Muirton Mains

NH45SE 4 4580 5404 to 4583 5404.

A short cist found at NH 4580 5404 in October 1972 and another at NH 4583 5404 in June 1973, on the edge of a river terrace have been recently excavated by Mr. Wedderburn (Mr L Wedderburn, Inverness Museum) who will shortly be publishing a report. The first contained a crouched inhumation, and the second two cremations and fragments of an undecorated beaker.

Site surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (A A) 14 June 1973

The first cist, slab-built and measuring 0.85m x 0.96m also contained a small quantity of seed. The other, 1.00m x 1.50m and slab-lined, contained one cremation in the SW corner accompanied by fragments of an "undecorated vessel". This had been covered by a shattered cap-stone on top of which, in the NE corner, was another cremation mixed with charcoal, which had been covered by a small heap of rounded stones.

L M M Wedderburn 1973

NH 45609 54077 to NH 45672 54103 A small watching brief was undertaken in September 2003 to the N of two cists found in 1972/3 (NH45SE 4) as part of a water mains renewal project. No archaeological deposits or features were revealed. As the site was part of a former river course, the nearby cists were probably situated on a knoll overlooking the river.

NH 46983 52291 to NH 46973 52422 A small watching brief was undertaken to the E of Fairburn Tower (NH45SE 1) in December 2003. No archaeological deposits or features were revealed.

Reports lodged with Highland SMR and the NMRS.

Sponsor: Halcrow Group Ltd for Scottish Water.

S Farrell 2004