EDINBURGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SOCIETY

Geouhvsical survey adiacent to Castlehill Plantation

Penicuik, Midlothian. F

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1. Summary

An area ground resistance survey was made over a row of five 20 by 20m. squares in
the field to the south of Castlehill Plantation on the estate of Sir Robert Clerk in
Penicuik. The field name is recorded as South Croft. See Illus. 7.1.

Aerial photographs (Refs. 8.1 and 8.2) show at least two circular features as dark
marks together with a linear parch mark that appears to run to the NE from the larger
of the two circles.

Seasonal excavation on Castlehill over the period from summer 2003 to 2007 has
produced finds that probably indicate that Castlehill is a Late Iron Age site but none
of these finds can be classified as domestic. Tools, charcoal and slag suggest that the
site could well have had an industrial purpose with skin and leather working possible.
The aerial photograph circular features lie about loom, from the presumed industrial
area and were considered as possible residences for those involved on the work site.

The printout of the ground resistance measurements (see Illus.7.2) showed two vague
low resistance circles (light areas) of different sizes that align reasonably with the two
circles when scaled from the aerial photographs and match the size variation detected
in the resistance measurements. The linear parch mark, that showed on the aerial
photographs, heading NE from the larger circle was not detected on the resistance
survey possibly due to the wet ground conditions prevailing at the time of the survey.

2. Introduction

Castlehill, on the estate of Sir Robert Clerk in Penicuik (NGR NT 20837 58753), was
geophysically surveyed in 2003 and seasonal excavation has taken place on the site
yearly since that date. The site has yielded stone tools, hearths containing charcoal,
burnt bone and possible slag but no domestic debris. The stone tools have been
estimated to be of ~ a ' t Iron
e Age date. The suggestion that the stone tools were used
for skin or leather working, as opposed to food preparation, coupled with the lack of
domestic debris, could point to a domestic site removed from the working site on
Castlehill.

The examination of the stereo-pair A.Ps, in the RCAHMS collection, showed the
circular crop marks in the field to the S of Castlehill. This field is separated from
Castlehill by a small un-named burn. The ground rises from the burn to form a NE-
SW ridge, approximately parallel to the ridge of Castlehill Plantation. The field ridge
slopes gently down to the NE and merges into the comparatively flat field to the S of
Cornton Cottages. The two circles lie on this ridge with the smaller circle to the SW.
The S side of the field slopes to the S to form the bank of the river North Esk.