Site Event/Activity record EHG1363 - Geophysical survey - Culloden Battlefield Memorial Project

Geophysical surveys involving both resistivity and magnetometry were carried out by Archaeological Services WYAS in 2004 in four areas around the Culloden Battlefield site. The project had been commissioned by CFA Archaeology Ltd on behalf of their clients, the National Trust for Scotland in advance of the proposed construction of a new visitor centre and car parking facilities. The survey area comprised approximately 9 hectares of rough pasture, including a horse paddock, to the south and east of the current visitor centre. Areas covering approximately 5 hectares that were to be directly impacted by the proposed development were accorded a priority status. An additional 4 hectares were set aside to be surveyed dependent on the results from the priority areas. No anomalies of a probable archaeological origin were identified in any of the areas likely to be affected by the new visitor centre or outlying areas closer to the known battlefield site. Areas of high resistance east of Old Leanach may have been caused by rubble associated with buildings referred to in the aftermath of the battle. Many of the identified anomalies were interpreted as being caused by natural features or by variations in the underlying drift geology. <1>