Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together

Knockgranish, (Land 50M West Of Batching Plant)

Desk based Assessment and Walk-over Survey

7 Duke Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YH Tel / Fax: 01381 600491 Mobile: 07834 693378 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hi-arch.co.uk Registered in no. 262144 Registered Office: 10 Knockbreck Street, Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1BJ VAT No. GB 838 7358 80

Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Knockgranish, Aviemore (Land 50M West Of Batching Plant)

Desk based Assessment and Walk-over Survey

Report No. HAS130802

Site Code AVH13

Client Colin Bain

Planning Ref 2012-0208-DET

OS Grid Ref NH 9011 1478 Date/ 26 August 2013 revision Author Emma Malone and John Wood

Summary

Desk assessment and walk-over survey were undertaken to mitigate potential impacts on the cultural heritage from construction of a kart track at Land 50m West of Batching Plant, Knockgranish, Aviemore..

2 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Contents

Location ...... 4 Legislation and Policy ...... 6 Objectives ...... 6 Method ...... 6 Results ...... 7 Desk-based Assessment ...... 7 Walk-over Survey ...... 9 Discussion ...... 11 Conclusions and Recommendations ...... 11 Tables ...... 12 Features ...... 12 Photographs ...... 13 Sources ...... 17 Selected Photographs...... 18

Illustrations

Figure 1 Project location (general) ...... 4 Figure 2 Project area ...... 5 Figure 3 Features identified by desk-based assessment ...... 8 Figure 4 Extract from 1st Edition OS 6 inch to 1 Mile (1:10560) Map ...... 8 Figure 5 Field survey area and features ...... 10 Figure 6 Features and camera points ...... 16

Plate 1 Feature 1 ...... 18 Plate 2 Feature 2 ...... 18 Plate 3 Feature 3 ...... 19 Plate 4 Feature 4 ...... 19 Plate 5 Feature 5 ...... 20 Plate 6 Feature 6 ...... 20 Plate 7 Feature 7 ...... 21 Plate 8 Feature 8 ...... 21 Plate 9 Feature 9 ...... 22 Plate 10 Feature 11 ...... 22 Plate 11 Feature 10 ...... 23

Acknowledgements

Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. Project drawings are reproduced courtesy of the client.

3 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Location

The proposed work is located at Knockgranish, Aviemore, Highland, at approximate grid reference NH 902 147.

Figure 1 Project location (general) From OS mapping, reproduced under Licence. Not to original scales

4 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Figure 2 Project area Map supplied by client

5 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

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 Archaeologists and the Highland Council’s Standards for Archaeological Work.

Objectives

The objectives were to:

• Identify the cultural heritage baseline within the proposal area. • Assess the proposed development site in terms of its archaeological and historic environment potential. • Check the results of previous archaeological fieldwork in this area, update these as necessary, and identify the nature and extent of features likely to be affected by the development. Mitigation is proposed as appropriate • 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.

Method Desk based assessment

A list of sources consulted is provided at the end of this report.

Initial Photography

Initial photographs were taken to record the development area and individual features as found

Walk-over survey

Emma Malone visited on 12 July 2013 and recorded the locations and extent of any cultural heritage features using a Magellan Promark 3 survey grade GPS unit, operating in real time SBAS mobile mapping mode. This typically offers horizontal accuracy of < 1m, depending on atmospheric, multipath and other conditions. The wooded areas by the road were identified by the desk-based assessment and initial checking on the ground as of

1 A summary of relevant international, EU, UK and Scottish legislation and policies is available from the Highland Archaeology Services office on request.

6 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

extremely low archaeological potential and were not included in the walk-over survey, which covered the area shown in Figure 3.

Results Desk-based Assessment The proposed development is the construction of a kart track at Knockgranish, Aviemore. A township has been recorded at this site (Highland HER MHG26551; NMRS NH91SW24). This site was photographed by A Wakeling in April 1995 for the Highland Archaeology Challenge, and the photographs deposited in the Highland Historic Environment Record. The following year the RCAHMS recorded as part of a desk-based exercise,

What may be a small township comprising one unroofed, five roofed buildings and an enclosure is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1875, sheet lviii). Three roofed buildings are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1973).

An extract of the first edition OS 1:10560 map is provided as Figure 4 below.

Also in 1996, an archaeological management survey of Granish Farm was carried out by Thomas Rees for AOC Archaeology on behalf of Historic Scotland2. This was checked.

