EHG4856 - Excavation - Kinbeachie, Black Isle

Each year since 1993, after ploughing, Mr Andrew Fraser has walked his arable fields, collecting any flint and pottery and noting anomalous features such as stony patches or concentrations of charcoal. He undertook limited excavation of possible archaeological features and personally commissioned three radiocarbon dates on excavated charcoal. These findings were reported to Robert Gourlay of Highland Council Archaeology and Museum Services, and their significance confirmed by Trevor Cowie of the National Museums of Scotland. In 1995 a programme of fieldwalking was initiated by Jonathon Wordsworth (then Community Archaeology for Ross & Cromarty) with the Rosemarkie Field Group. In 1996, following the discovery of Beaker pottery by Mr Fraser, three 3 by 2m test trenches were excavated by Jonathon Wordsworth which revealed possible post-holes and a Beaker in a disturbed pit. This positive result, coupled with fears that ploughing was actively destroying archaeological features, prompted Historic Scotland to commission a more substantial evaluation of Kinbeachie Farm late in 1997. This work was carried out by Headland Archaeology Ltd. The initial objective of the fieldwork in 1997 was to assess the condition, extent and nature of the archaeological remains at Kinbeachie and to propose a suitable management strategy to ensure their long-term protection. Three techniques were used: soil survey, geophysical survey and trial trenching. One trench contained significant features, and this was extended to reveal the full extent of the features and to allow excavation of them, as they were likely to be destroyed by continued ploughing. The total area exposed was 1064m^2. <1> The prehistoric assemblage from the fieldwalking and excavation by Inverness Museum and others between 1995-97 was submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 05/02). It was allocated to Inverness Museum. See attached summary sheet. The prehistoric excavation assemblage from Headland's work was submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 90/01) and allocated to Inverness Museum. See attached summary report. <2> <3> <4>