EHG3206 - Trial trenching, North Dornoch

A programme of archaeological evaluation took place following a prior desk-based assessment and walkover survey in 2004. The evaluation consisted of field-walking, a metal detecting survey, geophysical survey and trial trenching. A total of 43 trenches were stripped of topsoil and subsoil by a back-acting machine with a straight edged bucket. The depth of the overburden ranged from between 0.2m and 1.3m. Trenches 1 to 5 were 1m wide, whilst trenches 6 to 43 were 1.9m wide. The trial trenching revealed two former field boundaries which corresponded to features previously identified in the desk-based assessment and the geophysical survey. Other features of interest included a deposit of shells (possibly natural), a posthole and a small hearth/kiln. <1>