2024-03-20 17:24
by Marion Ruscoe
When I first started looking at the site of the Saltwater Mill at Petty Bay, I was writing a general survey of industry in Petty Parish (2019). I discovered that th… Read More
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Digs, Surveys, Research and Field Trips from the North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS)
2024-03-05 22:52
From the written evidence of secondary sources and maps on the maps.nls and Scotlandspeople websites
by Meryl Marshall
Background
In the years before the 18th Century the Highlands… Read More
2024-02-09 11:41
by Marion Ruscoe
1st ed. 25” OS map (NLS) Petty Bay lies approximately 5 miles east of Inverness. Today it’s bypassed by the A96, but a map of 1798 shows that the o… Read More
2024-01-22 18:23
by Jonathan Wordsworth
The following is an addendum to the previous Carn Glas blog post of July 2023.
Drone image of Carn Glas after clearance of gorse looking north to Inverness and M… Read More
2024-01-15 13:51
by Richard Guest
Investigating a possible crannog at Loch Morie, June 2023Almost three years has passed since the inception of the NOSAS Crannogs project, one sunny post-lockdown afternoo… Read More
2024-01-08 10:23
By Gordon Sleight
Carrachan Dubh chambered cairn near InchdnadamphOver the last twenty years I have thoroughly enjoyed tramping around Assynt, sometimes on my own and sometimes with group… Read More
2023-11-15 15:26
by Roland Spencer-Jones
This remote loch is far from any normal vehicular access. The boundary between Attadale and Pait estates runs roughly SW-NE through the middle of the loch. Approac… Read More
2023-07-22 14:33
by Jonathan Wordsworth
The gorse covered mounds of Carn Glas on the skyline looking south west with a ploughed out roundhouse site in the foreground.Background
In early march NOSAS mem… Read More
2023-07-17 22:00
by Roland Spencer-Jones
Does every excavation and discovery have a story behind it? Maybe. This one certainly does. When did the story start? With shepherds moving into empty land in the… Read More
2023-06-21 21:05
by Alan Thompson.
NOSAS were partners in and major contributors to Scotland’s Rock Art Project (ScRAP) which ran for five years from January 2017 to December 2021. We enjoyed… Read More
2023-04-18 17:10
by Susan Kruse
Did you know that there are around 100 heritage organisations and over 50 museums in the Highlands – and a number of community trusts and individuals who have heritag… Read More
2023-01-25 15:54
by Roland Spencer-Jones
A new report entitled Inchberry – a settlement, a farm, a steading and a family has just been posted to the NOSAS website. It describes the history of a farm… Read More
2022-12-22 21:50
by Richard Guest
The Crannogs project has now been running for a couple of years. Starting as a desktop exercise, we have now progressed to some site investigation and have managed… Read More
2022-10-23 14:54
by Duncan Ross
During lockdown, apart from eating too many pancakes, NASAC (Nautical Archaeology Society affiliated diving club) member Duncan Ross set himself a grand future task of visi… Read More
2022-10-23 14:54
by Duncan Ross (Nautical Archaeology Society)
During lockdown, apart from eating too many pancakes, NASAC (Nautical Archaeology Society affiliated diving club) member Duncan Ross set hims… Read More
2022-05-03 18:24
by Fiona Campbell-Howes
This is the Kebbuck Stone (see Canmore), a relief-carved cross slab dated to the 8th or 9th century, which today sits in the back garden of a cottage near Arder… Read More
2022-04-19 19:09
by Anne Coombs
I don’t like the A96. It’s a very busy road and the archaeology is not particularly exciting; crop marks and just the occasional cairn. But here I w… Read More
2022-02-23 21:23
by Richard Guest
I have long been fascinated by crannogs. These are articial island dwellings such as the one in Loch Achilty, pictured above (see Canmore). I remember back in the 8… Read More
2021-12-15 21:45
By David Jarman
a Powerpoint/pdf slideset accompanies this blogpost, providing a preliminary photo-documentation of the paths, with background history.
