EHG4102 - Metal detector survey - powerline route through Inverlochy battlefield sites

A rapid desk-based assessment followed by a metal detector survey was undertaken by Alder Archaeology Ltd in 2012 along the route of a Scottish and Southern Energy powerline development through battlefield sites by Inverlochy Castle. The survey was required in advance of the erection of a new switchroom at Inverlochy substation and the undergrounding of an overhead cable at Blar Mhor, in order to mitigate the potential impact upon the sites of two battles. The requirement was to survey a 5m wide corridor across the battlefield site, for a distance of approximately 620m. Due to some areas being unsuitable for survey a distance of 510m was actually surveyed. Finds were located by off-setting from a base line tape and also by EDM. Abundant small modern finds of cans, bottle tops, ring pulls and small denomination coins were recovered as well as many corroded unidentifiable metal fragments probably from farm machinery and cars. No positively identifiable items from medieval or post-medieval military equipment or weapons were found and nothing of historic interest was identified. It was considered that no further metal detecting work would be required for this development. <1>