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Oliclate

Quarry (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Oliclate

Classification Quarry (Period Unassigned)

Canmore ID 271506

Site Number ND34NW 76

NGR ND 30017 45399

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/271506

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Highland
  • Parish Wick
  • Former Region Highland
  • Former District Caithness
  • Former County Caithness

Archaeology Notes

ND34NW 76 ND 30017 45399

This disused quarry is situated 300m SSE of Oliclate farmsteading (ND24NE 24), immediately E of the farm track that links that steading to the public road. Roughly oval on plan, the quarry measures 25.5m from NW to SE by 12.5m transversely and it has been dug into the slope on the NE to a depth of 1m. Now largely overgrown with grass and nettles, the interior is partly filled with rubbish. The quarry is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet xxix), but it is not shown on the 2nd edition of the map (1907; sheet xxix).

(YARROWS04 281)

Visited by RCAHMS (ATW) 27 July 2004.

Activities

Ground Penetrating Radar (January 2007)

In January 2007, CFA Archaeology Ltd carried out a programme of palaeoenvionmental survey on behalf of the Scottish Wetlands Archaeology Programme (SWAP) within the locality of Loch of Yarrows, Caithness. This project is one of several research studies carried out by SWAP during 2006 as part of a wider framework to promote Scottish Wetland Archaeology (SWAP 2007 forthcoming) . The survey was carried with the help of volunteer members of the Caithness Archaeological Trust (CAT) and the Loch of Yarrows Archaeological Trust (YAT).

The project was designed to test the viability of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) over variable depths of blanket or mire peat formations. Three study areas were selected and included a sequence of deep, intermediate and shallow peat. The project was carried out following above average winter rainfalls that resulted in high saturation of the blanket peat which covers much of the area surrounding the study areas. A series of grids were peat probed and cored providing a biostratigraphic and basal profile of each survey grid. Each grid was subjected to GPR survey.

The three sites selected for survey were as follows:

Oliclate Farm to the north of Loch of Yarrows (grids A and B)

South of Loch of Yarrows (Yarrows 1 and 2)

Swartigill Burn, to the north of Loch of Yarrows

The results confirm that at Oliclate Farm, there is good correlation with the basal profile and biostratigraphic profiles obtained fom coring, although slight attenuation (loss of the radar signal) did occur owing to the very saturated nature of the peat. There is good correlation within the biostratigraphic profile and those obtained to the east by Tipping et al (2005). At South Yarrows 1, the shallow peat area, again good correlation was recorded between the environmental record and GPR results. At South Yarrows 2, an infilled palaeochannel provided the best correlation between the environmental record and the GPR results. At Swartigill Burn, the site of possible building remains resting on alluvial clay, the radar returns were confused by the distribution of building stone, possibly demolition material that was spread across the site. Although no wall alignments could be defined from within the radar patterns, the extent of the site within the survey grid itself is visible.

The results of this pilot study confirm that severely saturated peat does not adversely effect the radar returns gained from the apparatus used and both peat stratigraphy and basal morphology can be measured. GPR survey can provide a cost effective, non-destructive method for site demarcation of archaeological sites and monuments buried below deep peat.

Project (1 August 2014 - 2 August 2014)

ND 32110 45730 A fluxgate gradiometer survey, an earth resistance survey and a ground penetrating radar survey were carried out, 1–2 August 2014, on land next to the Burn of Swartigill. The survey aimed to characterise the extent and the nature of a known Iron Age site being eroded by the burn. The gradiometer survey has highlighted a 25 x 30m area, presenting strong magnetic variation likely to be associated with anthropogenic activity, and potentially indicative of the presence of a settlement. The earth resistance survey results suggested, within this area of enhancement, the presence of a potential sub-rectangular structure measuring 10 x 16m. The ground penetrating radar helped clarify the nature of some anomalies visible in the gradiometer and earth resistance survey. It is possible that the results of this geophysical survey

may have revealed a late Iron Age settlement, with a ‘wag’ or ‘figure-eight’ building.

Archive: ORCA

Funder: Yarrows Heritage Trust

Nick Card, Rosalind Aitken and Thomas Desalle – ORCA

(Source: DES)

Ground Penetrating Radar (1 August 2014 - 2 August 2014)

ND 32110 45730 Ground penetrating radar survey.

Archive: ORCA

Funder: Yarrows Heritage Trust

Nick Card, Rosalind Aitken and Thomas Desalle – ORCA

(Source: DES)

Resistivity (1 August 2014 - 2 August 2014)

ND 32110 45730 Resistivity survey.

Archive: ORCA

Funder: Yarrows Heritage Trust

Nick Card, Rosalind Aitken and Thomas Desalle – ORCA

(Source: DES)

Magnetometry (1 August 2014 - 2 August 2014)

ND 32110 45730 Magnetometry survey.

Archive: ORCA

Funder: Yarrows Heritage Trust

Nick Card, Rosalind Aitken and Thomas Desalle – ORCA

(Source: DES)

References

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