EHG4126 - Trial Trenching - Pitgrudy Farm, Dornoch

A trial trenching was carried out by Highland Archaeology Services in 2013 in advance of the proposed development of a sand and gravel quarry at Pitgrudy Farm, Dornoch. The area was first subject to a metal detecting survey (see EHG4125). Thirty trenches were opened (numbered 1-31 and 29 was not excavated), all measuring between 1.5 and 1.8m across - wider where it was necessary for health and safety reasons to step or slope deeper sides. Three possible features were investigated: a field clearance cairn (F1); a small pit - found to be a boulder socket (F2); and a small spread of charcoal rich, scorched subsoil (F3) which apparently resulted from scrub burning or similar activity. There was no indication of archaeological evidence.