Excavations at Flodden Hill
Project Design and Method Statement
May 29th 2013
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Excavations at Flodden Hill: May/June 2013
Excavations at Flodden Hill
May 2013
1.
INTRODUCTION
As part of the proposed scheme of excavations within the Flodden
1513 HLF archaeological project excavations have been scheduled at
Flodden Hill between 26th May and 8th June 2013 (1st June will be a
day off). These excavations will be targeted at continuing
investigations around the eastern entrance to the fortified redoubt at
the summit of Flodden Hill, believed to be part of the Scottish camp
prior to the Battle of Flodden
The excavations will be conducted by volunteers of mixed experience
and will be lead by Jenny Vaughan and John Nolan of NCAS supported
by Dr Christopher Burgess, the Flodden 1513 Archaeological
Manager.
2.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The project will aim to characterise the archaeological remains
visible at the surface, the structures surrounding the entrance and
possible bastion features recorded on several early estate and county
maps.
The objectives of this study are then to establish which, if any of the
remains encountered date to the activities of James IV and his army
on this site and establish which structures relate to what activity
including:
These are:
 The rectangular fortification (thought to date to 1513)
 The curvilinear enclosures (thought to be Iron Age)
 Other uncharacterized walls ands structures outside the
entrance of the rectangular fortification
3.
3.1
EXCAVATION AREAS
AREA 1: EAST OF THE RECTANGULAR FORTIFICATION
This area was first investigated in 2009 and again in 2012 and is
aimed at characterizing not only the entrance on the east side of the
rectangular fortification on the summit of Flodden Hill but also
understanding its fore works and any underlying archaeological
remains.
Previous seasons of excavation have identified not only a paved route
approaching the entrance way, but also limited fore works and
revetments which appear to relate to the construction of the stone
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Excavations at Flodden Hill: May/June 2013
faced, earth core ramparts that make up the rectangular fortification
to the west. Continuing excavations in this area should also allow any
relationship with underlying archaeological structures, possibly Iron
Age in origin to be investigated.
3.2
AREA 2: NORTH-EAST OF THE NORTH EAST CORNER OF THE SUMMIT
FORTIFICATION.
This area was also investigated both in 2009 and 2012 specifically to
investigate the presence or otherwise of a possible bastion at the
corner of the main fortification. Armstrong’s map of 1769 seems to
show a pointed ‘trace Italien’ style structure at the corner of this
fortification and during limited excavations in 2009 it was thought
the footings of this had been identified.
The discovery of an enclosure map from the 1730s seemed to suggest
this bastion structure was actually curvelinear or drum shapped lead
to this area being re-opened in 2012. At that time features seen
during 2009 were excavated through revealing more stone
revetments which seemed to run parallel to the main enclosure wall
and not away from it.
Excavations in this area are targeted on resolving the issues relating
to any ‘bastion’ like structures in the vicinity of the NE corner of the
fortification.
3.3
AREA 3: SOUTH-EAST OF THE SOUTH EAST CORNER OF THE SUMMIT
FORTIFICATION
An additional area will be opened SE of the south-eastern corner of
the fortification, if resources allow, to examine wall and ditch features
identified in this area in limited trial pits during 2012. Again this area
would be targeted at characterizing the nature and formation of
remains and trying to establish not only their purpose but also their
date.
3.4
AREA 4: TO THE WEST OF THE SUMMIT OF FLODDEN HILL ON FLODDEN EDGE AT
ITS NORTHERN SIDE
It is proposed to excavate a small trial excavation in open ground
between the Fortification on the summit of Flodden Hill (Site 1) and
the enclose (Flodden Hill Site 2) excavated during 2010 and 2011.
This excavation will be targeted specifically at remains visible from
the surface that may give some insight into features recorded on early
plans of the area drawn in the 1730s.
This excavation will be aimed to characterize any remains with the
hope of establishing whether the defenses recorded on the 1730s
map are either schematic of what was present or a literal recording of
the Scottish defenses of 1513.
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Excavations at Flodden Hill: May/June 2013
4.
METHODOLOGY
All archaeological excavations will be by hand. Turf will be removed
manually and set aside for re-instatement. Topsoil and deep deposits
will be removed by means of hand tools (mattock, hoe and shovel)
and all soil retained for reinstatement.
Where archeological remains (levels, features, walls and deposits) are
encountered these will be excavated by hand using appropriate tools
(trowels etc) and will be appropriately recoded.
Backfilling will be achieved by machine.
4.1
RECORDING
All appropriate records will be kept on site, these will be prepared
and maintained by volunteers under the guidance of the site
supervisorial staff.
4.1.1
Context Records
Context records will be maintained for each individually identifiable
layer or feature. This record will be on an appropriate paper form
which will be related to a central index.
4.1.2
Drawing
Where appropriate drawing will be prepared of areas or parts of
areas. These will include plans at 1:20 and section drawings of both
trench edges and through discrete features at a appropriate scales
depending on the subject (1:20, 1:10 or 1:5). Details of all drawings
will be logged in a central drawing register.
4.1.3
Photographs
A photographic record of the site will be maintained. This will include
general progress shots of whole/part excavation areas and also
specific shots of detailed features and any finds encountered. The
photographic record shall be entirely digital and will be stored and
backed up on a daily basis in both high-res JPG form and RAW form. A
central register of photographs taken will be logged on paper.
4.1.4
Finds and Samples
Finds will be gather by layer in bulk unless they represent a datable
item from a secure context. Such ‘small finds’ will be recorded on a
paper index and will be bagged separately and appropriately labeled.
Where a layer or context may offer more information by sampling and
later analysis. This will consist of a minimum of 1 40lt bucket where
that quantity exists to be collected or less where less exists to be
collected.
All samples will be recorded on a paper index.
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Excavations at Flodden Hill: May/June 2013
5.
FINDS, SAMPLE AND ARCHIVE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL
All finds, samples and records will be removed from the site upon
completion of the excavations. Finds and Samples will be stored at the
project’s sample store on Etal Rhodes Farm and the paper record will
be stored at the Archaeology Manager’s office.
Upon completion of a suitable Data Structure Report those finds and
samples collected will be reported in the appropriate way to the Finds
Disposal system for Scotland (managed through the National Museum
of Scotland).
6.
REPORTING
A suitably formatted Data Structure Report (including an interim
report on the excavations) will be prepared and submitted to the
Northumberland County Council Conservation Service within 8
months of the completion of the excavations.
Finds and samples identified for specialist reporting will be
forwarded for specialist assessment to be completed no later than
spring/summer 2016.
A final report will be published in the Flodden Monograph (out put
for all elements of the Flodden Archaeological and Documentry
Research Project) during the autumn of 2016.
Copies of all reports will be lodged with the Northumberland HER as
well as with local libraries in Coldstream and Berwick.
7.
ARCHIVING
Appropriately formatted and prepared archives will be prepared and
presented to an archive identified as appropriate by the
Northumberland Conservation Service.
8.
OASIS
An OASIS entry will be completed and submitted by the project no
later than 8 months after the excavations have been completed.
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