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MHG61918 - Hut circle or burnt mound - Achunabust, Caithness

Summary

A small hut circle or burnt mound at Achunabust, Caithness.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A small hut circle or burnt mound at Achunabust, Caithness.

The feature is visible 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. However, it was not identified in the initial data analysis. <1>

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 49: This possible burnt mound is set in open country close to a modern road. The mound lay approximately 2m south of a stream, probably natural, running E-W. The sub-circular mound was 13m in diameter and 0.9m high. It had a distinct depression running N-S across the centre, which might have been the location of the trough. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 9928 6490 (17m by 17m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC96SE
Civil Parish	REAY
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (1)