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Creagan Dubh
Clearance Cairn (Post Medieval), Hearth (Iron Age)
Site Name Creagan Dubh
Classification Clearance Cairn (Post Medieval), Hearth (Iron Age)
Canmore ID 319222
Site Number NN59SE 81
NGR NN 5825 9371
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/319222
- Council Highland
- Parish Laggan
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Badenoch And Strathspey
- Former County Inverness-shire
Archaeological Evaluation (17 February 2011 - 18 February 2011)
NN 58254 93714 An evaluation was undertaken 17–18 February 2011 of a proposed site compound at Spey Dam. The area was considered sensitive due to its proximity to the site of St Michael’s Chapel and the deserted township of Crathie. The excavation of seven trenches covering 5% of the 1.33ha site revealed a number of archaeological features. A clearance cairn was identified towards the NW part of the development area; while Trench 7 in the SE of the site revealed a deposit containing a good quantity of burnt faunal bone and charcoal, possibly representing the remains of a hearth, next to the ruinous remains of a dry stone structure.
The deposit of grey ashy silty sand with charcoal and frequent burnt bone measured 1.3m long by 1.2m wide by 0.06m deep. The stone founded structure, possibly representing the remains of a wall footing, was located 2m to the E of the hearth and measured 1.3m long by up to 0.68m wide and 0.22m high. A undefined spread of rubble was recorded within a mid-greyish brown sand immediately to the E of the wall footing. A small fragment of factory produced refined red earthenware pottery, with a black probably manganese glaze that would date it to the 19th century or later, was recovered from the top of the rubble. Trench 7 was expanded, but as only the area designated as the site access could be examined it was not possible to define the extent of the remains.
The subsequent analysis of a flotation processed sample from the hearth found the charcoal assemblage contained alder and birch charcoal, with some indeterminate bark. The assemblage was consistent with general hearth waste. Alder and birch trees grew in the native woodlands of this area throughout the prehistoric and historic periods, and were probably abundant along the nearby riverbanks of the River Spey. A single 0.22g fragment of alder charcoal was sent for AMS radiocarbon dating and returned an Iron Age date of 790–510 cal BC (SUERC-35389). While the most visible remains of Iron Age settlement in the vicinity is the stone walled fort of Dun da Lamh, c670m S on the summit of Black Craig hill, the hearth remains and probable associated dry stone structure indicates that other Iron Age settlements may lie buried in the low-lying grounds of the glen.
A 10m buffer zone was established around the area of Trench 7 and the access road foundations were placed above ground. This allowed the remains to be preserved in situ and negated the need for mitigation work.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Ltd
GUARD Archaeology Ltd, 2011