Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together
Trial Trenching Evaluation
Auchterblair Farm Carrbridge
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Auchterblair: Report June 2013
Trial Trenching Evaluation
Auchterblair Farm, Carrbridge
Report
Report No. HAS130704
Site Code HAS-ABR13
Client T Stirling
Planning Ref 12/02352/FUL
OS Grid Ref NH 9211 2279 Date/ 07/06/2013 revision Author Lachlan Mckeggie & John Wood
Summary
This document sets out preliminary results of a desk based assessment together with fieldwork carried out at Auchterblair Farm, Carrbridge on 30th and 31st May 2013 and on 3rd June 2013. It details the seven features recorded and makes recommendations for some further post excavation work.
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Contents
Aims and objectives ...... 3 Location ...... 4 Legislation and Policy ...... 6 Archaeology background ...... 6 Trial Trenching ...... 8 Results ...... 9 Conclusions and Recommendations ...... 18 Appendixes ...... 18 Table 1 Photographs ...... 18
Illustrations
Figure 1 Site location (general) ...... 4 Figure 2 Site location (detail) ...... 5 Figure 3: Section from OS 6inch (1:10560) 1st Edition surveyed 1870-71 ...... 7 Figure 4: Original proposed area (green) and new area investigated (red) ...... 8 Figure 5: Trenches excavated ...... 9 Figure 6: Featue1 NE facing section (+ at 0.3m) ...... 10 Figure 7: Feature 2 Plan ...... 11 Figure 8: Feature 4 East facing section ...... 13 Figure 9: Feature 5 NW facing section ...... 14 Figure 10: Feature 6 NE facing section ...... 15 Figure 11: Features 5, 6 and 7 ...... 16 Figure 12: Feature 7 SE facing section ...... 17 Figure 13: Camera Points ...... 19
Acknowledgements
Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. Historic mapping is courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. Aims and objectives
• To minimise any possible delay or cost to the development by anticipating archaeological requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently.
• To determine as far as possible the character, extent, condition, date and significance of any archaeologically significant remains; and to record these where necessary in line with national and local policies and standards.
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Location
The development site is located just east of Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, centred at approximate grid reference NH9211 2279, at about 250m above sea level.
Figure 1 Site location (general) From OS mapping, reproduced under Licence. Not to original scale
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Figure 2 Site location (detail) Courtesy of client
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Legislation and Policy
The common principles underlying international conventions, national legislation and local authority planning policies are that cultural heritage assets should be identified in advance of development and safeguarded where practicable; if disturbance is unavoidable appropriate recording of features and recovery of portable artefacts should take place. These have been set out in international and European Union agreements, and UK and Scottish legislation, as well as national and local planning policies1.
Professional standards during the present project will be secured by adherence to the Codes of Conduct and Approved Practice and Standards of the Institute for Archaeologistsi and the Highland Council’s Standards for Archaeological Work.
Archaeology background
The development is a silage pit at Auchterblair Farm, Carrbridge. No features of archaeological significance had previously been found within the site, but archaeological fieldwork was requested in this case because aerial photography has shown a cropmark in this area that might indicate archaeological evidence below ground.
Desk Based Assessment
A desk based assessment was carried out to establish the likely nature and context of archaeological remains encountered.
Historical Maps
The area is shown on General Roy’s map of the mid 1700’s but no structures are shown in the close vicinity of the modern farm the closest being at ‘Brinnanach’ around a mile to the North East.
By the time of the Ordnance Survey first edition in 1870-71 the farm appears well established, although shown on the east rather than west side of the road. A small roofed structure is shown at this time in the area now occupied by the existing silage clamp. The farm has now moved its focus to this west side of the roadway shown as a small enclosure in 1870-71. No structures or other features are shown within the area of the current development (Figure 3).
1 Details of cultural heritage legislation and policy are available from the Highland Archaeology Services offices on request.
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Figure 3: Section from OS 6inch (1:10560) 1st Edition surveyed 1870-71 Inverness-shire (Mainland), Sheet XLV, Not reproduced to scale
The second edition ordinance survey map surveyed in 1900 in this area new buildings are visible on the west side of the road and although these have since developed in scale and material since this time, the area of the current development is again free of any features.
Historic Environment Record
Although no relevant remains are recorded on historical mapping an important sight was recorded on the Highland Historic Environment record just to the north of the proposed development. This was recorded as follows:
Highland HER number: MHG50136 NGR: NH 9210 2286
Description: This enclosure, situated adjacent to Auchterblair farmstead, has been recorded as a cropmark in oblique aerial photography (RCAHMSAP 2001). The enclosure is roughly circular in plan with a diameter of approximately 9m.
