EHG2975 - Trial trenching - Chapel Hill, Ballachly, Dunbeath

Following a geophysical survey involving both resistivity and magnetometry, a limited trial excavation was carried out by the University of Nottingham at the supposed early Christian monastic site at Ballachly near Dunbeath, in 2007. The three trenches were excavated outside the Scheduled area. A terrace to the southeast of the Scheduled area appeared to be defined by anomalies suggestive of an enclosure ditch, however excavation of Trench 1 indicated that tese had been caused by freshwater springs following the contour of the terrace. A substantial wall was found in Trench 2. Trench 3 was excavated to investigate an anomaly in the magnetometer survey results. This found a layer of cobbles overlain by a deposit containing a sherd of glazed C13-C14 pottery. Work was expected to continue in 2008. <1> The four seasons of excavation at the site between 2007-2010 by the University of Nottingham have susequently been published as a PSAS article in 2013. See link below for article. <2>