Geology in the North-east
The confusion arising from trying to understand the archaeology and geology at Druminnor kicked off a fairly intensive reconsideration of many aspects of local geology. As a result, the Druminnor excavations have now become as much geological explorations as they are archaeological. Subsequently, BLP researchers began a closer consideration of other issues relating to the historical use of geological materials, especially granite, and its use in vernacular architecture. This resulted in a metrological consideration of its extraction from local quarries. More fundamentally, a speculative paper challenges the conventional wisdom of the extent to which the North-east was glaciated during the last ace age. (And if anybody thinks archaeologists can never agree amongst themselves, you should see geologists at work!)
Thorn, P. (2015) “The Geology around Druminnor Castle”, BLOP13, in Shepherd, C. (ed) Bennachie and the Garioch: Society and Landscape in the History of North-east Scotland, 3 (Chapel of Garioch, Bailies of Bennachie) 5-9.
Wainwright, A. (2015) “The ‘English Quarry’, Bennachie: an estimate of the quantities of granite extracted and exported from the English Quarry, Bennachie during the early 19th century”, BLOP14, in Shepherd, C. (ed) Bennachie and the Garioch: Society and Landscape in the History of North-east Scotland, 3 (Chapel of Garioch, Bailies of Bennachie) 31-37.
Wainwright, A. (2019) “A possible beach of a glacial lake on the Hill of Tillymorgan, Aberdeenshire”, BLOP15, in Shepherd, C. (ed) Bennachie and the Garioch: Society and Landscape in the History of North-east Scotland, 4 (Chapel of Garioch, Bailies of Bennachie) 5-11.
Wainwright, A. (2019) “Two quarries on the Bennachie Colony”, BLOP16, in Shepherd, C. (ed) Bennachie and the Garioch: Society and Landscape in the History of North-east Scotland, 4 (Chapel of Garioch, Bailies of Bennachie) 65-72.