The networks of stalkers’… Read More
2021-08-08 10:35
by Meryl Marshall
The moated homestead in Achnasoul Wood (NGR NH 48808 51821 Canmore ID: 274702 Highland Council (HC) HER MHG29192) 4kms west of Muir of Ord was visited by NOSAS members o… Read More
2021-07-22 21:49
by Tim Blackie
In 2004, I was looking over my garden wall into Rosemarkie’s ancient graveyard and noticed gravediggers preparing a burial plot. Pictish sculpture has been discovered… Read More
2021-06-09 16:07
by Roland Spencer-Jones
Muir of Ord Golf Club may be unique in having a green on top of a scheduled ancient monument. Castle Hill, the 13th green, is an artificially modified mound, stand… Read More
2021-04-11 13:58
by John Wombell
Loch Kinellan, Google Earth 2015.A few notes on Kinellan Crannog for crannog enthusiasts. We are fortunate to live at Kinellan, about 400m away from the crannog as t… Read More
2021-01-16 20:54
by Anne Coombs
Figure 1: Looking out to sea
Caithness at the end of the 18th century was an exciting place to be. While maybe not the centre of the world, it was home to some of the… Read More
2021-01-06 20:51
by John Wombell
The Conan Stone on wood by John Wombell see A Newly Discovered Pictish Stone for Easter Ross
First the excuse. I tried this in the Autumn of 2019 to boost entries… Read More
2020-12-06 20:07
by Jonathan Wordsworth
The recent Zoom lecture by Matthew Knight on the Late Bronze Age Hoard found in a peat cutting behind Poolewe in 1877 (the talk can be viewed on the Gairl… Read More
2020-07-15 07:49
by Roland Spencer-Jones
Fig 1: Removing the corrugated iron reveals a modern timber roof and a cruck-frame
In early June 2020, I became aware that a neighbour on the braes below me was doing… Read More
2020-07-09 22:28
by Marion Ruscoe
Raigmore Hospital, 1948 © HES (Aerofilms Collection)
Raigmore Hospital was erected as part of the Emergency Medical Scheme (EMS) on part of the Raigmore estate an… Read More
2020-05-26 17:39
by Eric Grant
Drone aerial photo showing barrows of different sizes and shapes (Drone photo: Andy Hickie)
In the first three weeks of September 2019 volunteers from the North of Scotland Arc… Read More
2020-05-07 13:43
By Meryl Marshall
With movements restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic it was inevitable that I would find myself at David’s Fort, near Conan House, just 2kms from my home. This i… Read More
2020-04-03 21:51
by Roland Spencer-Jones (NOSAS)
“Coigach is a very large country”
In 1756 a young man was sent by his employers to Coigach, the rough open wild country west of Ullapool. His job… Read More
2020-04-02 11:39
by Jonathan Wordsworth
As part of the cataloguing the JSBone aerial photographs (see earlier blog post) donated to North of Scotland Archaeological Society, a team of NoSAS members have been… Read More
2020-01-14 20:33
by Michael Sharpe
Findhorn Dunes Site from the NE. In the upper left is the caravan park, and beyond the Cromarty Sutors.
Introduction
This story begins back in 2002 or so, when during a con… Read More
2019-12-30 23:37
by Andy Hickie
Drone image of Tarradale Through Time barrow cemetery dig, as featured in “Current Archaeology” November 2019.
