Kirkwall Health Campus

Geophysical survey covering 8.59ha was commissioned in advance of the development of a new residential health and social care facility at West Corse, to the west of Kirkwall, to identify any areas of potential archaeology which may require further mitigation. The geophysical survey identified a number of features of archaeological interest. These appear to relate to post-medieval agricultural activities and are likely to date to the late 18th or early 19th century. Further anomalies which may have an archaeological origin were also identified by the survey but require further investigation before a full interpretation can be made. Despite the high potential for burnt mounds to be located within the development area, because of an example located nearby (NMRS: HY41SW.13) and the nature of the topography, the geophysical survey provided no evidence for such sites. The survey also showed no evidence of the medieval Chapel of St Duthac (NMRS: HY41SW.20) which is recorded as having been erected somewhere in the Pickaquoy area and although the exact location is not known, could have potentially been located within the development area.