The desk-based assessment identified the following recorded sites in the overall study area (see Figure 3):

Site A: Knockgranish Township HHER MHG 26551 NMRS Numlink 116171 Location NH 9018 1470 The small township of 5 roofed buildings depicted on the 1st Edition 6” Ordnance Survey map (See Figure 3) was visited in 1996 by Thomas Rees, who noted the remains of an abandoned settlement on the edge of an arable field. 5 structures were visible as stony banks 0.4m high. A triangular enclosure lay to the SW. The site had already been truncated on the NW by a compound for the landfill site, and there had been dumping of materials and vehicle activity over the site, which were causing damage. (Rees 1996 site 10)

Site B: Knockgranish Lime kiln HHER MHG 24876 NMRS Numlink N/A Location NH 9011 1478 A post-medieval lime kiln, described by Rees as built into the south facing knoll to the W of the settlement. It was turf covered with only the larger stones exposed, and appeared stable. (Rees 1996 site 11).

Site C: Shunem HHER MHG 24879 NMRS Numlink 136130 Location NH 8994 1467 A post-medieval rectangular building within a group of mature deciduous trees (Rees 1996 site 15). This appeared on investigation to be just outside the study area and unlikely to be affected by the development, and was not visited.

Finally, in 1910 C G Cash reported to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland as follows,

Cairns on Grenish Moor.—The land along the east side of the highway running north from Aviemore is conveniently spoken of as Grenish Moor. Parts of it are under cultivation or grass, but much of it is - clad,heather and was till recently under timber. This moorland contains a large number of cairns, some separate and scattered, and some in groups.

2 Rees, T 1996 Archaeological Management Plan for Granish Farm, Highland, AOC Archaeology, Edinburgh

7 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

In his History of the Province of Moray, Shaw gives an account of Battle Cromdale, fought 1690, says that some defeated clansmen were pursued up the valley of the Spey, and on the "Muir of Granish near

Figure 3 Features identified by desk-based assessment Background: Google earth

Figure 4 Extract from 1st Edition OS 6 inch to 1 Mile (1:10560) Map (Inverness-shire 1875 sheet LVIII).

Aviemore some were killed." Local tradition associates this incident with some of the cairns, specially with a group in a hollow just south-west of Avielochan. This group (fig. 1) can be seen from the highway, and consists of

8 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

two ring mounds and a straight ridge. The ring mounds are 60 and 40 feet in diameter respectively, the being about 10 feet wide; the ridge is about 40 feet long and 8 feet wide. They are all quite obviously artificial, and seem to consist of a low piling of stones, now almost entirely hidden in turf an standing stones, anynor, arrangement indeed, of of the stones.3

He goes on to assert that the cairns at Granish were well-known locally and believed to contain buried treasure – a tradition which had clearly encouraged many local people to dig into them. It seems that Mr Cash may have been prompted to investigate the cairns on Granish Muir by either hearing or reading the published version of a lecture given by the Rev P Grant to the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club over 30 years earlier, which refers to chambered cairns and other features here4. These references do seem to suggest that there might be some earlier features obscured beneath the visible field clearance.

Walk-over Survey

It was clear from the desk-based assessment that no features have been recorded in the wooded areas of the development site adjoining the road, which seem from the 1st edition OS 1:10560 map (Figure 4) to have formed part of a previously larger wooded area. A rapid check in the field confirmed that these areas appeared to be clear and they were therefore not subject to the full walk-over survey, which concentrated on the area shown in Figure 5.

Feature 1: Stone heap N-S orientated elongated lozenge shaped feature consisting of medium sized lichen covered stone. 6m in length, 70% obscured by turf growth.

Feature 2: Stone heap Small irregular shaped lichen covered stone heap, no orientation 1.5m x 2.0m

Feature 3: Rectangular stone feature 6m x 6m square feature completely overgrown by thick layer of turf. This is probably the footings of a small building.

Feature 4: Linear stone heap A linear, irregular shaped feature, max. 9m in length, with the same composition as features 1 & 2: lichen covered small rounded boulders

Feature 5: Rectangular stone feature N-S orientated rectangular feature situated on the slope of a hill. It consists of irregularly spaced, medium sized rounded stone >0.30m in diameter, and appears to be the remains of the previously recorded lime kiln (Site B; HHER MHG 24876)

Feature 6: Linear stone heap Linear pile of stones of various sizes: no orientation, set round the edge of the field

Feature 7: Linear stone heap Linear pile of stones of various sizes: no orientation, set round the edge of the field

3 Cash, C G, 1910, ‘Archaeological Notes from Aviemore’, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland , Volume 44, 189-203 4 Grant, P, 1880 'Stone Circles and other Ancient Remains in Strathspey', Transactions of the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club; ed James Barron. Vol.1, 1875 to 1880 (sourced through Am Baile website)

