EHG4977 - Geophysical Survey - Aviemore, Cairngorms

AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by Scottish Woodlands Ltd. to undertake an archaeological geophysical (gradiometer) survey to investigate the potential for buried archaeological remains on a proposed development near Aviemore (centred at NH 92773 14557). The survey area covers approximately 15.5 Hectares (Ha), consisting of two pasture fields on the Pityoulish Estate. Within the specified survey boundary there are three known monuments present, two of which are visible on aerial photography. These are all documented in Canmore and are referenced within the report text and associated figures. The geophysical survey results have identified anomalies that support the presence of the monuments noted in the historical records. The most conclusive of these is a circular feature in the eastern data set; which is possibly a round house or barrow surrounded by a circle of pits or sub-circular features. Adjacent to these features are a number of other likely associated anomalies. In the western dataset, a sub-circular feature has been identified adjacent to a barrow monument identified in the historic records, which could likely be a further barrow or associated funerary feature. Several more discrete features have been identified across the rest of the dataset which are most likely archaeological in origin. These are possibly related to those already identified within the monuments record or could be further unidentified monuments. A number of pits have also been noted across the data of both areas. The identification of further archaeological trends has been affected by the local geology of the area. The geology is very prominent and has created anomalies within the data that look similar to those of an archaeological nature, therefore it is difficult to definitively distinguish between geology and archaeology across the two survey areas. As well as trends of an archaeological nature, former field boundaries and anomalies associated with farming such as headlands and ploughing have been identified within the data. <1>