Professor Ian Ralston
Projects
Appendix 1
BURGHEAD OUTER WORKS – EXPLORATORY FIELDWORK
SUMMER 2003 –RESEARCH DESIGN
Professor Ian Ralston, University of Edinburgh
BACKGROUND
This document does not repeat previous analyses of the known evidence from Burghead contained in CFA tender documents and reports, earlier publications by Professor Ralston cited in these reports, nor the consideration of Burghead contained in his Groam House paper on Pictish fortifications (Ralston 2004).
OBJECTIVE
The primary aims of explorations within the present built-up area of Burghead, outwith the areas scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, are:
- To identify the positions of any surviving remnants of the fort. There are most likely to comprise elements of the landward defensive system of banks and ditches depicted on General Roy’s plan of the site, published in 1793.
- To obtain evidence of the architecture, function, environment and date of any such elements. Such evidence may comprise structural, artefactual and/or ecofactual evidence. Allowance will be made within the budget for scientific dating (e.g. by radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology) should samples of appropriate integrity be recovered from secure stratigraphic contexts.
- To identify any artefactual or other debris related to the former St Aethan’s Chapel, more especially in so far as it may also help to elucidate the condition of the landward defensive system (already in decline? deliberately backfilled?) at the time the Christian centre was established.
- To record to appropriate standards all other deposits of archaeological or palaeoenvironmental significance.
METHODOLOGY
The principal methods of research will be by ground-penetrating excavation fieldwork and, it is hoped, should tests prove viable, by non-invasive geophysical techniques. The admixture that will be used will depend inter alia on access arrangements, the network of underground services present in the area, and safety requirements e.g. with regard to standing structures, and may be modified in the light of results as they are obtained. The strategy will be refined in association with the Moray Council and its archaeological adviser; the Burghead Headland Trust; and individual property owners.
- Geophysics - It is hoped to organise a programme of geophysics works per Mr Tim Neighbour of CFA Archaeology Ltd with Professor Bruce Hobbs, Dept of Geophysics, University of Edinburgh. Techniques to be employed might include ground-penetrating radar, but would be selected in terms of those most likely to furnish positive results. The key aim would be to identify the position, extent and scale of the ditches of the landward fortifications.
- Excavation – Hand excavation of accessible areas would be undertaken to address the objectives identified above, and to test any particularly noteworthy anomalies identified by geophysics (if this approach proves productive in the built-up area). Garden soil would be stored separately to enable reinstatement at the end of fieldwork. Depending on depths and access arrangements, it may be viable to remove garden soil using a small Kubota or similar mechanical digger. Otherwise excavation would proceed by standard stratigraphic means and would be accompanied by appropriate written, graphic and photographic recording and sampling when appropriate environmental deposits are encountered. Recording methods and procedures will be compatible with those employed recently by CFA Archaeology Ltd on the headland. Requirements for shoring will be kept under review as invasive fieldwork progresses. A risk assessment will be produced prior to the start of excavation. All trenches will be backfilled and reinstated on the completion of fieldwork.
OUTCOMES
A data structure report, a Discovery & Excavation in Scotland entry, and a final bound typescript report on the product of this project would be produced within the agreed sum. These (copies to be deposited with Burghead Headland Trust, Moray Council, and MC archaeological adviser) would include reports on the artefactual and ecofactual material recovered and analysed, and on e.g. any isotopic dates produced. The final typescript report would be submitted to the relevant curatorial archaeologist within one year of the completion of fieldwork.
It is suggested that this report would exclude any wider synthesis on the site, since this latter would more sensibly merge the results of (1) Professor Ralston and CFA’s researches (especially those of Mr Derek Alexander) on the site preparatory to the making of the sign-boards (2) Ms Mel Johnston’s excavations at the look-out station (3) the work considered here and possibly (4) Mr Ian Scott’s redrawing of all the Dark Age sculpture from Burghead.
STAFFING
The fieldwork would be carried out by Edinburgh University undergraduate students under the supervision of Professor Ian Ralston, assisted by a professional field archaeologist from the staff of CFA Archaeology Ltd. This is most likely to be one of: Ms Mel Johnston (who has recently directed excavations at Burghead), Mr Magnus Kirby (who has previous experience of seeking protohistoric remains in urban settings as Professor Ralston’s assistant at Bourges, France) or Mr Ian Suddaby (who has in recent years directed excavations in Elgin).
Environmental sampling and analyses would be overseen by Dr Mike Cressey of CFA Archaeology Ltd, thereby ensuring compatibility with work already undertaken on site. Final illustration of the project would be undertaken under the oversight of Mr Kevin Hicks of CFA Archaeology Ltd.
Initial processing of small finds would be undertaken by the students under professional guidance with reporting conducted by, for example Ms Johnston or Ms Catherine MacGill (pottery), and Professor James Graham-Campbell, FBA (fine metalwork etc). Mr Andy Heald (who has just submitted a PhD thesis on later Iron Age metalwork and has been working in the Royal Museum) will be approached to see whether he would research any copper alloy and related materials produced.
LOCAL VOLUNTEERS etc
Subject to space / workload constraints, insurance considerations, health and safety etc the project would welcome the participation of local volunteers. Subject to similar considerations - and the comprehensibility of results obtained! - it may (with the property owners’ agreement) be possible to schedule an open day as part of Scottish Archaeological Month.
DURATION, TEAM COMPLEMENT etc
A number of Edinburgh undergraduates have expressed an interest in participating in this project. The final size of the team, and the duration of the project during September will need to be factored in shortly, and will be dependent on access to property, availability of accommodation, the need for on-site facilities etc.