EHG6200 - Excavation - A9 dualling, Tomatin-Moy

A programme of strip, map and archaeological excavation was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2022 ahead of the Tomatin to Moy section of the A9 Dualling Programme. Following earlier geophysical survey (see EHG5172) and trial trenching (see EHG6196) phases, two areas were targeted for further work within Land Parcel 1 at Tomatin Distillery and one area within Land Parcel 10.1 at Dalmagarry. The archaeological features comprised one pit and six linear features in Land Parcel 1 (Tomatin Distillery, NH 79787 29800) and three small subcircular pits filled with fire waste in Land Parcel 10 (north of Dalmagarry, NH 78507 32551). The pit in Land Parcel 1 was interpreted as a quarry pit, possibly related to the construction/maintenance of General Wade’s Road, which lay 10m to the east. The linear features were interpreted as post-medieval drainage ditches, excavated to improve the ground for agriculture. The pits in Land Parcel 10 were interpreted as disposal pits for fire waste. Viable dating evidence was recovered from wood charcoal in the pits. Three samples were submitted for radiocarbon dating from pits [13702] and [13803] in Land Parcel 10. The sample from pit [13702] returned a date range of 422 to 545 calAD (calibrated to 2σ). The samples from pit [13802] returned a date 25 to 204 calAD (calibrated to 2σ) and 63 to 211 calAD (calibrated to 2σ). <1>