by Phase and Feature
4.2.4 Animal pelts and fibres
Penelope Walton Rogers (The Anglo-Saxon Laboratory) (written 2009)
Introduction
Substantial quantities of animal fibre were recovered from the site, from Phases 1–6 (Table 4.6). Some were disaggregated fibres mixed with other organic debris, but most were still in ‘staples’, the locks of fibre that form naturally in an animal’s coat. Some of the latter clearly represented the remains of animal pelts: at the proximal end of the staple there were fibre roots and black decayed remains of skin. Most of the pelts can be attributed to Phases 2–4, when the site was almost certainly used for the processing of animal skins. The remains from other phases are more likely to represent domestic and other more general occupation debris.
The animal species can be identified by microscopy of the fibre. The diagnostic features are the range of fibre diameters, the nature of the cuticular scale pattern, the distribution of pigment, the presence or absence of medullas (central air channel), and the shape of the cross-section (Appleyard 1978; Wildman 1954). The results for individual specimens have been recorded in detail and are summarised in the archive report and Table 4.6.
Results
From Phase 1, there was a tuft of hair, SF4310, from horse or cattle recovered from Gully C001 and the remains of lambskin and some brown-black goat hair, SF2383, from Pit C005. In the medieval period lambskin, sometimes traded under the name of ‘budge’, was used for the linings of winter garments and shoes (Veale 1966: 14–18). The other items were represented by small amounts of fibre and do not point to any particular industrial activity.
Much larger amounts of fibre were recovered from between Phase 2 and early Phase 4. The most extensive remains, from sub-rectangular Pit C018, appear to represent a single brown-black goatskin killed in summer. The coat of goat changes through the year and this example lacked the fine underwool of autumn-winter growth (Ryder 1987: 8). There were also remains of cattle hide, calfskin (the coat of young cattle is different from that of adults: Wildman 1954:
135–58), brown and white sheepskins, white goatskin and further examples of brown-black goatskin, from Layers C003, C019 and C050, Spread C043 and Pit C048. It seems likely that some of the pits in this area were used for the de-hairing of skins, probably by soaking them
Table 4.6 Animal fibres from Area C Phase 1
Gully C001/SF4310 50–55mm ?Hide Uncertain: brown cattle or horse
Pit C005/SF2383A >25mm - Brown-black goat hair
Pit C005/SF2383B 15–20mm Skin Light brown possibly lambskin
Phase 2
Layer C003/SF1228 30–35mm ?Hide Brown cattle hair
Layer C003/SF1379A - - Brown, probably coarse calf hair
Layer C003/SF1379B - - White, sheep’s wool
Layer C003/SF1420 - - Brown-black goat hair
Layer C003/SF1427 30–35mm - Not identified
Layer C003/SF1951 - - Not identified
Layer C003/SF1186 - - Brown sheep’s wool
Layer C003/SF1195 45mm Skin White sheepskin
Layer C003/SF1238 45mm Skin Brown sheep’s wool, similar to 1186
Layer C003/SF3578 50mm Skin Brown sheepskin, HM fleece type
Pit C018/SF2321 - - Same as 3126 and 4127
Pit C018/SF2790 - - Same as 3126 and 4127
Pit C018/SF3069 35mm - Same as 3126 and 4127
Pit C018/SF3126 35–55mm Skin Brown-black goatskin, summer coat
Pit C018/SF4127 50mm ?Skin Brown-black goatskin, summer coat
Pit C018/SF4290 - - Same as 3126 and 4127
Stakes C002/SF3729 - - White, possibly sheep’s wool
Spread C043/SF3425 70mm - Light brown: ?cattle or ?horse
Spread C043/SF3429 - - White goat
Spread C043/SF3847 25–40mm - Pale, probably cattle
Phase 3
Layer C050/SF3897 30–35mm ?Skin Probably off-white lambskin
Phase 3 or 4
Layer C019/SF777 - - White, probably sheep’s wool
Layer C019/SF1173 - - Pale calf hair
Layer C019/SF1438 30–40mm ?Skin Brown cattle hair
Layer C019/SF2277 40–50mm - Possibly black goat
Layer C019/SF3942 - - Not identified
Pit C048/SF3916 35mm ?Skin Brown cattle hair
Pit C048/SF3590 40–65mm Skin Dark brown/black goatskin
Phase 4
Layer C041/SF2791 50mm ?Skin White sheepskin, GM fleece type
Phase 5
Spread C099/SF3467 60–70mm Skin White sheepskin, HM fleece type
Phase 6
Structure C012/SF1301 - - Loose fibres of sheep’s wool
between the tanners who vegetable-tanned adult cattle hides, and the whittawyers who treated the skins of sheep, goat, deer, horse and dog (and calf can be added to the list) with alum and oil (Cherry 1991a: 299). Both would require preliminary de-hairing, and it would appear that at Bon Accord both heavy and light skins were being processed on the same site, between Phase 2 and early Phase 4.
