Kinloss Barracks, RAF Kinloss, Moray: Archaeological Watching Brief Data Structure Report

Archaeological watching brief undertaken during groundworks on and to the north of the present car park for construction of a new car park, drainage and building foundations associated with construction of two 68 bed Junior Rank accommodation blocks at RAF Kinloss. All mechanical excavations within the watching brief area were monitored by the watching archaeologist and a sample of identified archaeological features and deposits were hand-excavated. Spoil derived from machine stripping and hand-excavated features and deposits was visually scanned for the purposes of finds retrieval. All exposed archaeological features and deposits were recorded using Wessex Archaeology's pro forma recording system. A full photographic record was made using a digital camera equipped with an image sensor of not less than 10 megapixels. The locations of archaeological features were surveyed using a Leica GNSS connected to Leica's SmartNet service. A 0.5 m thick layer of agricultural soil was observed within undisturbed parts of the monitored areas. Beneath this, cut into the natural geological substrate, there was a series of four shallow furrows, aligned north-west to south-east and spaced approximately 8 m apart. These features and the overlying deposit suggest that the area had been under cultivation for a long time; it is thought they may have been part of the agricultural hinterland of Kinloss Abbey. A short section (1.8 m) of stone wall, comprising one course of roughly shaped limestone fragments laid on top of the agricultural soil, was exposed on the eastern edge of the monitored area. It was oriented east-west and continued beyond the limit of excavation to the east. It may represent a post-medieval or modern field boundary. A layer of demolition material, relating to a post-World War II building that was demolished in the late 20th century was recorded within the northern part of the monitored area. There was extensive disturbance relating to 20th century construction of military buildings and associated infrastructure across much of the monitored area. The roads around the car park were made up of road surface, concrete and levelling material overlying a thin layer of agricultural soil which in turn lay directly above the natural geological substrate. The car park had been stripped to the natural substrate during construction. Any archaeological potential from these areas has therefore been lost. No arfefactual evidence or environmental material was recovered during the watching brief.