The year has been moderately busy from a fieldwork perspective, with large evaluations over the winter giving way to a quieter period over the spring and early summer months. Several projects have led to further phases of work. However, we are still waiting for the decisions of at least three clients as to how to proceed with large excavations.

We have quite a small field team, but we have been able to supplement this where necessary with temporary staff, notably Graeme Brown, who worked with SUAT some years ago.

A complicated piece of work was carried out over last winter, which involved a multi-phase approach to the development of a new golf course at Aviemore, on behalf of the McDonald Hotels Group. A watching brief and site walkover survey led to a more detailed EDM survey of the area of the 16th hole. As this site was to be destroyed by the development, it was decided to excavate it. The site produced four structures, three of which were clearly roofed buildings. The finds suggested a 17th-18th century date for the occupation of the site, whilst the structures appeared to suggest that the site was a small farmstead. The main building, interestingly enough, had a small rectangular extension in the SE-facing wall, corresponding to the best view, and was interpreted as a rudimentary bay window.

The large evaluation we carried out on the west side of Dundee last winter produced a good deal of archaeological evidence relating to the adjacent scheduled cursus and barrow cemetery, and further work was proposed. We await the final decision for undertaking these excavations.

Excavations were carried out over the summer, following an evaluation adjacent to a Scheduled Ancient Monument of Iron Age date. Despite lying directly beside the scheduled area, no Iron Age features were noted, with all the features discovered being related to a medieval field system or later.

A large field evaluation immediately to the south of Inverkeilor produced the remains of a possible roundhouse at the southern end of the area. It is hoped that we can return to fully investigate the remains in the New Year.

We were asked to carry out an evaluation in Stornoway town centre during the autumn. The site was possibly located on the edge of the churchyard for St Lennan’s Church, and on the site of the Cromwellian fort. Whilst a great deal of upfill was discovered on the site, little in the way of building evidence was recovered. A later watching brief did recover a heavily abraded human skull, suggesting that the site was close, but not overlying, St Lennan’s churchyard.

We have recently completed a desk-based assessment for a golf course at Loch Lomond Golf Club. This may well lead to substantial further work, as the neighbouring golf course site of Midross is currently being excavated by GUARD, and has uncovered exceptional remains with all periods represented.

Wester Gatherleys was a ruined farm site in the hills to the south of Dunning which required a short recording exercise, resulting in a plan and photographic record of the site prior to demolition. A similar exercise was carried out at Stanley House, near Perth on the banks of the Tay, with a ground plan and photographic record carried out.

A photographic record was taken of one part of a bonded warehouse in Elbe Street, Leith, prior to its demolition. We will be returning to site in the New Year to carry out an evaluation.

Building recording projects are increasingly appearing as part of development, particularly as brownfield development becomes more common.

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