What question did this study set out to answer?

This evaluation aims to assess potential archaeological features prior to land development.

April 16, 2026Open Access

Barhill Road, Buckie, Moray Archaeological Evaluation, Data Structure Report

Puntos clave

This evaluation aims to assess potential archaeological features prior to land development.
Conducted an archaeological evaluation on 9.5 hectares of arable land.
Used tracked excavators with specific buckets for excavation.
Placed trenches to maximize coverage for detecting archaeological remains.
Excavated until reaching significant archaeological horizons or natural subsoil.
Detected evidence of agricultural improvements including drainage features.
Found a notable pit with burning evidence in Trench 8, potentially dateable.
Identified modern stone clearance bowls but few other significant remains.

Resumen

AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by Springfield Homes PLC to conduct an archaeological evaluation prior to the development of land at Barhill Road, Road, Buckie NJ 42252 64154 (centred). The evaluation was undertaken over two parcels of land encompassing an area of 9.5 hectares of arable land. The scope of the works was agreed in a WSI approved by Aberdeenshire Council Archaeological Service (ACAS). The evaluation was carried out with two tracked 360� excavators equipped with 2.0 m wide flat bladed ditching buckets. Trenches were placed in a manner orchestrated to provide the most coverage possible with varying alignments, to detect the widest range of archaeological remains potentially present. Excavation was undertaken in units/spits until the first significant archaeological horizon or natural subsoil was reached. All machine excavation was supervised by an experienced field archaeologist and according to AOC Archaeology Group's standard operating procedures, and as per the methodology within the Written Scheme of Investigation (AOC 2016). The trenches were fully recorded before being backfilled. The evaluation revealed an improved topsoil directly above the natural, cut into the natural were signs of agricultural improvement in the form of modern drainage features and stone clearance bowls. These improvements enhancing the airable profitability of the land relate to early modern and moder agricultural improvements, possibly associated with the nearby Buckie Mill, to the north of the development area. Archaeological remains were detected during the evaluation towards the south-eastern corner of Parcel R8, near the burn. The singular pit and linear observed during evaluation were located in Trench 8 and are of an unassigned period. The pit 8002 is of particular archaeological note, containing burning evidence which may be dateable. Beyond Trench 8 and the burn there were no other significant archaeological remains encountered, other than the aforementioned agricultural improvements.

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