Excavation of a settlement and souterrain at Newmill, near Bankfoot, Perthshire

Abstract

The accidental discovery of a souterrain beside the A9 road 14 km (8–7 miles) N of Perth led to its complete excavation and the investigation of several hundred square metres of the settlement with which it was associated. A single grave of the Beaker period was also discovered during excavation and is reported elsewhere in this volume. The souterrain was a massive example of the ‘southern Pictland’ group, and the settlement consisted of timber-framed circular houses of the familiar British Iron Age tradition. Little material cultural remains were recovered, but a series of radiocarbon dates places the souterrain's construction in the last century or so be, its use contemporary with the timber houses alongside, its destruction around 200 AD, and the continued use of the site into the 9th century at least.