EHG3720 - Excavation - Baldow deserted settlement (Easter Raitts), Alvie

A three-week season of excavation at the township of Easter Raitts, providing training as part of Aberdeen University’s Certificate in Field Archaeology, was carried out in 1997. Trenches were opened over Structures 21, 24 and Feature 14, identified by the topographic survey in 1995 (see EHG3716), which were identified as two longhouses and a cobbled yard. These three areas were chosen both because of their potential suitability for reconstruction at the Highland Folk Park in Newtonmore and for the likelihood that they would yield evidence for the occupation, evolution and abandonment of the settlement. The trenches were de-turfed by hand. Each was planned and photographed at the pre-excavation stages. Layers were planned and then generally removed in spits, and negative features identified were planned, half-sectioned and recorded. In order to establish relationships between various contexts, several slots were dug in both of the main trenches. The positions of finds were recorded in three dimensions. Samples were taken of any contexts likley to yield palaeoenvironmental, dietary or dating information. The project was sponsored by the Highland Council, Vernacular Buildings Trust and Aberdeen University. <1> A small group of photographic slides taken during the excavations are in the Highland HER collections. <2>