RCAHMS Community Engagement 2012

Date 2012

Event ID 1112232

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1112232

In 2012, this work again focused on the Kingussie and Aviemore areas, where the Cairngorms Communities Heritage Project – a partnership venture with the Cairngorms National Park Authority - entered its second year. Archaeological activities comprised the prospective survey of parts of Alvie estate (where sites recorded included a group of hut-circles and several 18th and 19th century farmsteads) and the detailed surveys of a chambered cairn at Kincraig (discovered in 2011) and of a motte at Mains of Garten. In May, a one-day course in woodland heritage (undertaken in partnership with Dr Coralie Mills and Peter Quelch) resulted in the discovery of previously unrecognised ancient alder trees on the edge of Aviemore. In Kingussie, a series of events organised by the RCAHMS but with the enthusiastic support of the Community Council included an oral history project, a course in recording standing buildings, and lectures and guided walks exploring the burgh’s heritage.

Information from RCAHMS (DES 2012, 195)

People and Organisations

Related Event(s)

Event	Type	Subtype	Notes	Date
1112694	RECORDING	MEASURED SURVEY	Mains of Garten motte was surveyed by RCAHMS and members of the local community in 2012 as part of the Cairngorms Community Heritage Project. The survey was undertaken using plane-table and self-reducing alidade to produce a site plan at a scale of 1:500. The plan was later used as the basis of an illustration redrawn in vector graphics software at the same scale. [...]	4 December 2012
924840	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	This heavily robbed chambered cairn is situated at the upper limit of improved pasture roughly midway between the newly constructed blacksmith’s shed and a small coniferous plantation, some 425m to the ENE of Kincraig House. The cairn lies on relatively flat ground and appears to have been terraced on the S, with the ground rising gently to the N and W and a tongue of natural outcrop extending out to the SE. Oval on plan, it measures 17m from ENE to WSW by 14.8m transversely, and is defined by three kerb stones on the SW, S and SSE, and another that appears to have fallen outwards on the ENE. On the N and NW the outer edge of the cairn has been reduced to a low stony bank. Loose stones lie across the interior and several large angular blocks are still visible on the SE. The chamber, orientated ENE to WSW, measures 3.2m by 0.9m internally and is divided into two compartments by a low septal slab. The innermost compartment survives as two upright stones on its S side and a back-slab, the latter the tallest of the chamber standing 0.68m in height. Two displaced stones immediately behind these may be capstones or corbels from the roof of the chamber that have slipped backwards. The second compartment comprises a pair of upright stones and another adjacent to that on the N set just outside though not overlapping. A further 0.7m to the E there is another earthfast stone which may also belong to the chamber but now appears to be displaced. [...]	7 June 2012
1154144	RECORDING	MEASURED SURVEY	RCAHMS surveyed Kincraig chambered cairn on 7 June 2012 with plane-table and alidade producing a plan at a scale of 1:100.	7 June 2012