9 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Feature 8: Linear stone heap Linear pile of stones of various sizes: no orientation, set round the edge of the field

Feature 9: Rounded stone heap Sub-circular pile of lichen-covered small and medium sized stones, disturbed in recent years and partially removed

Feature 10: Linear stone heap Linear pile of stones of various sizes: no orientation, set round the edge of the field

Feature 11: Rectangular building footings North - South orientated rectangular building footings. Clearly late 19th or 20th c. in date, these appear to be the only visible remains of “Knockgranish” township (Site A above; HHER MHG 26551). The present survey found the footings of only one of the buildings: the rest appear to have been removed during the construction of the sand and gravel plant which adjoins the NE site boundary (see Plate 10).

Figure 5 Field survey area and features Background aerial photo: Google Maps

10 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Discussion

Knockgranish township is shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, surveyed in 1875, and was identified by Thomas Rees in 1996 (see Figure 4 above).

The limekiln (Feature 5) is still visible.

The field to be used for the Kart Track is surrounded by field clearance heaps, probably largely of 19th and 20th c. date. These may include material from the former township and its associated walls and dykes as well as random stones turned up by the plough. Although these are relatively common and recent features in the highlands, they can obscure earlier evidence beneath where stones were simply added to already stony areas, such as burial cairns, remains of former buildings and other features. In this case this seems especially likely given the paper by Cash mentioned above, which seems to refer to these cairns as being unusually well-known locally and the subject of particular local traditions.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The lime kiln (site B / Feature 5) and the surviving township remains (site A / Feature 11) should be avoided by the development as far as possible.

Although the other features that might be affected by the development appear to be field clearance cairns, in view of the potential for earlier evidence within or beneath them, including possible cist burials and / or associations with the Battle of Cromdale, we recommend that these should also be avoided if possible by the development.

If it proves impracticable to avoid any of the above features, a watching brief is recommended to record any archaeological evidence found during excavations for the development.

11 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Tables Features

The locations of features is shown in Figure 5 above.

Feature Description Photo Significance Interpretation / Number Proposed mitigation

1 north - south orientated elongated 12 & 14 local Probably field clearance. lozenge shaped feature consisting of Proposed mitigation: medium sized lichen covered stone. 6m avoid if possible; in length, 70% obscured by turf growth. otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

2 small irregular shaped lichen covered 15 local Probably field clearance. stone heap, no orientation 1.5m x 2.0m Proposed mitigation: avoid if possible; otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

3 6m x 6m square feature completely 18 local Possible dwelling or overgrown by thick layer of turf. Its’ small enclosure. shape and crop mark indicates a small Proposed mitigation: building avoid if possible; otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

4 Linear irregular shaped feature 9m at 19 & 20 local Probably field clearance. its longest made up of the same Proposed mitigation: composition as features 1 & 2 - lichen avoid if possible; covered small rounded boulders otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

5 North - South orientated rectangular 21 local Unidentified, but feature situated on a slope of a hill. It probable archaeological consists of irregularly spaced medium feature. Proposed sized >0.30m rounded stone forming a mitigation: avoid if rectangle - this feature is in the same possible; otherwise, location as the Knockgranish lime kiln. watching brief to record any features or finds

6 Linear pile of stones: no orientation, set 28 local Field clearance. round the edge of the field Proposed mitigation: avoid if possible; otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

12 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Feature Description Photo Signifi- Interpretation / Proposed Number cance mitigation

7 Linear pile of stones: no orientation, set 31 local Field clearance. Proposed round the edge of the field mitigation: avoid if possible; otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

8 Linear pile of stones: no orientation, set 32 local Field clearance. Proposed round the edge of the field mitigation: avoid if possible; otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

9 Sub-circular pile of lichen-covered 33, 34 local Field clearance. Proposed small and medium sized stones, mitigation: avoid if possible; disturbed in recent years and partially otherwise, watching brief to removed record any features or finds

10 Linear pile of stones: no orientation, set 35 local Field clearance. Proposed round the edge of the field mitigation: avoid if possible; otherwise, watching brief to record any features or finds

11 North - South orientated rectangular 51, 52, 53 local Proposed mitigation: avoid if building footings. These appear to be possible; otherwise, watching late 19th or 20th c. in date and the only brief to record any features or visible remains of “Knockgranish” finds township

Photographs

All Photographs were taken by Emma Malone. Only a selection has been included with this report. Locations of photos are given in Fig 6 below