Information from RCAHMS (VLW) 5 December 2006
This feature was thought to be of particular significance to the development as it was located close by and might indicate further activity.
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Conclusions
The desk based assessment of the area concluded that if any structures or very large features were found they would be likely to be pre-1870 in date, there was also a chase that features associated with the enclosure could be found.
Trial Trenching
Fieldwork was carried out on site on 30th and 31st May 2013 with an additional site visit on 3rd June. On arrival it appeared that the area to be investigated had been reduced in size from the original proposal of approximately 1094 square meters to around 700 square meters. The shape had also changed slightly, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Original proposed area (green) and new area investigated (red)
The trenches were laid out within this new area as per the original proposal and covered around 29% of the new area (see Figure 5). A 1.5m wide toothless ditching bucket was used and trenches were at least this wide. All other methodology was as per the original proposal2.
2 Wood J. 2013 Project Design Risk Assessment and Method Statement HAS130507, Cromarty, HAS.
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Figure 5: Trenches as excavated
Results
The removal of topsoil from the trenches shown above (Figure 5) revealed an underlying subsoil consisting of a periglacial yellow orange sandy gravel with many rounded stones at approximately 0.3m below the surface. Seven features were recorded cutting into the subsoil from the five trenches opened during the investigation.
Feature 1 (Trench 1)
This was a rounded pit cut directly into the subsoil with a two dark stony fills. It was a well-defined, quite substantial feature of unknown date or function, similar in nature to features 5 and 6. (See Plate 1 & Figure 6) The following contexts were identified:
001 Steep sided cut of roughly round feature 0.8m across with very steep sides poorly defined at base. Cut 0.45m into subsoil.
002 Top fill of feature consisting dark black brown peaty fill with some stones. Soft with some charcoal flecks and small rounded stones.
003 Gravely mixed subsoil like bottom fill, brown in colour with many small stones and some occasional charcoal flecks. Possibly redeposited subsoil.
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Plate 1: Feature 1 Pre excavation
Figure 6: Feature 1: NE facing section (+ at 0.3m)
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Figure 7: Feature 2 Plan
Plate 2: Socket detail
Feature 2 (Trench 5)
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A large round pit type feature 1.55m across trench edge by 0.9m into trench. Topsoil-like fill with a large sub- square stone in the centre. The stone had 0.7 by 0.55m exposed, and at the centre of the stone set into the top was a square metal fitting with a hollow in the centre. The metal fitting had decorative features on the sides and rounded corners. The feature also produced Finds 1 and 2: two pieces of white glazed ceramic, a small round-section nail, all found in cleaning, and the metal fitting of unknown function which was photographed in situ.
The purpose of the fitting is unclear but it may have been a swivel socket for a door pole or similar. Other finds suggest that it dates from the 19th or 20th centuries. (See Drawing 4)
Feature 3 (Trench 5)
A rough stone setting c.0.8 by 0.5m, for two small wooden posts, still in situ. The posts were held in place with large stones with topsoil-like material between them. The feature was ephemeral and amorphous in shape and appeared to be shallow, although it was not excavated. The shape appeared random and may have been damaged by ploughing.
The preservation of small wooden posts so close to the surface suggested this was a modern feature and it was not investigated further.
Feature 4 (Trench 3)
This was another amorphous feature consisting of medium (50 – 150cm) sized rounded stones in a dark brown topsoil-like matrix. A slot was cut through this feature which it was found to comprise the following contexts.
004 This was a very mixed dark material with yellow soft patches and many rounded stones. It filled most of the exposed cut and extended down 0.2m.
005 A primary fill of the feature, consisting bright orange soft material with tan/yellow patches and occasional dark flakes and many rounded stones.
006 A very indistinct cut extending 0.2 m into the subsoil with flat bottom and sloping sides made very rough by stony sub soil. The edges seem to have been damaged by ploughing activity.
This appeared to be a shallow fire pit with burned material that has been badly damaged by the plough. It does not appear to have been cut to any particular shape. (See Plate 3 and Figure 8). It could be the result of gorse- burning.
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Plate 3: Feature 4
Figure 8: Feature 4: East facing section +at 0.3m below ground level
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Plate 4: Features 5, 6 and 7 pre excavation
Figure 9: Feature 5 NW facing section
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Feature 5 (Trench 2)
This was a substantial clear feature with a single stone-rich fill. It was well defined except on the far SW side were it went beneath the trench edge. Its function is however unclear. It is possible that the bone can be dated and samples may produce some useful data. (See Plate 4, Figure 9 & 11)
Contexts were identified as follows:
008 A very steep sided U-shaped cut into rough stony ground. 1m by 0.75m exposed. Part of the cut extended just outside the trench but only in small part
009 Dark brown fill of cut with charcoal flecks and many small rounded stones of uniform size evenly distributed throughout. This produced a single find of burned bone (Find 3) close to the base. A sample was also taken of this deposit <2>.
