Monument record MHG7538 - Tarbat Old Parish Church - vallum

NH98SW 38 9145 8380.
In mid-1980s Moray Air Surveys recorded a linear feature, 4m to 5m wide, some 150m to S and W of Tarbat Old Church. It was interpreted as a ditch delineating two sides of an enclosure, but what it related to was not immediately evident. In June 1991, a small archaeological excavation was undertaken to investigate the nature of ditch and date its fills. It was postulated that feature recorded in aerial photographs was part of a vallum surrounding an Early Christian settlement centred around Tarbat Old Church (NH98SW 4).
The probable location of ditch was estimated and a narrow (0.7m wide) trench then dug by hand to confirm this. Having located the edges of ditch, an area 4m x10m was laid out and modern ploughsoil (0.8m deep]) was removed manually.
The exposed surface was cleaned and sectioning of ditch was then considered, bearing in mind the safety implications of height of baulks. A long section 1.5m x 8.75m was excavated across the ditch. However, at a depth of 1.7m, the water table was reached. A pump was then used to remove water from a small test pit. This enabled recording of depth of ditch and taking of samples of organic rich layers at bottom of feature.
The ditch must have been an important feature in landscape for a considerable period. It had been recut on at least five occasions and the effort which went into such events, (in terms of manpower), must have been significant.
The section across ditch produced no artefacts but the ploughsoil above contained post-medieval potsherds and other fragments. It is therefore presumed that feature is pre-17th century. The organic-rich samples taken from primary layers of recuts should provide enough material for C14 dates.
The excavation produced no specific evidence to suggest that this linear feature could not be the bounds of an early Christian settlement centred around Tarbat Old Church.
Sponsors: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Ross and Cromarty District Council.
J Harden 1991f.


NH 915 839 The settlement is contained by a ditched enclosure discovered in 1984 (Jones & Keillar) and dated by C14 from a sample excavation by Jill Harden in 1991 to the early first millennium AD. The enclosure contains Tarbat Old Church (NH98SW 4), at which site several fragments of carved stones (8th-9th century) have been discovered including the famous Tarbat inscription (NH98SW 14-16). Evaluation took place in two seasons in 1994 and included contour and geophysical survey and the initial mapping of three sample areas each 8m by 32m. In the southemmost area were defined a circular building and an oven, which are expected to be contemporary with the enclosure, while adjacent to the church the sequence continues into later historic times with iron working and other activities. The evaluation is being used in the composition of a research strategy for the site and its region.
Sponsors: Tarbat Historic Trust, Ross and Cromarty District, Ross and Cromarty Enterprise, Highland Region, University of York.
Carver and Garner-Lahire 1994.

A number of new sites have been discovered in the Inverness, Nairn and Easter Ross areas during summer flying. Full catalogues have been lodged with the NMRS.
Portmahomack (Tarbat parish)
NH 9145 8391 Further details evident of the cropmark of the rectilinear ditched enclosure around Tarbat Old Parish Church.
Sponsors: RCAHMS, Highland Council, anon.
J Harden and J Bone 1996

Harden, J, 1991, 'Portmahomack, Ross & Cromarty (Tarbat parish)', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1991, 43 (Text/Publication/Article). SHG1364.

Carver and Garner-Lahire, M and J, 1994, 'Portmahomack (Tarbat parish): early historic settlement', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1994, p.40, 40 (Text/Publication/Article). SHG1362.

Harden, J. and Bone, J., 1996, 'Portmahomack (Tarbat parish), cropmark', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland 1996, 56 (Text/Publication/Article). SHG1361.