Summary Archive Report of the Excavations at Braehead, Glasgow Produced on behalf of Capital Shopping Centres and for the West of Scotland Archaeology Service. (c) Copyright AOC Archaeology. Introduction The site was a prehistoric multi-phased, ditched, palisade enclosure. The site measured 76 m east to west and 60 m north to south. It comprised three large ditches, eight structures including at least four roundhouses, and numerous palisades. Recovered artefacts included pottery, coal discs (interpreted as bracelet rough-outs), rubber stones, hammer stones and lithics. Ditches The forms of the ditches varied around their circuits, but were generally broad U-shaped and relatively shallow. The primary function of the ditches remains unclear. The ditches are unlikely to have had a defensive function, given their broad uneven form and flat to gently concave bases. The greater depth and width of the ditch terminals appears to reflect a conscious water management strategy that may have served to keep the interior dry, define the entrance and deter the movement of stock. The eastern edge of the northern terminal of D1 appeared to have been initially laid out as a series of large pits, while the course of the southern limb was defined by a series of smaller interconnecting pits on its eastern edge. There was no archaeological evidence for a bank. Where stratigraphic evidence survived it was apparent that the ditch sediments were predominantly a product of in situ accumulation of decayed vegetation and windblown silt and fine sand. Rapidly redeposited lenses of sand and very thin silt laminations occurred at the base of the ditch where the ditch had cut through unconsolidated natural sand. This sequence has been interpreted as evidence of episodic slumping of sand back into the ditch following construction, and prior to possible bank consolidation. The silt laminations are thought to represent periods of stabilisation within the ditch, accompanied by the growth of vegetation and the accumulation of shallow pools of stagnant water. The fills of D2 were again predominantly a product of in situ accumulation of decayed vegetation and windblown silt and fine sand. Where the ditch cut through natural interbedded silt, sand and peat, the primary fill comprised a mixture of these; a result of initial slumping of excavated material back into the ditch. Where it cut through sands, microlaminated sands with silts rich in organic matter dominated. The primary fills of D2 had entered the ditch from both sides, evidence that, unusually, the bank material was not confined to one side. The construction of the inner ditch resulted in the destruction of a larger part of S2. The fills within the ditch terminal, along the northeastern portion and the southern portion had a high component of domestic refuse which included the cleanings of hearths. This material was evidently dumped into the ditch from the interior. Elsewhere the ditch was filled with a mixed peat, sand and silt deposit that accumulated in much the same way as suggested for D2 (see above). This was overlain by silt, rich in organic material that accumulated in situ occasionally interrupted by aeolian sands and silt. Palisades Thirty-two curvilinear and linear bedding trenches up to 0.5 m in breadth, with vertical or near vertical sides and flat or near flat bases were recorded. Postholes were recorded within many of the bedding trenches. These bedding trenches held various forms of enclosing palisade. The sequence P1, P4 & P2, is probably paired with P21 and would have served to narrow the entrance into the enclosure. A similar pattern can be seen with regard to P5, P18, P3 & P19; again the implication is that the entrance to the enclosure was narrowed. Given that these two sets of palisades appear to serve the same function it is likely that they are contemporary and therefore by implication both D3 and D2 were visible, but largely backfilled by the time the entrance was narrowed. The backfill of D2 and D3 largely took place prior to the construction of the palisades, and so the settlement may have been unenclosed, or enclosed by D1 at this time. A plethora of palisades follow the purposeful abandonment and infill of D3.The sequence of the construction, abandonment or deliberate destruction (ie P7) of these palisades could not be elucidated during field work, except for P10, which appeared to post-date P7/P14 and P8/P11. Structures No stratigraphical relationship could be ascertained between S6, S5, S4 and S1. S1 cut S2 and S4 cut S3. S2 was the earliest structure surviving on-site. Initial interpretation is that it was the remnants of a roundhouse although no obviously associated internal features, such as a circle of posts to support the roof, were identified. S6 comprised a bedding trench (P17) and a possible internal one (P20) that would have held the structure that supported the roof. However, given the relative proximity of P17 and P20, P20 could be the remnants of a separate roundhouse. S5 also comprised two parallel bedding trenches that would have housed the support structure for the roof. S3 may have two entrances, and coupled with the dearth of internal postholes it may not have functioned as a covered structure or roundhouse. This structure was superseded by S4, initially interpreted as a roundhouse because of the external gully and internal ring of postholes. The in-field interpretation of S1 was that it was a roundhouse. However, on excavation of the gully its character was determined not to be consistent with a foundation trench for an external wall. It is hypothesised that the gully maintained a relatively dry internal sand platform upon which temporary, or less substantial structures were placed. The function of S7 & S8 is unknown. These may be the remnants of an earlier or later entrance, marker trenches for the excavation of the outer ditch, wind breaks or one of many other possibilities. Artefacts The objects recovered included a small quantity of bone, approximately 80 pieces of probable prehistoric pottery, approximately 24 pieces of flint and possible worked quartz. There are also five possible prehistoric iron artefacts (including slag), 54 worked stone objects (including hammer stones, rubber stones, possible gaming pieces and bottle stoppers) and approximately 63 coal or slate objects. Finally, there are 116 samples of possible finds recovered from dry sieving which have yet to be checked. The artefact assemblage indicates that the site saw domestic occupation and on-site manufacture of items. The coal discs, which were evidently manufactured on-site, have tentatively been interpreted as bracelet rough-outs. Environmental record A range of environmental samples were taken, these included wood, charcoal, peat, and other sediments. Three extremely degraded pieces of possible worked wood were recovered from Area HHH, one stake from P1 and one split post from Area 16. Other pieces of extremely decomposed wood were recovered from Area 17, Area P and Area GGG. Where surviving the organic matter (and by inference insect remains) within sediments was moderately to poorly preserved. Samples were also taken to determine bleaching rates and for possible Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating.