MHG61735 - Hut circle - W of Achnavast
Summary
A hut circle to the west of Achnavast.
Type and Period (1)
- HUT CIRCLE (Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 4000 BC? to 560 AD?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
A hut circle to the west of Achnavast.
A hut circle identified in LiDAR data gathered by AOC Archaeology in 2011 as part of the mitigation for the visual impact on the archaeological landscape associated with the proposed Baillie Hill windfarm, Caithness. Hut circle, one of three closely set circular features. <1>
The three hut circles are located within an area of cultivation which in the initial data analysis was thought to be associated and prehistoric in origin. However, the very narrow rigs run right up to the three hut circles and may overlie them, especially the westernmost of the three (see MHG61733). It is more likley that the rig is associated with the possible building to the northwest (see MHG61738) [IS-L 03/08/2020].
The site was visited and recorded by topographic survey in 2015 as part of the 'Hidden Bronze Age Landscape of Caithness Project' undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group and members of the Castletown Heritage Society with local volunteers. The project ran as a series of four week-long field schools training volunteers in techniques of field survey, systematic soil sampling and targeted excavation. Fieldwork in week one of the field school (22-27/06/2015) focussed on using LiDAR data in the field, use of GPS to create simple maps of archaeological sites and ground-truthing sites through LiDAR. In week two (13-18/07/2015) participants learned how to create accurate plans using manual taped offset and plane table survey and total station and GPS surveys. Site 52: Circular bank measuring roughly 10m diameter and survives to a height of 0.45m. The site has been disturbed by cattle erosion. <2>
Sources/Archives (2)
- <1> SHG26164 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Cavers, G.. 2012. Baillie Hill and Cnoc Freiceadain, Caithness: LiDAR Survey. AOC Archaeology Group. Digital. Site 34 & Polygon 71. XY
- <2> SHG28580 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Cavers, G. et al. 2016. A Window on the Hidden Bronze Age Landscape of Caithness: Field Surveys and Excavations at Skaill. AOC Archaeology Group. Digital. Site 52.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 0721 6383 (14m by 14m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND06SE |
| Civil Parish | HALKIRK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (2)
External Links (1)
- http://bronzeagecaithness.aocarchaeology.com/lidar/ (View LiDAR data online)
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