EHG4974 - Walkover Survey - Rhu Peninsula

A non-intrusive archaeological investigation of the Rhu Arisaig peninsula (original Gaelic spelling Rudha Arasaig)involving thirty-two separate walk over surveys was carried out between November 2012 and January 2016. The survey was instigated by Elizabeth and Allan MacDonald of Arisaig wanting to find out what evidence was extant on Rhu of people living and working there; historical information pointed to a population of perhaps 400 people before the early nineteenth century but Rhu is now more or less deserted. Ken and Jean Bowker of Rough Bounds Archaeology were invited to join the walk over surveys which were carried out in the late autumn, winter and spring months to maximise the opportunity to record features normally obscured in the summer in particular by bracken. The MacDonalds and Bowkers were often helped on the surveys by several local residents which meant that there was more chance of recording obscure and ephemeral features. <1>