The animal fibres from later levels of the site are derived only from sheep, a white sheepskin, SF2791, from Layer C041 (Phase 4), another, SF3467, from Spread C099 (Phase 5) and some loose fibres of white wool, SF1301, from Structure C012 (Phase 6). The skins may represent remains of clothing or furnishings and the loose wool the raw material for spinning. There is therefore no evidence for skin preparation later than early Phase 4.
4.2.5 Cordage Anne Crone
Four lengths of plaited hair moss (Polytrichum commune) rope and a length of plaited hair moss string were found in Phase 1 Pit C006 and Phase 2 Pit C025. In each length the fibres have been combed out, removing all but the occasional leaf. The ropes have all been fashioned by plaiting bundles of fibres, new bundles being added in to increase length; the point at which one bundle of fibres ends and the next one begins is visible mid-way along SF1555 and on several points on SF3286A (Figure 4.24). The two lengths found in Pit C006 (SF1555 and SF2940) could be part of the same original rope, SF2940 representing an unravelled fragment. However, the two lengths found in Pit C025 are more likely to represent two separate ropes, as SF3286B does not have the string that is threaded through the plait of SF3286A (Figure 4.24). The string may have been a means of strengthening the rope although it does not appear to be frayed along the surviving length.
Hair moss grows in open woodland and acid mires and can grow to lengths of about 0.4m (Dickson 1973). The usefulness of the long, tough, pliable stems has been recognised since at least the Bronze Age. Twist ropes of hair moss were used to tie the joints between the planking of one of the North Ferriby boats (Wright and Churchill 1965) and it is even reported to have been used as a kind of shroud in a Bronze Age grave at Ferniegair, Hamilton (Miller 1947). A flattened circle of woven hair moss with a fringe of long strands, retrieved from the bottom of the ditch at the Roman fort of Newstead, was interpreted by the excavator as an unfinished basket (Curle 1911: 108; Henshall 1950: 152), but a very similar object from the Roman fort at Vindolanda has been interpreted as a hat with a fringe (Wild 1994). A short
133–34), and at Lochlee, another Early Historic crannog close to Buiston, a 4-strand plait and four fringed plaits of hair moss were also found (Munro 1882: 95, 136).
There are numerous examples of hair moss ropes from urban medieval deposits in the British Isles (Shrewsbury – Barker 1961; Trig Lane, London – Rhodes 1982;
Coppergate, York – Hall 1989: 393–97; Perth – Ford and Robinson 1987) and Europe (for example, Aachen and Bergen – reported in Walton Rogers and Hall 2001). The finds are invariably 3-strand plaited ropes and most are short fragments, although some extraordinary lengths have been found, such as the 2.89m length from Trig Lane, London and the 10m length, from a 13th century latrine pit, in Aachen (reported in Hall 1989). Lengths of hair moss rope have also been recovered from other Aberdeen sites (Walton Rogers and Hall 2001); the length from Gallowgate Middle School was a twisted 2-ply rope knotted at one end, while the example from 45–75 Gallowgate was the more standard 3-strand plait.
