Archaeological Evaluation

Date 1 February 2012 - 1 March 2012

Event ID 1000177

Category Recording

Type Archaeological Evaluation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1000177

An archaeological trial trenching evaluation was carried out at Annfield, near Inverkeithing in advance of an extension to the Muir Dean Surface Mine. The trial trenches were positioned to target five sites identified within the cultural heritage chapter of the ES, as well as provide a good spread of trenches throughout the evaluation area. The sites identified within the ES consisted of four separate buildings with associated enclosures, and an enclosure associated with earlier mining activities. These sites are depicted on an estate plan dating to 1756. One of the sites annotated Damleys is also depicted on the First Edition OS map. The probable site of Damleys was subject to a more intensive programme of trial trenching. Trial trenching led to the identification of a series of possible foundation trenches associated with Damleys. The foundation trenches had been backfilled with demolition debris. There was no evidence of the remaining ES sites indicating that they are likely to have been insubstantial in nature. The other features that were identified during this programme of works consisted of post-improvement field drains and drainage features, mine-shafts relating to earlier mining activity, vestigial traces of pre-improvement rig and furrow cultivation and a late 19th century well associated with Annfield Farm. None of these features are considered to be archaeologically significant.

Information from OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-192922 (M Kirby) 2012.