Extension to Granish Quarry, Aviemore: Archaeological Evaluation Final Report

Bulk samples were processed in their entirety in laboratory conditions using a floatation method designed to retrieve both ecofacts and artefacts (cf. Kenward et al. 1980). The sediment consisted of a sandy silt which did not require any pre-treatment. The wash overs were scanned using a high-powered microscope at x10-x40 magnification. The residue was separated using a stack system of 4mm, 2mm and 1mm sieves and each fraction was scanned by eye and with a magnet. All plant macrofossils were subsequently examined at magnifications of x10 and up to x450. Macroplant identifications were confirmed using modern reference material and seed atlases stored at AOC Edinburgh (Cappers et al. 2006; Jacomet 2006). Taxonomy and nomenclature for plants follows Stace (2010). A maximum of ten charcoal fragments larger than 4mm were selected from each sample for further analysis. Species identifications were confirmed by analysing the transverse, tangential and radial sections at x70-x450 magnification and using keys and texts stored at AOC Edinburgh (Hather 2000; Schweingruber 1990). Two bulk samples were submitted for environmental assessment from the archaeological evaluation at the Extension to Granish Quarry, Aviemore. The samples were collected from two clearance cairns believed to date to the prehistoric period. A small assemblage of charcoal was recovered. Alder was identified as the predominant species (72% of the assemblage) followed by pine (28% of the assemblage). Deposit (003) only contained alder charcoal, whereas deposit (004) contained both alder and pine charcoal. The charcoal assemblage has derived from domestic fuel debris, reworked into the clearance cairn stone. The species represented are both native to Scotland and would have grown in the surrounding landscape. Three charcoal samples from the assemblage were submitted for radiocarbon dating. A sample of alder charcoal from clearance cairn deposit (003) returned a date of 777-544 calBC (95% probability) (SUERC-107648) and an alder charcoal sample from clearance cairn (004) returned a date of 806-570 calBC (95% probability) (SUERC-107649) indicating the potential construction of the field system during the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age. A pine sample from clearance cairn (004) returned a date of 2458-2209 calBC (95% probability) (SUERC-107650), indicating residual Early Bronze Age activity.