Ancient ruin could date back to Iron AgePublished Date: 16 November 2010
A PROMINENT local historian has speculated that a chance find on a housing development site could pre-date the Roman occupation of Scotland.
Last week the Herald reported that contractors working in the grounds of the former Woodilee Hospital, between Kirkintilloch and Lenzie, had unearthed what is thought to be a wooden roundhouse dating back thousands of years.
Don Martin, former ass
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istant manager of information and archives at East Dunbartonshire Council, has his own ideas about the remains.
Mr Martin told the Herald: "The building is clearly a native dwelling house, with remains of a kind sometimes referred to as a 'hut circle'.
"Such hut circles are found all over the country, and vary greatly in size. Sometimes the walls are of timber, as is the case here, and sometimes of stone."
Experts from Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) have visited the site.
Dr Gavin McGregor, project manager at Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD), said: "The date of the structure is unclear at this stage, but it potentially dates some time from the second millennium BC to the first few centuries AD.
"Notably, the site is relatively close to the Antonine Wall. If the structure proves to date to the mid to later second century AD, it may be contemporary with the Roman presence in the area."
Mr Martin said: "Given what GUARD have said, it belongs either to the Bronze Age or the Iron Age period, and most probably the Iron Age.
"In this connection there is an Iron Age fort in the Campsies, at Meikle Reive, above Lennoxtown.
"It is likely that the Romans encountered Iron Age people when they arrived in this area."
Meikle Reive is thought to have been built in the first century AD, predating the nearby Roman-built Antonine Wall, which was started in 142 AD.
Mr Martin hopes that the latest find will be retained for future generations to learn a little more about the history of East Dunbartonshire.
He said: "I don't know what the effect on building work at Woodilee will be, but I know of a number of places where archaeological features have been retained as focal points within modern housing developments."
There may now be a long wait before anything more concrete is known about the structure - as a team of archaeologists from Glasgow University descend upon the site to investigate.
The excavation, which is expected to take weeks to complete, is being funded by the Woodilee Consortium of housebuilders.
A spokesperson for the developers said: "The Woodilee Consortium and GUARD won't have any more information until the full excavation report is available."
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* Last Updated: 16 November 2010 4:58 PM
* Source: n/a
* Location: Kirkintilloch
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