EHG5495 - Walkover and metal detector surveys - Muirfield Farm, Culloden

An archaeological impact assessment was undertaken by GUARD Archaeology in 2019 of the potential effects of the construction of a residential dwelling and access road at Muirfield Farm, Culloden. This comprised a walkover survey, a setting assessment, a metal detector survey and a geophysical survey (for the latter see EHG5494). Metal detecting was undertaken in parallel transects set at 5 m intervals over the entire 2.7 ha development area. No metal was discriminated during the survey. A total of 17 metal artefacts were recovered from the topsoil. One of these was recovered from the small access area at the south end of the investigation area. This iron fragment is likely to be part of a plough blade or other such damaged agricultural equipment. The other 16 finds recovered were found in the main, northern part of the survey. Ten of these were fragments of iron ranging in size and shape from very small unidentifiable lumps and fragments or small nails up to larger fragments from plough blades or sheet metal. Just outside the entrance to the field was a large, flat-topped stone upon which had been placed a number metal objects. It is assumed that these objects had been discarded from a previous metal detector survey. Four objects merit mention. While not diagnostic as battlefield finds as such, their basic form and material was consistent with other finds from Culloden, and with the mid-eighteenth century in general. The walkover survey of the site was carried out in parallel transects spaced approximately 5 m apart. A stone field bank was noted at the east of the site and was approximately 2m wide, 0.6m high and 390m long. It was similar in shape and to the consumption dykes that are a feature of improved agricultural land. <1>