The plaited lengths of hair moss have been described
SF3286b SF3286a
Figure 4.24 Upper; hairmoss plait SF3286A; fibre bundles protrude mid-way along the plait and at the lefthand end where it curves back on itself. Note the plaited string that
has been threaded through the plait.
Lower; Hairmoss plait SF3286B
for later use, as is done with raffia. Hair moss was used to make soft besoms, or brooms, for the dusting of beds, curtains, carpets and hangings in the 18th century (Hall 1989), while Curle (1911: 358) reported that baskets, hassocks and brooms made of hair moss had been presented to Kew Museum in the 19th century. This material is still used to make basketry today. As plaited rope it would have had myriad uses on a semi-industrial site like Bon Accord.
Catalogue of cordage SF 1555
Phase/Feature Phase 1/Pit C006 fill (B) Description: plait
SF1555 is a length of 3-strand hair moss plait, 560mm long when straightened out. The plait has loosened and is now 45mm wide by 26mm thick at its best-preserved point. Midway along its length is the junction where new bundles of fibres have been worked into the plait.
Both ends are frayed and unfinished.
SF 2940
Phase/Feature Phase 1/Pit C006 fill (B) Description: plait
SF2940 is a length of hair moss plait, 310mm long. It has unravelled and only two strands survive loosely twisted at one point. At this point it is 30mm wide and 20mm thick.
SF 3286A (Figure 4.24)
Phase/Feature Phase 2/Pit C025 fill (D) Description: plait
SF3286A is a length of 3-strand hair moss plait which is now bent back on itself but when straightened out is 450mm long. The plait has loosened and is now 36mm wide and 12mm thick. There are two points at which the ends of fibre-bundles protrude, suggesting that lengths of hair moss c. 170–180mm long were being used. Both ends are frayed and unfinished. A tightly plaited length of hair moss string, 3mm wide and 1mm thick, has been threaded through the plait up through the outer loops on one side. There are knots at two points along its length and one end is finished by a knot to tie off the fibres. The other end is unfinished. It is 620mm long and protrudes from each end of the bigger plait by 110mm at the finished end and 60mm at the other.
SF 3286B (Figure 4.24)
Phase/Feature Phase 2/Pit C025 fill (D) Description: plait
SF3286B is a tightly woven length of 3-strand plait, 200mm long and 30mm wide by 8mm thick. Both ends are frayed and unfinished.
4�3 Inorganic artefacts 4.3.1 Metal artefacts
Dawn McLaren with contributions by K. Paton, A. Sibley and N. Holmes
Overview
A total of 1389 metal objects were recovered. This includes 1241 iron and 148 non-ferrous metal objects (122 copper-based alloy and silver objects, and 26 lead-based alloys) which range in date from the late 11th/12th century AD to the recent past. Metal finds were recovered from all phases, with the vast majority, particularly that of iron, deriving from the later medieval, post-medieval and modern contexts.
Most of the objects were in a broken or damaged state and in some instances were too fragmentary to allow identification of form or date. Many metal objects, particularly those made of iron, are long-lived types making comment on specific chronology problematic.
Most of the finds recovered are fragments of fittings relating to structures and internal fixtures but also present are small numbers of household items including candlesticks and vessel fragments; horse equipment; dress accessories such as buckles, brooches, lace chapes and a strap-end; barrel padlock fragments and other security equipment as well as tool fragments.
Significant items present include a highly decorated late 11th/12th century spur and a probable medieval lead alloy gemstone bezel.
Metal finds were individually examined macro-scopically, where necessary utilising a binocular microscope and 10x hand-lens. X-radiography aided the analysis; identification of iron objects relied heavily on x-radiography and measurements taken from x-rays. Non-ferrous metals have been described here under three broad groups: copper alloy, silver and lead but it should be noted that no compositional analysis (e.g. ED-XRF) was undertaken to refine these broad alloy groups.
