Dunbar Halls of Residence Site
E79
DescriptionAn archaeological evaluation was carried out by Aberdeen City Council Archaeological Unit in January 2002 prior to the demolition of Dunbar Halls of Residence. Evidence of three ditches, two large rubbish pits and a wall, probably the remains of the Bishop's Palace (NJ90NW0253) , were uncovered. The building was constructed of ashlar sandstone. Very few finds were recovered, but they include window glass and sherds of local medieval pottery. Further trial trenching evaluation was carried out by ACC Archaeological Unit in May 2005 assess the survival of elements of the Old Aberdeen's Bishop's palace, the evaluation focussed on areas to be disturbed by the footprint of the new building and on areas not previously assessed. Ten trenches were excavated and concrete foundations, holes for trees recently planted, and a stone shaft within an undercroft were discovered. The shaft may be a well but could possibly be a 'bottle dungeon', like that of St Andrews Castle, Fife. Medieval pottery and roof tiles were found in the fill. The building above was possibly a two or more- storey structure. Much of the stonework was robbed in antiquity. The finds from this site are in the collections of Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums.Location InfoEasting: 394068.886894455, Northing: 808772.170994976
National Grid Reference: NJ 9406 0877
Postcode: AB24 1RQ
NotesBogdan and Bryce, N and I B D. (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot, 1991. Page(s): 23 Cameron, A. (2002a) 'Dunbar Hall, Aberdeen City (Aberdeen parish), Bishop's Palace', Discovery Excav Scot, vol. 3, 2002. Page(s): 7 Cameron, A. (2005a) 'Dunbar halls of residence (Aberdeen parish), well or bell dungeon', Discovery Excav Scot, vol. 6, 2005. Coventry, M. (2001) The castles of Scotland. 3rd. Musselburgh. Page(s): 88 RCAHMS Shelf Number: F.5.2.COV Coventry, M. (2008) Castles of the Clans: the strongholds and seats of 750 Scottish families and clans. Musselburgh. Page(s): 43 RCAHMS Shelf Number: F.5.21.COV Dowell Auctioneers. (1889) Catalogue of the collection of J Sturrock. Edinburgh. Gordon, J. (1842) Abredoniae utriusque descriptio: a description of both touns of Aberdeen, by James Gordon Parson of Rothemay, with a selection of the charters of the burgh. Edinburgh. RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.5.13.ABE.R Kennedy, W. (1818) Annals of Aberdeen from the reign of William the Lion to 1818; with an account of the city, cathedral and university. Aberdeen. Orem, W. (1830) A description of the Chanonry, Cathedral and King's College of Old Aberdeen, in the years 1724-5. Aberdeen, (Edinburgh. Page(s): 112-13, 225-6 RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.5.13.ABK.R RCAHMS. (2007a) In the shadow of Bennachie: a field archaeology of Donside, Aberdeenshire. Edinburgh. Page(s): 162-3 RCAHMS Shelf Number: A.1.7.BEN Scottish Castle Survey. (1988) 'A directory of the owners and occupiers of the castles, manors and 'town houses' {c.1050-c.1707} of Scotland: Grampian Region'. Aberdeen. Page(s): 3, no.1/42 RCAHMS Shelf Number: B.2.1.CAS Smith, A (ed.. (1875) A new history of Aberdeenshire, 2v. Aberdeen. Page(s): Vol.2, 1089 RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.5.1.SMIReference Numbers
- NJ90NW0915
- 20219
