Blair Atholl, Jacobites, Clearances And Scots

NN 74626 60613 – Lower Gaskan (township), NN 74103

60923 – Tighmore (township), NN 74259 60774 – Tighmore

(cairnfield), NN 72868 61952 – Drumcroy (cairnfield)

A programme of archaeological work is being undertaken

along the route of the military road network in highland

Perthshire. The project aims to identify and record all sites

and features associated with the road network, and its

nearby/associated settlements, with a particular focus on the

18th century.

In the fourth season of fieldwork, 10–22 June 2018, survey

was completed between Tummel Bridge and Trinafour, with

particular focus at the abandoned townships at Tighmore

and Lower Gaskan.

Historic building recording was completed on two of the

buildings at Tighmore with an enhanced survey taking place

to record the exterior and interior elevations. The building

recording will continue in 2019.

Horse gin and building in Tighmore © HARP

The settlement of Lower Gaskan contains a series of enclosures

and buildings, with five improvement period buildings on

the 1st Edition OS map. It also contains a large limekiln, with

the denuded remains of outlying, probably earlier buildings.

The township shares a head dyke with Tighmore to the W.

Between Tighmore and Lower Gaskan a series of 12 cairns

have been identified. The cairns sit in an open area, created

for power lines, within woodland. Those at the northernmost

edge of the clearing have been disturbed by forestry activity.

The cairns vary in size from 2–3m, up to 18m in length,

and consist of rough cobbles and small boulders, some turf

covered. They appear to be a mix of probable clearance

cairns, with the possibility of burial cairns. An additional

four cairns were identified to the NW of Tighmore and Over

Bohespic. Heavily denuded and disturbed by forestry activity

these possible burial cairns are oriented towards Schiehallion

to the S. The best preserved of the four cairns consists of a

small circular bowl shaped chamber, 5 x 2.5m, with a 4m

passage running to the SE from the chamber. Survey and

research work will continue in the area in 2019.

Archive and report: NRHE (intended)

Website: www.harparchaeology.co.uk

Ian Hill, Michelle Gamble, Kieran Manchip, Tom Lyons and

Daniel Calderbank – Heritage and Archaeological Research

Practice Ltd

(Source: DES, Volume 19)