Site Event/Activity record EHG3716 - Topographic survey - Easter Raitts, Alvie

A topographic survey of the deserted settlement at Easter Raitts, Alvie, was carried out by AOC Scotland in 1995 in advance of a project by the Highland Regional Council Museums Service to reconstruct the settlement. Two areas were targeted for the survey; to the west a square area measuring approximately 60m x 60m and to the east a rectangular area measuring about 340m east-west and 120m wide. The east of the latter was covered by a conifer plantation, the remaining parts being pasture. The survey was carried out using a total station. The contour survey consisted of 750 spot readings, 590 in the east area and 160 in the smaller west area. A rough sketch was made of all archaeological features showing the positions of doorways and partition walls, marking out the position of te survey points used to record the layout of the structures. Finally the structures were photographed. During the survey 44 archaeological features were recorded, over three times as many as anticipated at the start of the survey. Two of the features recorded may predate the main parts of the settlement. The platform to the west (feature 5) and the cairn to the east (feature 44) may both be of prehistoric date. <1>