Feature 6 (Trench 3/2) This large feature appeared where trenches 2 and 3 met at their NW ends. It was well defined and substantial with two fills and a patch of natural material between the two - possibly a burrow.
009 Dark brown / black mixed context with fire cracked and rounded stone and charcoal flecks. The top fill of a deep pit.
010 Deep U-shaped cut through stony sub soil. 1.2m by 0.8m and fully exposed during excavation. Well defined and cut through to a depth of 1.5m. Flat based.
011 Bottom fill of feature, clean of cultural material but with charcoal flecks brown with stones and gravel. Probably redeposited subsoil with topsoil mix. (See Plate 4 Figure10, 11 )
Figure 10: Feature 6 NE facing section
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Figure 11: Features 5, 6 and 7
Feature 7 (Trench 2)
A shallow pit with burned material and two large stones. This is a small but well defined feature, possibly a small fire pit or stake hole with stone supports. (See Plate 4 Figure 11 & 12) The contexts were defined as follows:
012 Dark soft earthy deposit with charcoal flecks and brown patches as well as two large stones. Probably burned material filling a small pit.
013 Small V shaped cut through rough stony sub soil. 0.6 by 0.6m at top narrowing to 0.1m at base and cut 0.2m into the subsoil.
014 Two large stones set into 012. These are rounded water worn stones of local sandstone as found in subsoil all around. There is a small gap between these two and they appear to have been placed into the centre of the feature.
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Figure 12: Feature 7 SE facing section
Plate 5: Other features exposed during later work 3rd June
Other possible features The site visit on 3rd June identified that other features were present in the area between trenches 2 and 3 at the north east end of the site, but these were removed before they could be recorded (Plate 5). They seem to have been similar in nature to features 5 and 6.
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Conclusions and Recommendations
Of the seven features recorded during trial trenching, only features 1, 5 and 6 are considered of potential significance. These were of significant size and were cut deep into the subsoil. The features seen in the photographs from 3rd of June were similar to these. Their location in the west corner of the area imply they could be related to the enclosure noted in the desk based assessment (HER MHG50136). The date and function of these features is unknown, but the nature of the material within them together with their size and nature suggest possible significance.
Samples were taken from features 5,6, and 7. In view of the difficulty in characterising these, and the loss of some features without record which might have clarified details, we recommend that these samples be analysed and that if possible find 3 (burned bone) is dated. This will help establish the date and probable use of these pits and may shed further light on the enclosure shown on the 1st edition OS map and the features previously recorded nearby.
Appendixes
Table 1 Photographs
Photo From Facing Showing 1-5 CP1 NW-NE General view pre-ex 6-8 CP2 W General view pre-ex 9-11 CP3 S General view pre-ex 12-14 CP4 SE General view pre-ex 15 - SE Excavation underway 16 - SE Excavation underway 17-20 CP5 W General post ex from E corner 21-23 CP6 S General post ex from N corner 24-26 CP7 E General post ex from W corner 27-29 CP8 N Post-ex from S corner 30 CP9 NE Pre-ex of F1 & T1 open from SW corner 31-33 CP10 SW Pre-ex of F1 34-37 CP10 SW Post-ex of F1 38-40 CP11 NE F2 Pre ex 41 - - F2 detail 42 - - Find 2 in situe 43-45 NW F3 Pre-ex 46-48 NE F4 Pre –ex
31st May 2013 49-51 CP13 NE F4 Post ex 52-54 CP14 ENE W Facing section F4 55-57 CP15 NNW E Facing section of F4 58 CP16 NW Tr3 from s 59-61 CP17 NE F5, 6 and 7 Pre ex 62-64 CP18 SE F5, 6 and 7 Pre ex 65-67 SW Pre ex F5 68-70 SW Pre ex F6
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71-73 NW Pre ex F7 74-76 SE F5 Post ex 77-79 SW F6 Post ex NE facing section 80-82 NW F7 Post ex SW facing section
3rd June 2013 JW 1-3 - SE-SW General view from N corner JW 4-6 - NE-SE General view from W corner JW 7-10 - NW-S General view from E corner JW 11-14 - E-S General view from S corner
Figure 13: Camera Points
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