Photo No. Camera Direction Description Date Point

01 1 north Site overview 12/07/13

02 1 south Site overview 12/07/13

03 1 east Site overview 12/07/13

04 1 west Site overview 12/07/13

05 2 north feature 11 12/07/13

06 2 west Site overview 12/07/13

07 2 south-west Site overview 12/07/13

13 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Photo No. Camera Direction Description Date Point

08 2 south Site overview 12/07/13

09 2 south-east Site overview 12/07/13

10 2 east Site overview 12/07/13

11 2 east Site overview 12/07/13

12 3 north feature 1 12/07/13

13 4 south feature 1 12/07/13

14 5 south-east site overview 12/07/13

15 6 west feature 2 with feature 3 in background 12/07/13 (possible ruined dwelling)

16 7 south-west site overview 12/07/13

17 8 west clearance cairn, feature 3 12/07/13

18 9 north feature 2 12/07/13

19 10 west feature 4 12/07/13

20 11 north-west feature 3 12/07/13

21 12 east feature 5 12/07/13

22 12 south site overview 12/07/13

23 12 west site overview 12/07/13

24 12 north site overview 12/07/13

25 13 north site overview 12/07/13

26 13 east site overview 12/07/13

27 14 north site overview 12/07/13

28 15 east feature 6 12/07/13

29 15 north overview 12/07/13

30 15 west overview 12/07/13

31 16 west feature 7 12/07/13

32 17 north west feature 8 12/07/13

33 18 north-west feature 9 12/07/13

14 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Photo No. Camera Direction Description Date Point

34 18 north-west feature 9 12/07/13

35 19 west feature 10 12/07/13

36 20 north-east site overview 12/07/13

37 20 south-east site overview 12/07/13

38 20 north-west site overview 12/07/13

39 21 north site overview 12/07/13

40 21 north-west site overview 12/07/13

41 21 west site overview 12/07/13

42 21 east site overview 12/07/13

43 22 west site overview 12/07/13

44 22 north site overview 12/07/13

45 22 east site overview 12/07/13

46 22 south site overview 12/07/13

47 22 south-west site overview 12/07/13

48 23 north site overview 12/07/13

49 23 north site overview 12/07/13

50 24 east site overview 12/07/13

51 24 south Feature 11 12/07/13

52 25 south feature 11 12/07/13

53 25 east feature 11 12/07/13

15 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Figure 6 Features and camera points

16 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Sources

Aerial photography: accessed at: http://aerial.rcahms.gov.uk Especially RCAHMS 1988 vertical: Knockgranish, DUTHIL AND ROTHIEMURCHUS, INVERNESS- SHIRE, SCOTLAND, Sortie ASS_614_88, Frame 0180

Am Baile: www.ambaile.org.uk

Cash, C G, 1910, ‘Archaeological Notes from Aviemore’, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland , Volume 44, 189-203 Conservation Area designations, landscape designations, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or other designations which may affect the scope of archaeological works, such as the existence of ancient or significant tree cover (via Highland Council website)

Google Maps: https://maps.google.co.uk/

Grant, P, 1880 'Stone Circles and other Ancient Remains in Strathspey', Transactions of the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club; ed James Barron. Vol.1, 1875 to 1880 (sourced through Am Baile website)

Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER): http://her.highland.gov.uk

Historic Scotland’s databases of Listed Buildings, Scheduled Ancient Monuments and monuments proposed for scheduling, and the Inventories of Historic Battlefields and Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland (accessed via Historic Scotland website)

National Library of Scotland online historic map collection, accessed at www.maps.nls.co.uk;

Especially www.maps.nls.uk/view/74427080 ; www.maps.nls.uk/view/82887402

National Monuments Record for Scotland (accessed via CANMORE and PASTMAP).

Specifically: www.canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/116171/details/knockgranish

Ordnance Survey Name Books, accessed at http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk

Rees, T 1996 Archaeological Management Plan for Granish Farm, Highland, AOC Archaeology, Edinburgh

Statistical Accounts of 1791 and 1834 accessed via Edina website; Specifically http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/link/1791-99/Inverness/Duthil%20and%20Rothiemurchus/ http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/link/1834-45/Elgin/Duthil/

Wood J 2013 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Project Design, Risk Assessment and Method Statement Highland Archaeology Services Report HAS 130702, Cromarty

17 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Selected Photographs

Plate 1 Feature 1

Plate 2 Feature 2

18 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Plate 3 Feature 3

Plate 4 Feature 4

19 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Plate 5 Feature 5

Plate 6 Feature 6

20 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Plate 7 Feature 7

Plate 8 Feature 8

21 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Plate 9 Feature 9

Plate 10 Feature 11

22 Knockgranish, Aviemore: Desk-based and Walk-over Survey July 2013

Plate 11 Feature 10

23