Back in 2017, I caved in to the demands of consumeri… Read More
2019-12-24 14:51
by John Wombell (NOSAS)
There are 12 known Pictish Eagle carvings, all in the RCAHMS publication of 2008 ‘The Pictish Symbol Stones of Scotland’. They vary considerably an… Read More
2019-10-22 23:20
by Anne MacInnes
Give to our crowdfunding campaign at http://www.justgiving.com/campaign/SponsorAPictishStone
Whilst on a walk close to Dingwall, I came across a site that struck me as bein… Read More
2019-08-17 18:11
by Marion Ruscoe (NOSAS)
Petty is situated on the east side of the Moray Firth and is bounded by the parishes of Ardersier, Croy and Inverness, although the boundary has changed on occasions… Read More
2019-08-08 16:40
by James McComas (NOSAS)
A Year of Highland Archaeology book cover, showing Tarradale Through Time excavation trench with the settings of a possible stone hut. The same trench yielded severa… Read More
2019-07-19 19:19
By Cathy Dagg
Back on a lovely sunny weekend in May, which many of you will remember, NoSAS came over to Isle Martin to do some fossicking and recording in the burial ground, of which more… Read More
2019-07-02 21:52
by Stephanie Piper, Newcastle University ([email protected])
In April 2019 myself, two Master’s students from Newcastle University – Callum Hardman and Holly Holmes… Read More
2019-04-30 11:03
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
NOSAS regularly make field visits to the Tarbat Ness area. When browsing through my archives recently I came across a review for a book “Tain, Tarbat Ness and… Read More
2019-03-11 21:26
by Eric Grant
In September 2018 two sites were investigated by TARRADALE THROUGH TIME, a fortified enclosure just west of Gilchrist church and a rather enigmatic and possibly ritual site sou… Read More
2019-02-28 20:07
by Alan Thompson (NOSAS)
Led by Dr Tertia Barnett, ScRAP is a five-year project which “aims to enhance understanding and knowledge of Scotland’s rock art through community co-pro… Read More
2019-02-16 19:36
By Eric Soane
A and B on the map below identify the fields and the red arrow shows an approximate direction of fire on the range throughout its use as explained in the following report… Read More
2019-02-06 17:21
By Jonathan Wordsworth
Cycling regularly along the north shore of the Beauly Firth from North Kessock to Tarradale, I have noted just past Coulmore Point a small patch of woodland with a co… Read More
Highland Regional ScARF: Highland Archaeology From The Earliest Settlers Through To The 20th Century
2018-12-21 11:51
by Susan Kruse (ARCH and NOSAS)
The ScARF (Scottish Archaeology Research Framework) project assessed what the current state of archaeology in Scotland was in the early 2010s, looking at what… Read More
2018-11-25 22:10
by Susan Kruse (ARCH and NOSAS)
Thanks to funding from Historic Environment Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, ARCH launched an exciting project ‘Experimental Archaeology: Learnin… Read More
2018-11-11 22:36
by Jonathan Wordsworth
Lying less than 2 kilometres from the centre of Inverness, Torvean Hillfort is a much neglected Scheduled Monument (SM3806 –see also Highland Council MHG37… Read More
2018-11-10 18:08
by Roland Spencer-Jones (NOSAS)
©Colin Prior
In 1756 a young man had been sent by his employers to Coigach, a rough, remote area on the west coast of Scotland, just north of Ullapool. H… Read More
2018-09-26 12:31
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
On a recent hillwalk in the remote hills to the south of Scatwell/Strathconon, we came across a line of derelict telephone poles. The poles “marched” (w… Read More
2018-07-20 23:28
by Steven Birch
June 2018 saw a strong team from the Rosemarkie Caves Project carry out a third consecutive season of excavation in a group of coastal caves between Rosemarkie and Eathie. T… Read More
2018-05-31 21:39
by Anji Hancock (NOSAS)
My childhood was spent in Lossiemouth, a mere 8 miles from Burghead. Then, my knowledge of Burghead was a jumbled mix of Druidism, a Roman Well, the burning of the Cl… Read More
2018-04-13 21:22
by Joanna Gilliatt (Woodland Heritage Researcher, Ancient Woodland Restoration Project)
Introduction
Back in July 2015 there was a NOSAS blog post about the South Kinrara Bobbin Mill, w… Read More
2018-03-28 17:35
by Karen Clarke ( NOSAS)
Standing Building Survey of E Wall Showing Remains of Curved Window to Left. (K. Clarke).
Gravestones seem to speak to us. Although they are not always a… Read More
2018-03-22 19:43
by Dr Eric Grant (NOSAS)
Trench 2B at Tarradale during excavations in October 2017.
Background to Tarradale through time
This blog sets out some of the recent developments in the TARRADALE… Read More
2018-03-20 16:20
by James McComas (NOSAS)
The larger barrow at Buntait – feature ‘X’ on the map below.
Although I have lived in Glen Urquhart for some years, it was only comparatively recen… Read More
2018-03-10 20:54
Jim is a founder member of NOSAS which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2018. He is known in the Highlands for providing important aerial photos of numerous archaeological sites over m… Read More
2018-03-02 14:02
by Anne MacInnes (NOSAS)
Aerial of Isle Ewe from Canmore
Isle Ewe is centred on NG 85046 88444 and lies within Loch Ewe just off the coast at Aultbea.
It was surveyed as part of an ongoing p… Read More
2017-12-05 23:07
by Dave McBain (Historic Assynt)
Image: AOC Archaeology.
