EHG5930 - Walkover and topographic surveys - Glenurquhart

Topographic and measured surveys were undertaken by RCAHMS in 1997 on the west side of the Great Glen, targeted on Glen Urquhart as part of the Afforestable Land Survey. The south side of the glen has been largely afforested, but the gaps between the plantations on the north side offered some potential for survey. This part of the valley has at least one well-known Pictish cemetery at Garbeg and an additional cemetery was recognised at Buntait during the course of the survey. A number of round-ended buildings with slightly bowed sides were found in the ground beyond the improved fields, including one group at Garbeg. The dating of these newly discovered structures is uncertain, but the buildings possibly indicate a period of settlement during the 1 st millennium AD. The glen, which was largely unaffected by the Clearances, contains a complex pattern of post-medieval townships. The building and fields of the townships are depicted in some detail on the 1st edition OS 6-inch map, but the buildings have suffered considerable redevelopment since the late 19th century and few pre-Improvement field-systems have survived the last 150 years. <1> <2>