Due to the large quantities of metal finds from later, late medieval, post-medieval and modern contexts (Phases 5 and 6) the following report will explicitly focus on objects from Phases 1 to 4, relating to activity dating from the 12th to 15th centuries, but with specific comments on diagnostic artefacts from all phases.
Detailed catalogue descriptions are presented only on illustrated objects but the assemblage is discussed by alloy type and functional group. A full methodology and catalogue of all metal objects (Phases 1 to 6) is contained in the site archive.
Iron
A total of 1242 iron objects, nails and miscellaneous spalls are present amongst the metal assemblage. The ironwork is severely corroded and identification could only be undertaken with the aid of x-radiographs.
From a typological point of view much of the material is undiagnostic of a particular period: for example, square-sectioned nails were in use from the Iron Age through to the post-medieval period.
The following discussion focuses on objects from Phases 1 to 4 where identification of function and/or date has been possible. Objects from Phases 5 and 6 will not be discussed in detail unless they are diagnostic types and/or suggestive of an early, possibly medieval, date.
Weaponry
A single arrowhead (SF2356; Figure 4.25) was recovered from a layer of late post-medieval or modern disturbance within Area C. It has a small triangular blade which has a diamond cross-section and short rounded barbs with a short square-sectioned shoulder. No socket survives but it is assumed that a narrow conical ferrule would once have extended from the square-sectioned shoulder. It conforms broadly to Jessop’s type MP1 arrowhead, a general purpose form in use over a long period, from the 11th to the 15th century (Jessop 1996: 196, fig 1). This type of arrowhead is a common find on urban sites and could have been employed in either hunting or warfare (LMMC, 1940). Similar, contemporary, examples have been found on other Scottish sites, including Rattray, Aberdeen (Goodall in Murray & Murray 1993: 188, fig 39, 177), Perth (Caldwell and Bogden 2012: 193, illus 153;
Ford 1987b: 130, 132, illus 65, no 62) and Urquhart Castle (Samson 1982: 468–69, nos 16 & 17).
Horse equipment
Horse-related equipment was present in the form of horseshoe nails, fragmentary horseshoes and a star rowel. The condition of most of these items and the contexts of recovery imply that they were casual losses during use. The nails, in particular, were found in fairly small numbers considering the duration of occupation on site and most show signs of use in the form of damage to the head or shank and the loss of the tip.
The function and history of horseshoes have been discussed by Clark (1995: 75–84), leading to an established typology, at least for medieval London.
Six horseshoe fragments are present amongst the assemblage but only three shoes were sufficiently intact to enable comparison with Clark’s scheme.
69). The remaining three shoes recovered from Spread A036 (Phase 3) and Layers A014 and C058 (Mid Phase 5) were severely fractured and/or degraded precluding identification of type. A similar variety of horseshoe types are known from a range of Scottish medieval sites including: Tantallon Castle, East Lothian (Caldwell 1991:
illus 4, nos 32); Perth (Cox 1996: 773–74, illus 21, no 297; Ford 1987b: 137;), Edinburgh Castle (Clark 1997b:
161–62, illus 133, no 84) and Aberdeen (Goodall 1982b:
188–89, no 83).
A total of 12 horseshoe nails are present and have been described following Clark’s (1995) typochronological classification scheme. It is likely that further incomplete examples are present amongst the incomplete nails discussed under structural fittings. Four (SF1354, SF1157, SF2328, SF2992A) come from medieval contexts in Area A, with a further three nails (SF1015, SF4207B, SF6015) coming from early phases in Area C. The remaining five nails come from post-medieval contexts.
