The King’s Knot, Stirling: Radar Survey June 2012 Report
A radar profile survey was commissioned by Society member Stephen Digney and Dr Richard Jones (University of Glasgow) at King’s Knot Park intended to enhance interpretation of geophysical survey data already recorded at the site, in particular to improve characterisation of the profile and extent of a ditch system.
The radar survey has complimented and enhanced previous surveys by characterising the profile of the ditch system at crucial locations around the King’s Knot parkland, The results have provided useful detail about the specific character of the three buried ditches, indicating that the inner two ditches are between 4-5m wide and more substantial than the outer ditch at around 3-3.5m width. The depth of archaeological deposits varies across the site, with the ditches between 1m and 1.5m depth under approximately 1m overburden at the S and W sides, depleting to around 0.5m depth to the E and NE where the ditches are likely to have be truncated by landscaping.
he apparent continuation of the middle and outer ditches to the N of the site is a new finding as are hints of a possible break or entrance to the E side. Interpretation of the open park ditch at the S of the site was complicated by a lack of topographical information, which it is hoped can be made available to the author at a later date to adjust the data. At the N of the park the possible remains of a pond were identified in an irregular zone of disturbance and attenuation of the signal. A scheme of targeted trial trenches is advised to test the veracity of the geophysical surveys and the data provide here should now allow for accurate quantification of resources necessary for this next phase of investigations.
You can see the full Report as a PDF file by clicking here
The radar survey has complimented and enhanced previous surveys by characterising the profile of the ditch system at crucial locations around the King’s Knot parkland, The results have provided useful detail about the specific character of the three buried ditches, indicating that the inner two ditches are between 4-5m wide and more substantial than the outer ditch at around 3-3.5m width. The depth of archaeological deposits varies across the site, with the ditches between 1m and 1.5m depth under approximately 1m overburden at the S and W sides, depleting to around 0.5m depth to the E and NE where the ditches are likely to have be truncated by landscaping.
he apparent continuation of the middle and outer ditches to the N of the site is a new finding as are hints of a possible break or entrance to the E side. Interpretation of the open park ditch at the S of the site was complicated by a lack of topographical information, which it is hoped can be made available to the author at a later date to adjust the data. At the N of the park the possible remains of a pond were identified in an irregular zone of disturbance and attenuation of the signal. A scheme of targeted trial trenches is advised to test the veracity of the geophysical surveys and the data provide here should now allow for accurate quantification of resources necessary for this next phase of investigations.
You can see the full Report as a PDF file by clicking here
