Highland Archaeology Services Ltd

05/09/2026

During our excavations near Conon Bridge in 2025 we unearthed a 'curvilinear' feature or ring ditch surrounded by a number of postholes and pits.

This likely represents the remains of a roundhouse of a prehistoric date, with three small ceramic sherds being recovered from one of the excavated slots.

If you're interested in learning more about the site you can read the full report at: https://her.highland.gov.uk/Event/EHG6562

©Highland Archaeology Services

01/09/2026

Interested in the Archaeology of the Highlands? Tickets for in person OR online only attendance at this years’ Highland Archaeology Festival conference are now available:

Tickets for this year's Highland Archaeology Conference are now LIVE, and we are also thrilled to announce that this year we are offering tickets for ONLINE attendance as well as in-person!! Head over to Eventbrite now and get you space secured!!

Please note that ticket bookings for online and in-person are separate so follow the necessary link below to each event:

IN PERSON: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/highland-archaeology-conference-2026-in-person-tickets-1999089650960

ONLINE: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/highland-archaeology-conference-2026-online-tickets-1999260720634

Please be aware that tickets can only be booked through Eventbrite as we regretfully are unable to take in-person bookings on the day.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

25/08/2026

What a fab line-up for this year’s Highland Archaeology Conference!

We are delighted to have staff members speaking on BOTH days of the conference this year and proud to be chairing one of the days, too. This event is always a highlight in our calendar, and we are looking forward to what looks to be another great year.

Can’t make it in person? This year you can also attend remotely! Get your tickets on Eventbrite now :)

19/08/2026

Ritual is a word we use a lot in archaeology. Sometimes it seems like a good explanation...

Overlying the burial in the stone lined feature at Evelix were several infilled deposits of stone rubble and charcoal rich soil. Within these layers were large quantities of animal bone, charred wood remains, and even a small number of artefacts. These included a steatite stone bowl or lamp and a lump of slag related to metal working.

Most intriguingly the stone steps into the structure appeared to have been very narrow, making entry or exit more difficult, and was infilled with several large stone boulders. These deposits and artefacts may have been part of a process of ritually ending the structure's use or have been part of the process of burying the dead.

Do you think it was a practical way of decommissioning the structure and disposing of the dead, or is it more elaborate than that? Let us know in the comments below.

©Highland Archaeology Services

17/08/2026

During our excavations at Evelix we were amazed to find a fragment of a shale stone bangle which is very similar to iron age examples found in the Highlands. It was found within a pit which was nearby to the stone lined structure we've talked about in previous posts.

This had been deposited or discarded alongside a large 'midden' of cockle shells, perhaps used for cooking, as well as a dump of stones on its lower levels.

Amongst this material was a knocking or grinding stone, likely used to pound harvested cereal grains for consumption.

Which is your favourite find? Let us know in the comments below...

©Highland Archaeology Services

16/08/2026

Ancient human remains are relatively uncommon on archaeological sites in the Highlands as most do not survive due to acidic ground conditions.

The burial at Evelix is therefore an unusual survivor.

Laid at one corner and near the base of a stone lined pit were the partly preserved remains of a probable adult female. No grave goods were found with them, though soil samples taken from around them may yet yield more information.

This individual was found to be lying partly on infilled deposits, suggesting they were put in during the process of infilling. After detailed recording, the bones were recovered for further analysis which will seek to understand more about their long forgotten life and death.

©Highland Archaeology Services

15/08/2026

The fascinating sunken structure at Evelix speaks for itself in terms of its expertly constructed stonework.

As you can see from the 3D Model and photographs, the structure was built at its foundations with large stone blocks and boulders, including a lovely re-used knocking or grinding stone embedded on one side.

Stone slabs were placed in its interior and infilled with clay material, perhaps to prevent water escaping or entering. The upper, horizontally placed stones were carefully placed to form a vertical wall, though were inset at one corner to create a small stepped entrance.

For the moment, the jury is out on the function of the structure, though we make some suggestions which you can read in our report on the HER https://her.highland.gov.uk/Event/EHG6586.

You can also view our 3D scans in greater detail on our website here https://www.hi-arch.co.uk/our-projects

Let us know, what are your favourite parts of the structure?

©Highland Archaeology Services

14/08/2026

Today's exciting news, available on the Northern Times front page! A very interesting site near Dornoch with brilliant human remains. Thanks to the Highland News group for publishing and GF Job Ltd who run the site. Also to the Historic Environment Team @ Highland Council who make sure there are archaeologists at sites in the first place.

Keep an eye on this page for the next few days for more information from us.

https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/very-exciting-archaeologists-thrilled-by-major-prehistori-442471/

Highland Historic Environment Record G.F. JOB LTD

Evelix quarry extension unearths prehistoric pit containing human skeleton.

27/06/2026

We have had the pleasure of surveying several radar stations in the Highlands and Islands - great to see this seminal work now available as an open-access ebook!

NEW OPEN ACCESS E-BOOK: 'Radar in Scotland 1938-46'

Featuring unpublished photographs taken during the Second World War, as well as first-hand accounts from those who served on the stations, ‘Radar in Scotland 1938-46’ by Ian Brown FSAScot gives an accurate account of these early warning and navigational aid stations and the vital role they played: https://www.socantscot.org/news/new-open-access-e-book-radar-in-scotland-1938-46/

10/06/2026

Check out this cracker of a find from the trench this morning! The team are currently excavating at the site of a former Inn. This chap was probably from a porcelain figurine, but we haven’t seen a complete example that looks quite right yet.

As he is hand painted I think he is likely to date to the 19th century.