02/10/2026
Biggarchaeology
Another very interesting post from Biggar Archaeology. Have a look back at previous posts and see how the journey began.
August was another busy month at Glengonnar, with work continuing across T22 and several features becoming much clearer as excavation progressed.
In the East Wing, investigation of the drain/culvert HF13 revealed a shallow channel beneath its capstones, including a curious bend. The excavation continued as far as the sandstone threshold stones before the capstones were carefully replaced.
Nearby, work around the entrance between the East Wing and the south-east building revealed two postholes, around a metre apart. Further clearing of the narrow passageway between the buildings also exposed a layer of cobbled stone between the offset wall ends.
One of the most interesting areas during August was the furnace/oven HF1. Removal of the central stones revealed a square-shaped hearth and a slot beneath, forming a flue. Further investigation later in the month found the central area densely packed with black burnt material, from which samples were taken.
The south-east building also continued to reveal more of its story. Extending the trench confirmed that the eastern wall continued southwards, while an area of pinkish material and burnt stone proved to be associated with a fireplace, HF18. Further cleaning and excavation defined this feature at approximately 1.5 x 2m, with more of the surrounding walls exposed.
Elsewhere, investigation outside the north wall continued. By later in the month, excavation of the chute sondage had revealed a line of capstones extending for at least 2m. Probing through a gap found a hollow beneath, leaving more work to be done to understand exactly what this feature represents.
Not every exploratory trench produced another building! An extension at the south wall was opened to investigate a large projecting stone, but excavation showed this to be part of the wall foundations rather than evidence for another structure.
Alongside all the excavation, there was plenty of cleaning, recording and plan drawing - as well as some backfilling and tidying of the Season 2 trenches.
And among August's finds was an interesting cut nail with very little corrosion. Bulmer is said to have produced cut nails on site - could this possibly be one of them? One for further investigation!
Plenty of progress during August, with T22 continuing to reveal more about the buildings and how the different features relate to one another.
