EHG6325 - Trial trenching - Balblair Quarry extension

A targeted archaeological evaluation was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2024 within a proposed extension site for Balblair Quarry near Beauly. The extension area, which was located under dense vegetation and mature trees, contained nineteen previously surveyed structures (see EHG6324). These consisted of seventeen clearance cairns, a circular enclosure and a possible burial cairn. The area around the site locations was cleared of vegetation by a machine under archaeological supervision and eleven trenches were excavated over the possible enclosure, a burial cairn and seven of the small cairns. The evaluation revealed that the possible enclosure was the likely the remains of a stone roundhouse bank and that the possible burial cairn likely contained a burial feature below the cairn. Further possible structural complexities and deposits were located under some of the other cairns with two possible stone artefacts recovered. All of the sites had been heavily disturbed by large tree root systems and a further phase of excavation was recommended ahead of site clearance in advance of development. <1>