Three months ago, I was asked to write a piece on the Clachtoll excavation (see the post here), and when I was asked to do a follow u… Read More
2017-11-15 23:49
by Jim Bright
Standing in Structure 1 while undertaking photogrammetry
I have just completed undertaking an MSc in Archaeological Practice at the Archaeology Institute, University of the Hig… Read More
2017-11-08 17:44
by Cathy Dagg
Over the years NOSAS members have done a huge amount of important work finding and researching the archaeological evidence for the herring fishing industry in Loch Hourn in the… Read More
2017-11-07 22:34
by Marion Ruscoe (NOSAS)
In November public focus is on remembrance as we commemorate the dead from conflicts of WW1 onwards and that focus centres on the many war memorials scattered throug… Read More
2017-09-27 16:24
by Steve Birch
2017 saw a second consecutive season of excavation by the Rosemarkie Caves Project in the series of coastal caves between Rosemarkie and Eathie. Four caves were chosen fo… Read More
2017-08-17 19:00
by Dave McBain (Historic Assynt)
Exterior view of the broch
The excavation at Clachtoll broch has been running for just over a month and with each passing day, the excitement seems to be gro… Read More
2017-08-05 08:31
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
The road on the higher ground looking west.
This field visit on 25th June 2017 was by way of a “reccy”; the intention was to prospect the route with a v… Read More
2017-06-30 15:55
by John Wombell (NOSAS)
Intertidal track ways on the Caolas peninsular
One of the intertidal track ways at Poll a Chrosan, Caolas
This is the first time that I have been aware of such featur… Read More
2017-06-05 21:00
The story of the Project and NOSAS’s involvement up to the end of May 2017
by Alan Thompson (NOSAS)
Background to the Project and NOSAS involvement
Scotland’s Rock Art Project i… Read More
2017-04-07 18:39
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
NOSAS members carried out a measured survey of a site at Kinbeachie on the Black Isle using planetables at the beginning of March, the project also included photogr… Read More
2017-03-30 19:26
by Karen Clarke (NOSAS)
The area between Inver and Portmahomack (OS 1:50,000)
NOSAS members John Wombell and Jonie Guest have been organising a series of Ad Hoc coastal walks. The purp… Read More
2017-02-19 18:19
by James McComas (NOSAS)
The Pictish period skeletal remains, c . 430 – 630 AD, of a robust young man with severe cranial and facial injuries was found by archaeologists in a cave on t… Read More
2017-01-27 12:23
by Anne MacInnes (NOSAS)
The township of Kildonan (NH07829097) lies on a SW facing slope overlooking Little Loch Broom, and was described by Jonathan Wordsworth as one of the most impo… Read More
2016-12-24 00:55
by Roland Spencer-Jones (NOSAS)
In April 2015, NOSAS was approached by the development officer of Aigas Community Forest to see if we could undertake an survey of this newly acquired 285-he… Read More
2016-12-04 12:05
By Cathy MacIver (on behalf of the REAP Project Team)
A fourth season of excavation took place at the Craw Stane, Rhynie over August – September 2016. The project was led by REAP… Read More
2016-12-02 21:08
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
Aultgowrie, west of Muir of Ord, is a favourite area for short walks and I have been aware of a hydro scheme at Orrin Falls for many years but never given it much t… Read More
2016-11-05 21:32
by Mary Peteranna and Steve Birch.
Aerial view of Reeds Park during excavation 2015, looking towards the modern town and the Cromarty Firth (Garry MacKay).
The Cromarty Medieval Burgh Commun… Read More
2016-10-11 13:05
Archaeological sites connected with the production of illicit whisky in Strathconon
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
The following notes were produced for a NOSAS field trip to Allt Dubh, Scatwell… Read More
2016-08-31 20:55
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
The following notes were provided for a NOSAS field trip in December 2015. Photographs from the day have been included.
Slochd Pass accommodates several routes bo… Read More
2016-08-03 21:04
by Duncan Kennedy (NOSAS)
Dun Deardail (Canmore ID: 23727, HER: MHG4348) is a hillfort located at a height of 1,127 ft (347m) on a prominent knoll on the western flank of Glen Nevis (Figure… Read More
2016-07-15 18:59
by Meryl Marshall (NOSAS)
3D model of Ormond Castle (Alan Thompson)
The North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS) and Avoch Community Archaeology (ACA) group joined forces in March 20… Read More
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