EHG2944 - Trial Excavation, Burnt Mound, Arisaig (A830 improvements)

The A830 between Loch nan Uamh and Arisaig in Lochaber is the last remaining single-track trunk road in Scotland. A desk-based assessment undertaken by ASH in 2003 was updated by a walk-over survey in early June 2005. CFA Archaeology Ltd then investigated those remains that would be affected by the planned upgrading of the road between June and November 2005. The known features comprised old road alignments, estate infrastructure and a listed bridge. These were subjected to written and photographic survey and recording during the evaluation in late June and July. This also involved programmes of test-pitting and trial trenching and was followed by selective excavation. NM 667 865 At Arisaig, a trench measuring c 13 x 12m was excavated by machine, revealing a weathered spread of reddened fire-cracked stones with intermittent charcoal covering an area of 11 x 6m. Although damaged by the later excavation of a ditch and field drain, it appeared the burnt mound lay on low banks of sand, which may have been natural or introduced to the site. There was a stream on one side and a marshy area on the other. The sand banks sealed an underlying primary deposit of burnt material containing stones that were not similarly reddened and this was associated with a stake-hole. There was no sign of either a hearth or of a trough. Archive to be deposited with NMRS, report lodged with Highland SMR. Sponsor: Historic Scotland. <1> The possible burnt mound was first recorded in an evaluation trench. An area measuring c.12m by c.13m (Fig 2) was stripped of topsoil deposits, and six trenches were subsequently dug across the material of the burnt mound, to try and characterise the nature of its deposits. <2>