AOC Archaeology Group Projects - Braehead Shopping Centre

Artefacts

All the artefacts uncovered as the sediments were excavated were recorded in three dimensions using an EDM (Electronic Distance Measurer). This was done so that any spatial patterns of artefact disposal can be identified, which in turn may allow us to identify, for example, specific areas of manufacture or areas of domestic occupation.

The range of artefacts recovered from the site is relatively small, but this is not unusual for prehistoric sites in the west of Scotland. From the ditch fills we have recovered fragments of broken coarse pottery which was probably mostly used for cooking over open hearth fires before breaking and ending up dumped in one of the ditches. One interesting pottery find was a clay pinch pot, this may have been made by a child during play.

During the excavation a large number of coal discs with a central hole were recovered mainly from within the ditch sediments. Our specialist has had a quick scan of the assemblage and thinks that most are the rough-outs (ie the first stage of production) of coal bracelets, rather than net weights as was thought during excavation.