Excavation

Date October 2012

Event ID 1026115

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1026115

NH 57630 56880 (Canmore ID: 312502) In October 2012 NOSAS set about preparing the W settlement at Mulchaich, which is thought to be a distillery, for presentation to the public under Archaeology Scotland’s Adopt-a-Monument Scheme. The project also included the adjacent chambered cairn and the plan involved:

• fencing the area to provide a small enclosure in which sheep could graze and thereby protecting the archaeological features

• undertaking an excavation of the kiln with the aim of showing its features off so that the drying process could be explained

• producing explanatory leaflets.

The excavation of the kiln was completed, 1 August – 27 September 2013. The material within the kiln bowl was removed, the features of the kiln were identified and the structure was consolidated and made safe. There was no removal of structural material and the usual high standard of excavation and recording was followed throughout with, on conclusion, the production of a report. The kiln bowl was nicely preserved and much like the many kiln bowls found at townships in the Highlands. But the flue was unusual; it was substantially built and much wider than the normal corn-drying kiln. In addition the

hearth was inside the flue and much nearer to the kiln bowl itself. The other unusual and interesting feature was a pit in front of the entrance. Options to investigate this feature were constrained by the trench edges; it measured c1.2m in diameter at the surface and when half sectioned it was 650mm deep with steep sides. Resting on the bottom of the pit was an iron object, 500mm long and with 3 links; it was buckled and corroded but apparently a suspension device of some kind.

Archive: NOSAS. Report: Highland HER and National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) intended

Website: nosas.co.uk

Meryl Marshall - North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS)

(Source: DES, Volume 16)