EHG180 - DBA and Field Survey - Fassfern Estate, Forestry Survey

This survey covers an area of 671 ha to the east of Fassfern on the north side of Loch Eil north-west of Fort William. It is divided into three compartments. The area consists mainly of south-facing hillside cut by numerous burns running down the hillside towards Loch Eil. Over the five years before the survey some areas had been felled and restocked to include a greater proportion of broadleaves and open space than the original planting. Since the survey areas were covered in conifer plantations, it was not feasible to do a systematic walkover. Only the open areas along the burns were accessible in the Annat compartments and although large areas had been felled and just recently replanted in the Achdalieu compartment, the ground was badly disturbed by forestry ploughing and covered in brash from the recent felling. Therefore there was more emphasis on the desktop study of the maps and the pre-plantation aerial photographs to try and locate sites that later could be checked in the field. The field survey therefore consisted of visiting the sites seen during the desktop survey. The features of archaeological interest recorded during the walkover were described and, when possible, located using a Total Station. <1>