EHG2974 - Trial trenching at Eilean Donan Castle, Ross-shire

Following an earlier programme of survey work, five trenches were excavated by FAS in 2008 to investigate the character and layout of the medieval castle outer defences and any associated deposits, and to inform the preparation of a Conservation and Research Management Plan. All excavation, backfilling and re-turfing was undertaken by hand. Specific objectives were: to define the original plan and present condition of the northwest tower (Intervention 3) to define the survival and character of the western curtain wall, and its relationship to the north tower (Intervention 4) to establish the former ground level, and condition and character of archaeological deposits in the outer ward to define the survival and character of the north curtain wall (Intervention 5) to assess the character and date of the northeast tower (Intervention 6) to ascertain whether or not there was a southwestern tower (Intervention 7) to assess whether the current vegetation and tides at the site are having a detrimental effect on the extant archaeological remains The evaluation demonstrated that, despite modern interventions during the reconstruction of the castle, stratified medieval deposits and structures survive at the site, and contain significant material assemblages. <1>-<5> A full account of the excavations at the site by FAS was published by Oxbow Books in 2023. <6>