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Lower Slackbuie
Palisaded Enclosure (Prehistoric)(Possible), Post Hole(S) (Prehistoric), Ring Ditch (Prehistoric), Roundhouse(S) (Later Prehistoric), Unenclosed Settlement (Later Prehistoric)
Site Name Lower Slackbuie
Classification Palisaded Enclosure (Prehistoric)(Possible), Post Hole(S) (Prehistoric), Ring Ditch (Prehistoric), Roundhouse(S) (Later Prehistoric), Unenclosed Settlement (Later Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) 1 West Heather Road; Balloan Cottages; Slackbuie Avenue
Canmore ID 13520
Site Number NH64SE 37
NGR NH 67061 42474
NGR Description Centred NH 67061 42474
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/13520
- Council Highland
- Parish Inverness And Bona
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Inverness
- Former County Inverness-shire
NH64SE 37 centred 67061 42474
NH 670 424. Air photography has revealed what may be an unenclosed settlement 140m SSE of Balloan Cottages. (Visible on RCAHMS air photographs IN 3113-5: flown 1977) It comprises a pit-circle 7m in diameter and a ring-ditch 13m in diameter. The NE arc of the ring-ditch has been destroyed by road construction.
RCAHMS 1979.
Air photographs of Balloan Farm by J Bone have recorded this pit-circle and a pit alignment running NNE away from it. (See Archive for details.)
Information from J Harden 1989.
NH 670 424 Assessment excavations were carried out in advance of proposed development in the area. The proposed access road would cross one end of a scheduled monument area, within which, to the S there are two cropmark sites identified from aerial photographs (NH64SE 37 'Balloan Cottages'). Excavation uncovered deposits associated with periodic flooding, however no features or deposits of an archaeological nature were encountered.
Sponsor: M Mackenzie.
EASE 1995.
NH 6700 4249 An archaeological evaluation was undertaken as part of Scheduled Monument Consent, the site lying close to a cropmark (NH64SE 37), following work carried out last year on the adjacent housing development (DES 2001, 57). No archaeological features or deposits were revealed.
Full report deposited in Highland SMR and the NMRS.
Sponsor: Manda Healthcare Ltd.
S Farrell 2002.
Scheduled as 'Lower Slackbuie, unenclosed settlement 90m E of 1 West Heather Road... the remains of a later prehistoric settlement [including] at least two roundhouses and part of a ditch enclosing a small plot next to one of the houses [located] between West Heather Road and Slackbuie Avenue.'
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 22 July 2011.
Field Visit (June 1978)
Lower Slackbuie NH 670 424 NH64SE 37
Air photography has revealed what may be an unenclosed settlement 140m SSE of Balloan Cottages. It comprises a pit-circle 7m in diameter and a ring-ditch 13m in diameter. The NE arc of the ring-ditch has been destroyed by road construction. See also nos. NH74SW 25
and NH74NW 26.
RCAHMS 1979, visited June 1978
Watching Brief (2008)
NH 6708 4238 to NH 6707 4242 A watching brief was maintained during the machine excavation of a trench for
a new underground power cable near the former Balloan Cottages. A 53m long section of the cable route was monitored. This ran across the edge of SAM 5218 (NH64SE 37) which contains a pit circle and ring ditch. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered.
Archive and Report: Highland Council, Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.
Funder: Scottish and Southern Energy
J Lewis (Scotia Archaeology), 2008
Geophysical Survey (July 2009)
NH 6704 4245 A small area in the region of 0.5ha was surveyed using a fluxgate gradiometer in July 2009 in
advance of a proposed development. The survey covered an area in which a ring ditch and pit circle had previously been identified on aerial photographs. Despite the presence of modern disturbance a weak but well-defined, curving anomaly was identified on the NE side of the site. This seems to be consistent with the feature recorded on the aerial photographs. A much weaker anomaly in the same area may suggest the presence of a second, concentric internal ditch.
Archive: OCGU
Funder: Stuart Farrell Archaeological Consultant
Mary Saunders – Orkney College Geophysics Unit
Archaeological Evaluation (June 2010)
NH 6705 4245 An evaluation was conducted in June 2010,
further to a programme of geophysical survey (DES 2009,
101). Work revealed a group of pits and postholes of unknown
date. Samples are to be submitted for dating.
Archive: RCAHMS. Report: Highland SMR and RCAHMS
Funder: Mr T Manda
External Reference (22 July 2011)
Scheduled as 'Lower Slackbuie, unenclosed settlement 90m E of 1 West Heather Road... the remains of a later prehistoric settlement [including] at least two roundhouses and part of a ditch enclosing a small plot next to one of the houses [located] between West Heather Road and Slackbuie Avenue.'
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 22 July 2011.
Aerial Photographic Interpretation (14 May 2014)
Following a review of the aerial photographs, this circle of pits is now thought to represent the remains of a later prehistoric roundhouse. As such, the pit circle classification has been removed.
Information from RCAHMS (KMM) 14 May 2014
