Archaeological Measured Survey on Scotland’s national forest estate 2 | Archaeological Measured Survey contents A window onto the past 4 How archaeological measured survey is helping to support the conservation, investigation and interpretation of some of Scotland’s most signifi cant archaeological sites. Na Clachan Aoraidh 6 An unusual early Bronze Age stone circle above Loch Tummel. Ord Hill 8 A complex prehistoric landscape above Lairg. Dun Deardail 10 An Iron Age vitrifi ed fort above Glen Nevis. Caisteal Grugaig 12 An Iron Age broch on the headland of Totaig. Skelbo 14 A broch and outworks in Sutherland. Cracknie 16 A well-preserved Iron Age souterrain in Sutherland. Dun Boredale 18 A well-preserved Iron Age galleried dun on the Isle of Raasay. Carn Mor 20 A dun on the Black Isle. Rubha an Fhaing Dhuibh 22 A later prehistoric dun on Loch Shiel. Moat Park 24 A 12th century motte in Galloway. Nether Horsburgh 26 A 16th century tower house in the Scottish Borders. Leitir Fura 28 A cleared township on the south-east coast of Skye. Loch Arklet 30 The 18th century military road network on the national forest estate in the Highlands. Wester Drumclair 32 An 18th century farmstead in Limerigg Wood. Culbin Sands 34 The WWII anti-glider defences at Culbin. Wilsontown 36 An 18th century industrial landscape on the banks of the Mousewater in Lanarkshire. Woodmuir 38 Late 19th century coke ovens in West Lothian. Lossie 40 WWII coastal defences along the Moray coastline. Archaeological Measured Survey | 3 A window onto the past From Mesolithic flint scatters to the coastal defences of the Second World War, the archaeology on Scotland’s national forest estate spans thousands of years of history. Discover how Forestry Commission Scotland’s archaeological measured surveys support our vital conservation work. Forestry Commission Scotland’s historic environment Like a jigsaw, the larger picture must be programme includes a wide range of sustainable painstakingly built up from these small conservation management, from path repair on ancient duns and hillforts to masonry consolidation of 18th century pieces of evidence. military bridges. In order to protect the many archaeological sites, Helping understand the past historic structures and cultural landscapes across Scotland’s Archaeological sites rarely remain the same from national forest estate, we must identify and assess their construction to abandonment. Disentangling the sequence surviving remains to inform conservation and management. of damage and repair, demolition and rebuilding, expansion This publication presents a number of recent and contraction is critical to our understanding of the past. archaeological measured surveys undertaken to support Like a jigsaw, the larger picture must be painstakingly the programme. It explores and illustrates the wide range of built up from these small pieces of evidence. The individual conservation work that we undertake. fragments are fragile and easily disturbed and once lost they Ranging from plane table survey using alidade and tape are gone forever. While protection and conservation often to laser scans located using GPS satellite technology, our simply involves the avoidance of damage or the removal surveys are united in their efforts to present the results in an of scrub vegetation, positive action can also include the attractive and coherent manner. creation of a baseline record by targeted survey. LEFT: A surveyor recording one of the pillboxes in Lossie forest. 4 | Archaeological Measured Survey Running head title INTRODUCTION The process of interpreting the results of archaeological It also requires an understanding of the differing objectives measured survey is akin to the process of archaeological and requirements of protection, conservation and excavation; first we gather the evidence and then we analyse presentation. And it requires a framework for achieving the the results. priorities and opportunities that such conservation entails. Sustainable conservation management balances Informing conservation management environmental, social and economic objectives by seeking The importance of archaeological measured survey for to deliver best practice in regard to: sustainable historic environment conservation should not be underestimated. Benefits include: • historic environment priorities; • an enhanced historic environment record; • best value use of resources; • an assessment of the cultural significance of a site within • additional benefits for the historic environment (such the wider regional context; as encouraging the development of new techniques, the enhancement of the Historic Environment Record • baseline information that can inform conservation and the identification of Continuing Professional management and allow detailed