Argyll Archaeology - Projects
Some recent commercial projects
An evaluation in Campbeltown, prior to the submission of a planning application, lead to the discovery of an oval ditched enclosure measuring some 30 m in diameter. A substantial V-Shaped ditch (4 m wide and up to 2.20 m deep) was filled with fairly homogenous grey silts with some cobbles near to the base. A thin layer of charcoal, burnt bone and burnt shell occurred near to the base but there was no pottery or artefacts to give a clue to the date of the enclosure, although similar ditched enclosures of a later prehistoric date have been excavated in East Lothian. Because the enclosure was discovered before the submission of the planning application the area in which it occurred was excluded from the planning application and so no further archaeological work was required.
An evaluation, prior to planning approval, for a new dwelling near Inveraray revealed a late medieval or perhaps later settlement that had gradually shifted eastwards across the landscape, as well as two rather unusual, horse-shoe shaped structures with beautiful flag-stone floors. Following the exploration and recording of the cruck framed barn, approval was given for the construction of a new house on this site.
Building recording and evaluation of a building plot on Islay revealed a landscape buried beneath windblown sand which included rig and furrow, enclosure fences and midden material that had been dumped down the face of dunes. Any dwelling associated with this buried landscape appears to have been destroyed by a later 19th century croft. Finally a watching brief was undertaken on the excavation of the foundations of the house.
A controlled topsoil strip was undertaken of a building plot on Colonsay. Within the backfill of a spring, a roughly tooled cruciform slab was recovered. This early Christian cruciform slab appears to have originally served as a marker stone of the holy well of ‘Tobar Chattan’. Following the topsoil strip of the site, approval was given for the construction of the new house.
Excavation at Ormaig Cup-and-Ring Mark site in Mid-Argyll revealed previously unrecorded cup marks, grooves and ring marks. Further excavation is planned this year when the forest has been felled.
Community led projects
Working for Kilmartin House Museum and the Dalriada Project, Argyll Archaeology has assisted in a wide range of archaeological projects including the excavation at the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Barnlusgan dun, numerous evaluations of archaeological sites within the Knapdale forest, field surveys to identified previously unrecorded sites and on going excavations at Ormaig Rock Art site. These projects aim to not only enhance our knowledge of the archaeological landscape of mid-Argyll but also provide an opportunity for local people to take part in archaeological excavation and field survey.
Please contact Dr Clare Ellis (member of the IFA (MIFA 2368)) for further information and quotations:
email - ellisclare@argyll-archaeology.co.uk
or telephone/fax 01586 550239.
