Print

MHG29238 - Burnt mound with trough - Inshes

Summary

No summary available.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

An archaeological watching brief was conducted by the Centre for Field Archaeology, University of Edinburgh in 1999 during topsoil stripping associated with the construction of a new sewer at the Inshes development site at Inverness. Two burnt mounds, one with an associated wooden trough, and seven other features were identified during this operation. Burnt Mound 1 (NH 6919 4516 see MHG35961 for Burn Mound 2) consisted of a semi-circular spread of burnt sandstone and charcoal. It partially surrounded a wooden trough located immediately to the east, and partially filled the eastern side of a palaeo-channel which comprised an irregular depression running northwest-southeast across the examined area. The trough was set within a rectangular cut and appeared to be largely complete, with only the northern portion of its base absent. The trough was constructed from five separate timbers, provisionally identified as alder. The base and lower sides were formed from a single hollowed-out log, with each of the upper side and end panels consisting of single unjointed planks, set on end. There was no evidence to suggest any jointing of the wood, or of additional structural components or any kind of formal lining. The trough contained four fills: the uppermost comprising redeposited burnt mound material over a deposit of well-preserved peat over a deposit of stones which occupied the majority of the trough base, representing the last heating episode of the trough's use. A basal primary deposit, comprising a charcoal-rich silt layer, was present where the stones were absent. <1>

The work at the site, including radiocarbon dating, was published in full as an article in PSAS in 2003. See link below to volume 133 for full article. <2>

The excavation assemblage from the site was submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 02/02) and allocated to Inverness Museum. Associated documentation of the transfers is held in the Inverness Museum archive files. Finds from the assemblage are listed under Acc. No. 2012.005. <3> <4> <5>

Sources/Archives (5)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 6919 4516 (16m by 16m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH64NE
Civil Parish	INVERNESS AND BONA
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)