EHG3717 - Excavation - Easter Raitts, Alvie

An excavation was carried out by the Centre for Field Archaeology during June 1995 at the deserted township of Easter Raitts (Baldow), Alvie, to inform the proposed partial reconstruction of the township for the development of the Highland Folk Park. The township is the easternmost of several similar settlements in the area known as Upper Raitts. A total area of over 55sq m was excavated. This took the form of eight individual trenches positioned across the interior and exterior of two domestic structures and outbuildings, associated terraces, dykes and lanes. All trenches were hand-cleaned. Significant archaeological features were not fully excavated but left in situ in order to retain the possibility of the larger scle excavation of entire structures. Trenches were allocated an identification number A-I although Trench G was not excavated after de-turfing due to time constraints. One trench examined one of a pair of possible kilns lying adjacent to each other cut into a terrace. The structures appeared to be well built with faced stone, squared corners and paved byres. Floors of beaten earth were identified within the main chambers of two structures. The immediate exterior of one of the structures appeared to have been cobbled, with entrances either cobbled or flagstone-laid in both cases. A small assemblage of finds consisting mainly of glass sherds and sherds of porcelain was recovered during the excavation. It was recommended that post-excavation work be undertaken on the artefacts and environmental evidence followed by the production of a full report. <1> The excavation assemblage from the site was submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 17/98) and allocated to Inverness Museum. <2> <3>