Monument record MHG56419 - Hut circle - Balblair Wood

An enclosure in Balblair Wood, identified by GUARD in 2005 during a walkover survey and DBA exercise in advance of the proposed Beauly-Denny OHL Replacement line. It consisted of turf, moss and tree covered banks up to 3 m wide and 0.6 m in height. The enclosure measured approximately 15 m northwest-southeast and 10 m northeast-southwest with a possible opening on the southern side. <1> See also the relevant extracted chapters from the EIA report. <2>

This feature was evaluated by Northlight Heritage in June 2012 as it lay on the site of a proposed converter station as part of SHETL Western Isles Commection Programme. A single trench (T19) demonstrated that the bank defining the feature was approximately 2.5m wide and comprised medium-sized cobbles within a silty sand matrix. No artefacts or other archaeological deposits were found. It was seen to be similar to another large possible hut-circle under investigation nearby. <3>

<1> GUARD, 2010, Beauly to Denny 400kV Powerline: Cultural Heritage Survey Sites Highland, ES No 009, GUARD Field Survey No 288 (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., 2012, Western Isles Converter Station: Archaeological Evaluation: Balblair Woods, Beauly, Highland, FTR009 (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG25853.