EHG6450 - Trial trenching - The Plock Longhouse

An archaeological trial trenching evaluation was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2025 t to satisfy a planning condition in advance of the development of a Living Viking Museum at The Plock, Kyle of Lochalsh. An initial site visit revealed that some features recorded during previous surveys (see EHG331 and EHG398) had been given incorrect grid references. During the evaluation four trenches amounting to 188m² were opened across the development. Although this fell slightly short of the 200m² planned, this was due to the area adjacent to the carpark being previously landscaped (so the trench there (Trench 5) was abandoned) and the thick vegetation on site limiting the accessible area. Trench 2 was excavated across a field boundary wall which was characterised and recorded. No other archaeological features or remains were uncovered. As the bedrock lay just beneath the topsoil in much of the site it was felt that there was little chance of buried archaeology to survive here. The vegetation also meant that the location of trenches 3 and 4 were changed from the original plan. <1>