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MHG29179 - Hut circle - Balblair Wood (3 of 3)

Summary

A hut circle in Balblair Wood near Beauly.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A probable hut circle was recorded by The Centre for Field Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh in 1999 during a walkover survey carried out in advance of proposed quarrying at Balblair near Beauly. This circular feature had a diameter of 12m and comprised of a turf-covered stone bank of up to 5m width and 0.5m height. There was a slight dip in the bank at the south-eastern side of the circle which may have indicated an entrance to the circle. The most obvious interpretation for this feature was considered to be the remains of a hut circle of broadly prehistoric, and probably Iron Age, date. However, the presence of probable chambered cairns (nos 1 and 2) within the survey area suggested that an alternative interpretation as the remains of a burial monument was also plausible. <1>

The feature was subsequenty confimed as a hut circle when excavated by AOC Archaeology Group in 2022 in advance of substation reinforcement works at the adjacent Beauly Substation. Excavation revealed a prehistoric roundhouse, measuring 8m by 7m internally with banks c. 0.4m high comprising a wall foundation layer of turf, a patchy course of stonework and a thick layer of rubble stone. It contained an internal post-ring set approximately 1m from the inner wall face. Two saddle quern fragments, two flint artefacts and several sherds of coarse ceramic were recovered from deposits within the site. Archaeological monitoring of topsoil clearance around the exterior of the structure did not reveal any further archaeological features or deposits. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5036 4454 (14m by 14m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH54SW
Civil Parish	KILMORACK
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

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