Three of Clark’s (1995) four types of medieval/early post-medieval horseshoe nail are present at Bon Accord including type 2 ‘fiddle key’ nails, type 3 nails with expanded head and ears and type 4 nails with rectangular heads. Of the types represented at Bon Accord, ‘fiddle key’ nails represent the earliest form, as defined by Clark – a type which saw a long duration of production and use with examples known from 11th century through to 15th century contexts in London (ibid, 86–87) and saw use in conjunction with both type 2 and type 3 styles of horseshoe. Only one example of this form of nail was identified at Bon Accord (SF429) and was found in a late medieval/early post-medieval context (Layer C009). The most common form of horseshoe nail on site was Clark’s type 3 nail represented by ten examples recovered from Phase 1–6 contexts. This includes a substantially complete nail (SF2328; Figure 4.25) which came from layer A002 which is now damaged but shows no obvious signs of use or wear. Type 4 nails are represented by a single example (SF2522) which was recovered from the fill of a late medieval/post-medieval well (A001). The low number of horseshoe nails recognised amongst the assemblage and their wide distribution both spatially and chronologically argues that most of these represent casual loses during use.
The most significant item amongst this group is a well-preserved star-shaped iron spur rowel (SF2648; Figure 4.25) which was recovered from Layer A015, a Phase 4 deposit likely of 14th to 15th century date. It shows signs of wear, implying casual loss during use rather than purposeful discard. Rowel spurs were introduced in the 13th century as an alternative to prick spurs and
SF1075
SF1598b
SF1607 SF1917
SF2328
SF2356 SF2648
0 5cm
SF1628a
Figure 4.25 Miscellaneous iron objects; SF1917; SF1598B; SF1607; SF2328; SF2648; SF1628A; SF1075; SF2356
with a varying number of points saw use from the inception of rowel spur use until modern times, making typological dating of detached rowels problematic (ibid, 147). The example from Bon Accord is very similar in form, size and finish to a 13th century example from London (ibid, 147: fig 106, no.358), while a similar small star-shaped rowel of 15th century date is present on an iron spur at Tantallon Castle attesting to the long-lived currency of this horse-related fitting (Caldwell 1991:
340–42, illus 4, no 31).
Dress accessories
Two simple D-shaped iron buckle frames (SF1075, Figure 4.25; SF1390) were recovered from late medieval/
early post-medieval layers (A007 & A017). Such simple buckles had a long currency of use from the 13th to 15th centuries and could have been used for a variety of purposes, the most common of which was as a fastening for items of personal dress (Egan and Pritchard 1991:
53). Although iron buckles are known from 13th century contexts they tend to be less common than their copper alloy counterparts and are more typical of later use, consistent with the 15th to mid 18th century date of the contexts of recovery at Bon Accord.
Similar D-shaped buckles are known from a range of Scottish medieval sites including: Springwood Park, Kelso (Ford 1998: 710, illus 19, no 3), Jedburgh Abbey, Scottish Borders (Caldwell 1995b: 91, illus 81), Threave Castle, Galloway (Caldwell 1981: 116, fig 12, no 117), Tantallon Castle, East Lothian (Caldwell 1991: illus 4, no 30), Perth (Ford 1987b: 131–32, illus 65 no 66; Franklin and Goodall 2012: 124–25, illus 125, nos 1–4) and Edinburgh Castle (Clark 1997b: 154–56, illus 130, no 26).
In addition to the two iron buckles mentioned is a brooch or buckle pin which comes from Spread A015 dating to Phase 6 (SF6013). It cannot be closely dated but would be consistent with brooch pins in use from the medieval to late post-medieval periods.
Tools
Iron tools are well represented amongst the Bon Accord metal assemblage (28) including many long-lived tool types (such as knives, chisels and punches). The wide range of tools present include knives of various forms, small shears and scissor fragments, a spoon-type auger bit, an axe-hammer or wedge, a serrated blade probably from a hand-held saw, file fragments and currier’s knife.
These tools represent a suite of craft and industrial activities such as stone masonry, carpentry, leather and textile working as well as metalworking although in
These tools represent a suite of craft and industrial activities such as stone masonry, carpentry, leather and textile working as well as metalworking although in