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MHG3794 - 'King Duncan's Grave' - Perth Road, Inverness

Summary

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Type and Period (2)

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Full Description

Supposed site of King Duncan's Grave {NR}
OS 6"map, (1938)

"King Duncan's Hollow, supposed site of King Duncan's Grave,..This name applies to the supposed burying place of King Duncan after his murder by MacBeth in the Castle of Inverness." <1>

A plaque in the wall stated, "Behind this is the supposed burial place of King Duncan 1140."(sic). The area referred to is a small plantation in a slight hollow.
Visited by OS (W D J) 29 March 1960.

Visited as a result of a call from the Inverness Courier on 23.1.2002. The area behind the stone is now occupied by a filling station, which was boarded up and closed when visited. There has been a major excavation immediately behind the memorial, which had been filled in. A large heap of spoil apparently from this site lies on the far side of the filling station forecourt, so perhaps a fuel tank or other feature may have been inserted. There is a temporary site fence surrounding the site, including the memorial. A mechanical excavator (JCB) was visible but no-one around. Grid reference previously incorrect. Checked on the ground and against the early OS mapping and corrected. John Wood 23/1/2002

An archaeological watching brief was subsequently undertaken at the site of the reported disturbance by Headland Archaeology. The area had been stripped of topsoil before the fieldwork using a toothed bucket. All subsequent excavation was undertaken under direct archaeological control, using a JCB 3CX, fitted with a 1.50 m toothless ditching bucket. An area of approximately 100m² was stripped of up to 1 m of modern made ground, containing rubble and domestic rubbish. Towards the street frontage this overlay up to 0.20 m of disturbed sandy silt, presumably a colluvial deposit. An interceptor tank and service trenches were located within the stripped area. No archaeologically significant deposits were encountered and no further work was recommended. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 6826 4465 (6m by 6m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH64SE
Civil Parish	INVERNESS AND BONA
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

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