condition monitoring Development or training opportunities); and over time; and • additional benefits for local (and wider) communities. • visibly and effectively demonstrating and confirming the importance of significant sites. Institute for Archaeologists workshop Historic environment conservation management This publication also supports an Institute for Archaeologists requires a baseline knowledge of the resource – workshop showcasing archaeological measured survey such as an overall estate register, thematic and site- illustration, collecting a number of contemporary Scottish based surveys, individual site-based records and an case studies for discussion. appreciation of the wider context. The workshop will highlight the purpose and practice of landscape-based and site-based archaeological measured BELOW: survey by focussing upon the management objectives, the Traditional measured survey by EDM total station wider strategic framework (particularly the research context) at the site of Carn Mor dun on the Black Isle. and presentational methodology. 5 Na Clachan Aoraidh Situated in Forestry Commission Scotland’s Allean Forest, the Na Clachan Aoraidh ‘four poster’ stone circle is an early Bronze Age ceremonial site on the limestone ridge of Cnoc na Craoibhe above Loch Tummel. The site The survey Na Clachan Aoraidh translates as ‘Stones of Worship’. The site was the subject of a topographic and geophysical The site above Loch Tummel (NN 838 620) is considered survey by AOC Archaeology. The 3D view resulting to be a ‘four poster’ stone circle - a quadrilateral from the laser scan survey data was combined with the arrangement formed by four large orthostats, generally geophysics to produce an unusual isometric view. dating to the early Bronze Age (early 2nd millennium BC). Although likely to be ceremonial, the few excavated The results examples often also display activities associated with The laser scan survey will help inform conservation funeral pyres and cremation burials. There is a particularly management and enhance the historic environment dense concentration of such sites in northern Perthshire, record. It’s the fi rst modern record of this important with examples scattered through the Tay, Earn and site since Coles (1908) and Watson (1915). The survey Tummel valleys. products included a traditional contour survey and sections, as well as an unusual isometric view BELOW: Traditional topographic plan and profi les that combines the results of measured survey with of Na Clachan Aoraidh ‘four poster’ stone circle. geophysical survey. 6 | Archaeological Measured Survey EARLY PREHISTORIC LEFT: The 3D view resulting from the laser scan survey data was Below: combined with the geophysics Na Clachan Aoraidh and supporting interpretation to ‘four poster’ stone circle produce this unusual isometric (view facing west). view (facing north). 7 Ord Hill Ord Hill above Lairg boasts a complex prehistoric landscape that includes Neolithic funerary monuments and Bronze Age settlement and fi eld systems. The site Ord Hill (NC 574 055) displays the remains of many different periods of human use, including two Neolithic chambered tombs, several Bronze Age burial cairns, a large number of prehistoric hut circles and associated fi eld systems, and a number of likely post-medieval enclosures. Ord Hill forms the basis of an interpreted archaeological trail. However, the current all-access path is only partially complete. It currently suddenly stops on the lower fl anks of the summit and an informal and unplanned path has developed. The correct route should circumvent the hill, allowing access to the summit - both for the views and the most spectacular archaeology - while avoiding unnecessary damage. The survey A detailed topographic archaeological landscape survey was required in order to inform both future conservation management and the route of the proposed path extension. Headland Archaeology surveyed the complex landscape in great detail – and the resulting landscape-scale measured survey will be used to inform access and ongoing conservation management. The traditional landscape survey used EDM and photography to record the surviving features. The results The great attention paid to the fi nal plan (using bold colours to differentiate archaeological features) enabled ABOVE: the complex landscape to be clearly presented and readily A detailed extract from the understood. In total over 450 individual archaeological Ord Hill landscape survey. features were recorded – including chambered tombs, RIGHT: ring cairns, a burnt mound, hut circles, subrectangular The Ord Hill landscape survey. buildings and over 300 clearance cairns. BELOW RIGHT: The northernmost chambered tomb on Ord Hill is an impressive landmark, visible for miles around.