GUARD Archaeology Limited unpublished report series

Four areas were investigated to the south and east of Gogar Church. Site 2A consisted of a Medieval cobbled courtyard, a corn drying kiln, a complex Medieval ditch system and a possible Medieval well. Site 2B comprised a rough cobbled surface; sherds of Medieval pottery along with clay pipe fragments were retrieved from the surface of the cobbles and from the layers above. A linear feature containing only Medieval pottery may be the remnants of a Medieval field or property boundary. The layers sealing the Medieval features consisted of re-deposited ploughsoil and building debris from the demolished nineteenth- and twentieth-century buildings. A well found just outside the construction corridor was marked on a plan of the early nineteenth century but had gone out of use by 1829. Site 2C comprised rough cobbling of probable Medieval date. Several sherds of Medieval pottery and a late Medieval coin were also retrieved. The cobbling was sealed by deep deposits of re-deposited ploughsoil and building debris. The corner of a nineteenth-century building was found, possibly the village school.Site 2D consisted of a possible Medieval trackway with drainage ditches or hedgerows to either side. Ruts cut into natural subsoil beneath were thought to be cart tracks. Remnants of a ring-ditch and an ephemeral curving ditch also indicate that there was further activity towards the northern edge of the site. .

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) on behalf of Stewart Milne Group on a site proposed for development in Barassie, South Ayrshire, between 17 March and 4 April 2008. The evaluation investigated 5% of the total area of the site in response to a condition set out within the planning permission granted by South Ayrshire Council (planning reference: 06/01756/OUT). Several localised archaeological features were encountered during the evaluation and an area of possible prehistoric activity comprised four stake holes, a pit and a possible hearth as well as several lithics and pottery finds.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by GUARD Archaeology Ltd of a proposed development area at Camserney Burn near Aberfeldy. The trial trench evaluation encountered substantial infill deposits below the existing compound surface suggesting that sand and gravel aggregate had been extracted before the site was previously developed into a storage yard. Undisturbed deposits of natural sand and gravel were only encountered around the fringes of the site. No archaeological remains were encountered.

This project involved a metal-detecting survey, 52 evaluation trenches and a watching brief which included the monitoring of 13 trenches and 13 test pits. The metal-detecting survey was carried to recover any metal material that may be related to the Scottish retreat from the nearby Battlefield site of Pinkie (1547). The metal-detecting survey recovered 417 finds, 9 of which were of archaeological significance, although none could be unequivocally attributed to the Battle of Pinkie. These included a late 17th-early 18th century coin, belt buckle fragments and a musket ball, the majority of the material recovered was related to more recent mining and agricultural activity. The evaluation revealed 42 features, of which 24 were related to mining activity and 18 features produced no datable evidence. A putative ring ditch cropmark was demonstrated to be a mining shaft. The watching brief areas revealed a further 7 features associated with mining activity. W. Bailie, A. Hunter-Blair GUARD Archaeolog Ltd. 2011.

Due to the potential for groundworks within the Old Parish Churchyard in Falkirk to encounter graves, human remains, grave-slabs and headstones dating from as early as the medieval period, an archaeological watching brief was undertaken by GUARD Archaeology Ltd for the Falkirk Town Regeneration works. The watching brief encountered a number of walls, some fragments of early modern gravestones and a substantial amount of disarticulated human bones. The human bones were re-interred at NS 887800 within the graveyard at the completion of the groundworks.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by GUARD Archaeology Ltd., on behalf of North Ayrshire Council, on an area proposed for the construction of Dreghorn Primary School, Irvine. The trial trench evaluation of 6% of the total area proposed for development (14,930 m²) was in keeping with the Written Scheme of Investigation previously submitted (Bailie, 2011). No archaeological deposits were encountered during the evaluation. The evaluation revealed that the site had undergone extensive landscaping since the late 19th Century. The first disturbance was as a result of a mineral railway construction bisecting the site in 1897, the site was later affected by the construction of the A71 to the north. In more recent years the site was landscaped for football pitches, a playground and a now derelict bowling green.

The excavation of archaeological remains uncovered on the west side of Main Street, Monkton. The features excavated included cultivation furrows and linear drains known to exist from previous evaluation of the site, 29 pits, 43 postholes, 14 stakeholes and a ditch-defined roundhouse.

A geophysical survey, archaeological evaluation and watching brief were carried out by GUARD Archaeology Limited in collaboration with Glasgow University's Centre for Battlefield Archaeology on an area proposed for the development of a new visitor centre at Bannockburn Heritage Centre car park. The programme of work was conducted on behalf of The National Trust for Scotland. No significant archaeological features were encountered during the geophysical survey, watching brief or evaluation phases of work conducted between 19 July and 11 October 2011.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by GUARD Archaeology Ltd, on behalf of Stewart Milne Homes, on an area proposed for development at Dalry Road, Stewarton, East Ayrshire. The trial trench evaluation of 8% of the total area proposed for development (12 ha). Several significant archaeological features were encountered during the evaluation, including a possible stone wall, two cobble paths and a pit. The work was undertaken between 17 and 25 March 2011.

GUARD Archaeology Limited were commissioned by ARP Lorimer to undertake an archaeological watching brief during the installation of services at Earlstoun Castle, St John's Town of Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway (NGR: NX 61268 84022). The work was undertaken between the 7th and 17th March 2011 and revealed no features or artefacts of archaeological significance.