Series: Alder Archaeology Ltd unpublished report series

Alder Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Forestry Commission Scotland to carry out a desk-based assessment and walkover survey in Blairadam Forest, Fife. This work was carried out to enable the FCS to make informed and reasonable decisions on the future management of the cultural heritage within Blairadam Forest. The forest lies to the west of the M90 motorway, near Kelty, and measures roughly 12 square kilometres. Sites identified in the desk-based assessment were visited over several days between the 29th of August and the 28th of September 2009. The results of this survey found that many of the boundaries that once belonged to Blairadam estate can still be found hidden in the forest. The boundaries (comprising tree lined banks, ha-ha's and walls) belong to the designed landscape created by the Adam family over three generations between 1733 and 1834. It was possible in many areas to distinguish between three different phases of boundary alterations. The survey also found extensive mining remains along three different burns, some of which may date to the medieval period. The most extensive of these remains was an area of Bell Pits dating to the 18th century and possibly earlier. Later mining remains visited included a possible 19th century mine almost hidden along the Kelty burn, as well as remains of Blairenbathie Colliery and a later drift mine dating to the 1940s. The ruins of two farmsteads were found on the periphery of the forest close to the large opencast mine, as well as a possible Second World War watch tower. Other sites of interest included several reservoirs, waterworks and dams, two cottage ruins, and a great many quarries. As part of the study a suite of GIS shapefiles and a database were created to help with future mitigation. The site code for the project was KU01.

Building Record, 20th-century Billiard Hall attached to former Carnegie Museum and Library, Kinross.

Alder Archaeology Ltd recorded a former church hall near Stirling Castle in advance of emergency stabilisation by Stirling Council. The work was done on 22nd December 2011, and given the site code ST23. The building dates from 1883. It is modest in scale, but of surprisingly high quality, in design, materials and craftsmanship. The roof is obviously in a poor state, but the shell is generally sound, more so than might have been expected. The present record will be of assistance in guiding future repairs. If earlier photographs or drawings survive, showing the building before its conversion to a workshop, this may also help to inform restoration.

The Lodge, Blackcraig was built in ca 1856 by the Arbroath born artist and architect Patrick Allan-Fraser. The Lodge, though not nearly as ornate as Blackcraig Castle itself or the mock-fortified medieval inspired bridge over the Ardle, is nonetheless a good example of the domestic end of the Scots Baronial style with some nicely executed features on the gabled porch and the canted bay window. The presence of a bay window in itself is worthy of mention in a building of this nature as this style, first introduced by the Victorian's, did not become common till after about 1870. Sadly many of the mouldings and other detail, all constructed in soft red sandstone, have suffered badly from weathering over the years. A photographic survey was carried out in advance of construction of a new extension at the rear of the site extending over the current parking bay and grassed area to the south west of the back door.

An archaeological building recording exercise was carried out by Alder Archaeology in advance of the development of a site at Pittiely Burn near Aberfeldy. The proposed development plan for the site called for the demolition of two ruinous drystone structures in the SE of the site to make way for a new dwelling house. A photographic survey was carried out to record the historic character of these structures and to provide a basic record prior to their demolition. This work was carried out on the 22nd August 2013. The other remains on the site, including all the other farmstead buildings, the lime kilns and the cup marked stone, are to be preserved during the development and to this end a protective fence has been placed around them. The line of this fence was designed by Alder Archaeology (with input from the developer) and approved by PKHT.

Alder Archaeology was commissioned by Scottish Woodlands to undertake a desk-based assessment and walkover survey at Leckie, Gargunnock, Stirling in advance of a proposed afforestation scheme. The survey was undertaken by two archaeologists on 10-12 June 2019 (Alder site code ST30). The survey area is divided in two parts by an existing woodland belt. South of the woodland were remains of pre-improvement rig and furrow and grass banks, including a possible former head dyke. North of the woodland belt were the remains of one, possibly two, ha-has as well as some possible rig and furrow. A cropmark on APs may indicate a former building but there were no visible remains on the ground.

Fountain Forestry commissioned Alder Archaeology Ltd to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment and a walkover survey on the site of a proposed new access road at Balquhandy Forest, Dunning, Perth and Kinross. The study area was part of a new forestry access route from the B934 road into Balquhandy Forest which passes on the N side the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Blaeberry Hill deserted farmstead. The walkover took place 25th March 2011 and covered the line of the proposed access road from NO 0246 1042 to NO 03275 10859 and NO 03495 10849. Significant finds were walls and enclosures connected to the Blaeberry Hill deserted farmstead. Further work was recommended on enclosures and walls on the route of the new access road. The Alder Archaeology site code for the project was DG05.

Desk-based assessment and walkover survey of proposed mini-hydro scheme in Glen Artney, Comrie, Perth and Kinross

Stirling Council commissioned Alder Archaeology to undertake an archaeological evaluation on the site for the erection of six new residential housing units at Birch Road, Killearn. The site, centred on NS 52260 85907, lies just south of the Killearn Old Parish Church and Graveyard. Three evaluation trenches were excavated to evaluate 100m² of the available area. It was considered possible that the development site may have contained buried remains associated with settlement or outlying burials associated with the nearby Killearn Old Parish Church. Topsoil and subsoil revealed nothing of archaeological significance in any to the trenches and no finds were recovered. A few residual 19th - 20th C pottery sherds were found in the topsoil indicating some sort of activity, possibly horticulture on the site during those periods. A patch of black mineral (0305) over the subsoil in trench 03 was considered to be a natural occurrence and not archaeological. The natural rock, although having a relatively flat surface showed no signs of having been cut or terraced for construction. Bedrock was quite close to the surface in all the trenches which may have rendered the site poor for horticulture. The slope of the land here may have also deterred any building in the past. No further archaeological work is required on the site.

Alder Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Deveron Glenisla LLP to carry out an archaeological evaluation in advance of phase 1 of a development at Glenisla Golf Course. This work was carried out in response to a condition attached to the planning permission, near Pitcrocknie Standing Stone. A total of ten trenches were excavated over the development area to provide a 5% sample of the site. A very heavily truncated Early Bronze Age feature was uncovered in one of the trenches. This has been interpreted as the fragmentary remains of a single urned cremation.