MHG55412 - Hut circle or enclosure, Balblair Wood
Summary
A probable hut circle or enclosure.
Type and Period (2)
- HUT CIRCLE? (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2400 BC? to 560 AD?)
- (Alternate Type) SUB CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE? (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2400 BC? to 560 AD?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
This probable hut circle or enclosure, identified by GUARD in 2005 during a walkover survey and DBA exercise in advance of the proposed Beauly-Denny OHL Replacement line, consists of a turf, moss and bracken covered bank generally 0.4 m in height and 2 m in width. The feature measures 12 m by 9 m and a possible entrance exists on the SE side. <1> <2>
This feature was evaluated by GUARD in September 2010. A hand-dug trench was excavated across the north-eastern edge, and into the centre of the site. The bank was found to be constructed of a series of layers and cobbles around which silty deposits had formeed. In the interior a spread of silt and some cobbles is likely to reprsent slumping of the upper banking material. A silty sand and stone deposit underlay this material but no further interior deposits were identified and no internal features were recorded. The character of the feature suggests a later prehistoric date. The lack of internal features does not preclude its use as a dwelling but it may have had another function relating to the surrounding features. <3>
This feature was noted during a partial walkover survey by Highland Archaeology Services in 2011. <4>
This feature was subsequently fully excavated in 2012 by Northlight Heritage. <5>
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SHG25589 Dataset/Database File: GUARD. 2010. Beauly to Denny 400kV Powerline: Cultural Heritage Survey Sites Highland. GUARD. MDB. ES No 002, GUARD Field Survey No 302.
- <2> SHG25750 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Sneddon, D.. 2005. Proposed Beauly to Denny 400kV Overhead Transmission Line: Environmental Statement (Cultural Heritage). Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD). 6/10/2005. Digital.
- <3> SHG25217 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Becket, A.. 2011. Beauly Substation, Phase 2 Archaeological Evaluation. Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD). Digital. Site 2.
- <4> SHG25587 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Wood, J. 11/2011. Beauly Substation, Balblair, Inverness: Walk-over Survey and Watching Brief. Highland Archaeology Services Ltd. Digital.
- <5> SHG25854 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Becket, A.. 2014. Beauly Substation Archaeological Excavation: Balblair Woods, Beauly, Highland. Northlight Heritage. Digital.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 50432 44677 (11m by 11m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH54SW |
| Civil Parish | KILMORACK |
| Geographical Area | INVERNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (4)
External Links (0)
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