marine environments for submerged prehistoric archaeology can be hampered in many localities by extensive bedrock exposure and thus limited preservation potential. Using the concept of 'seamless archaeology' where land-based archaeology is integrated across the intertidal zone through to the offshore, a multi-disciplinary approach is essential. This approach taken in the Bay of Firth, Orkney uses geophysics, historical archive and ethno-archaeology, coastal geomorphology, palaeo-environmental analyses and sea-level science, and allows a clearer understanding of the landscape in which prehistoric settlers lived. While acknowledging the limitations of the preserved environment, we are successful in identifying areas of archaeological potential on the sea-bed for both upstanding structural elements as well as sediment preservation that contains evidence for human occupation. This has wider implications beyond Orkney's World Heritage sites to provide a blueprint for similar studies elsewhere in the coastal zone. (C) 2012 The Authors</p

Archaeological excavations at Nethermills Farm, Deeside, 1978–81

The Mesolithic site of Nethermills Farm, Crathes, Banchory, was identified from fieldwalking that took place between 1973 and 1977 and it was excavated between 1978 and 1981 under the direction of James Kenworthy. Kenworthy interpreted the site as a ‘hunter-gatherer camp’ with probable evidence for a circular structure, but publication of the excavation was never completed. This paper draws on specialist work undertaken immediately after excavation, together with new analyses and radiocarbon determinations from original samples. It focuses on the results of excavation: material from the fieldwalking is briefly considered towards the end of the discussion, but detailed analysis of the lithics from fieldwalking is left for future research. A number of stratified features were excavated and recorded, together with a lithic assemblage of over 30,000 pieces, which includes many narrow blade microliths. It is not possible to uphold the interpretation that the cut features represent the remains of a specific structure but it is clear that Mesolithic activity took place here, probably comprising repeated visits over a considerable period of time. The radiocarbon determinations cover a wide spread of activity from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age – though there are no clear chronological indicators of later prehistoric activity in the finds from the site. Kenworthy chose to excavate only a tiny proportion of the site at Nethermills, which extends some 2km along the River Dee. The likelihood that stratified features may survive elsewhere makes this a Mesolithic site of considerable significance – especially when considered in the context of the many other Mesolithic sites along the River Dee, from its source to the sea

Can an old alien benefit from rising ocean temperatures? An experimental and field study on the growth and local distribution of Codium fragile subsp. fragile (Chlorophyta)

Codium fragile subsp. fragile (hereafter C. fragile) is a widespread non-native chlorophyte. Experimental and observational approaches were used to examine the influence of temperature on its growth and local distribution in southwestern Norway, where it has been established for over 80 years. Growth was measured in laboratory experiments at current and predicted seasonal minimum and maximum seawater temperatures, and under natural conditions by recording length over 1 year in the field. The results indicated that if temperatures increase, C. fragile growth rate may increase in spring, but not in mid-autumn/winter due to low light. Thallus fragmentation was common in autumn/winter in the field, but very rare in the winter-temperature laboratory experiment, indicating that low temperature is not the only driver. Growth occurred at temperatures which are reported as too low for growth in other locations, suggesting that C. fragile can acclimatise/adapt to local temperature regimes. Local distribution was examined by surveying abundance using categories based on the number of thalli and their arrangement (scattered/patch/zone) at 46 stations from 2011 to 2016. Codium fragile colonised the stations relatively often, but was frequently lost from sites with only bedrock compared to sites with stony substratum present (cobbles/boulders). It was more likely to be consistently present at sites with stones and could form dominant patches of canopy in the upper sublittoral on this substratum. An increase in the number of stations with C. fragile present was seen after two mild winters, suggesting that higher minimum temperatures may increase site occupancy of C. fragile in this region