EHG6040 - Geophysical survey - Thing's Va, Thurso

A fluxgate gradiometer survey and an earth resistance survey were carried out by ORCA in 2017 at Thing’s Va, on land c. 1.3km to the south of the A836 road and c. 2km west of Thurso. The survey formed part of the Caithness Broch Festival Archaeology Programme, which aimed to provide the opportunity for the local community and visitors to the county to engage with their local archaeology, whilst conducting significant archaeological research. The results of the geophysical survey were to provide a basis for subsequent archaeological fieldwalking and test-pitting. The main focus of the survey was an area around the broch, covering both the scheduled area and beyond. Approximately 1ha of gradiometer survey was carried out around the broch, with subsequent targeted earth resistance survey over areas of potential archaeological interest. A further small area of magnetometry survey was carried out over a cairn in a field to the southeast of the broch. The field was under crop at the time, with the cairn uncultivated. Within the Scheduled Area of the broch, the magnetometry survey showed the line of the extant bank as well as some indication of another extant earthwork on its southwest side. An area of strong response was visible on the northeast side, perhaps indicative of a burnt mound. Two possible structures were identified to the northeast of the broch. The results of gradiometer survey carried out over the nearby cairn suggests that this is likely to be a settlement site or a possible burnt mound. The targeted earth resistance survey focused on an area to the northeast of the broch. The results echoed those from the magnetometer survey in showing the presence of the possible burnt mound, and suggestions of other possible structural remains in the east of the survey area. <1>