MHG3772 - Palisaded enclosure and settlement - Balloan
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
NH 673 427. The crop-mark of a circular enclosure has been recorded 300m SE of Balloan farmhouse; it measures about 25 m in diameter within a narrow ditch.
RCAHMS 1979; Visible on RCAHMS air photographs IN 3116-8: flown 1977.
Trial trenching under the direction of J Wordsworth in 1990 in advance of a proposed housing development established the location of this palisaded enclosure. It was shown to be oval, with a diameter of 28m to 30m. Further trenches revealed occupation traces to the north and east covering an area of approximately 60m². These deposits were not excavated, but were seen to include areas of paving, probable post-pits, stone-lined slots, and a small sub-rectangular structure, 3m long by 2m wide. The remains of a shale bracelet, 100mm in diameter, were found in its foundation trench. A rim sherd, of possible Bronze Age date, found elsewhere on the site, was the only other significant find. Radiocarbon dates are anticipated. <1>
Full published report of the trial trenching including radiocarbon dates. <2>
Three of the trenches excavated by AOC (Scotland) Ltd in 1990 as part of preliminary works associated with the proposed Inverness Distributor Road located to the east and southeast of the Wordsworth trenches also contained deposits and features likely to relate to the settlement and were discussed as part of the main report. See also <3> for the trenching and sites investigated and reported on by AOC (Scotland).
The excavation assemblage from the site was allocated to Inverness Museum, listed under Acc. No. 2004.012. A box list inventory is kept within the museum archive files. <4>
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SHG2673 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Archaeological Sites and Monuments of North-east Inverness, Inverness District, Highland Region. RCAHMS. . 21, No. 151.
- <1> SHG20995 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Wordsworth, J.. 1991. Balloan Park, Inverness, Highland Region: The Archaeological assessment of the ring ditch enclosure and associated features. Historic Scotland. 30/06/1991. Paper and Digital. 41.
- <2> SHG25713 Text/Publication/Article: Wordsworth, J.. 1999. A later prehistoric settlement at Balloan Park, Inverness (PSAS Vol. 129 239-49). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol.129. Vol.129 239-49. Digital.
- <3> SHG1686 Text/Publication/Article: Carter, S. & Russell-Whte, C.J.. 1993. The investigation of two cropmark sites near Inverness (PSAS Vol. 123 pp.235-43). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol. 123. 235-43. Digital (scanned as PDF).
- <4> SHG28371 Collection: Inverness Museum. 2019. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery Archive Files. 2004.012.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 6734 4271 (39m by 39m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH64SE |
| Civil Parish | INVERNESS AND BONA |
| Geographical Area | INVERNESS |
Finds (2)
- SHERD (Bronze Age - 2400 BC? to 551 BC?)
- BRACELET (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2400 BC? to 560 AD?)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (3)
- https://doi.org/10.9750/PSAS.123.235.243 (View published PSAS Vol. 123 article on the SocAntS website)
- https://doi.org/10.9750/PSAS.129.239.249 (View published PSAS Vol. 129 article on the SocAntS website)
- https://trove.scot/place/13525 (View record on the HES Trove website)
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