Remains of prehistoric settlement discovered at Glasgow castle

A “lost community” dating back thousands of years has been discovered near a Glasgow castle.

The remains of at least five prehistoric roundhouses – characteristic of the Bronze and Iron Ages – were found at Crookston Castle, alongside a palisaded enclosure that may have surrounded them.

Volunteers from the Friends of Crookston Castle teamed up with local schools for a three-day scan of the site.

David MacDonald says it shows people could have lived in the area well before the castle was built and long before Glasgow existed.

“We’re really excited to announce the discovery of a lost community here at Crookston castle – a prehistoric community – potentially Bronze or Iron Age, three, four, five thousand year old community that has been settled on this hillside for generations,” he told STV News.

“It changes what we know about Crookston Castle – everyone has always thought it was a pure Medieval site – we can now say for sure it’s a Bronze or Iron Age prehistoric site.

“We know they lived in roundhouses they will have built themselves – they would have chosen a site like Crookston as it is high on a hill and good for defence and close to woodland.

David MacDonald, Friends of Crookston Castle Gibson Digital

“We know bits and pieces of their life but can’t know everything until we do the next round of excavations.

“We’re hoping that can be the next part of the project.”

The survey, funded by the Castle Studies Trust, also shed new light on the castle itself.

Within the area enclosed by the medieval moat, surveys identified structural remains consistent with a Chapel built by Robert Croc around 1180, as well as evidence of walls, possible entrances, and internal buildings within the castle’s defended enclosure.

Coal mining activity, possibly dating as far back as the Medieval period, was also identified, a discovery the team believes may finally explain the longstanding local legend of a secret tunnel running from the castle to Paisley Abbey.

No tunnel was found, but evidence of old mine workings beneath the field could plausibly have given rise to the story over centuries.