Monument record MHG55412 - Hut circle or enclosure, Balblair Wood

This probable hut circle or enclosure, identified by GUARD in 2005 during a walkover survey and DBA exercise in advance of the proposed Beauly-Denny OHL Replacement line, consists of a turf, moss and bracken covered bank generally 0.4 m in height and 2 m in width. The feature measures 12 m by 9 m and a possible entrance exists on the SE side. <1> See also the relevant extracted chapters from the EIA report. <2>

This feature was evaluated by GUARD in September 2010. A hand-dug trench was excavated across the north-eastern edge, and into the centre of the site. The bank was found to be constructed of a series of layers and cobbles around which silty deposits had formeed. In the interior a spread of silt and some cobbles is likely to reprsent slumping of the upper banking material. A silty sand and stone deposit underlay this material but no further interior deposits were identified and no internal features were recorded. The character of the feature suggests a later prehistoric date. The lack of internal features does not preclude its use as a dwelling but it may have had another function relating to the surrounding features. <3>

This feature was noted during a partial walkover survey by Highland Archaeology Services in 2011. <4>

This feature was subsequently fully excavated in 2012 by Northlight Heritage. <5> Report awaited.

<1> GUARD, 2010, Beauly to Denny 400kV Powerline: Cultural Heritage Survey Sites Highland, ES No 002, GUARD Field Survey No 302 (Dataset/Database File). SHG25589.

<2> Sneddon, D., 2005, Proposed Beauly to Denny 400kV Overhead Transmission Line: Environmental Statement (Cultural Heritage) (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG25750.

<3> Becket, A, 2010, Beauly to Denny 400kV Overhead Transmission Line - Beauly Substation, Phase 2 Evaluation, Site 2 (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG25217.

<4> Wood, J, 11/2011, Beauly Substation, Balblair, Inverness: Walk-over Survey and Watching Brief (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG25587.

<5> Becket, A., 2014, Beauly Substation Archaeological Excavation (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG25854.