Series: Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology unpublished report series

Instrusive archaeological evaluation and watching brief in advance of a raised and cut/fill footpath along part of the SW shore of the Loch Of Harray between March and July 2012 . The development is adjacent to Brodgar Farm and the Neolitihc complex at the Ness of Brodgar. The results of the test pitting and watching brief showed that there were four distinct concentrations of archaeological features within the site boundary. The features uncovered within Areas 2 and 4 indicate a probable continuation of the Neolithic activity uncovered at the Ness of Brodgar directly to the southeast. However, since the groundworks would not impact upon these features, they were recorded, sealed, and left in situ. The remaining archaeological features uncovered during the watching brief were either undated or relate to the post-medieval use of the area.

A High Definition Laser Scan was undertaken by Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) Marine of the east side and top of Churchill Barrier 2 on behalf of Orkney Islands Council (OIC). A unified, edited pointcloud in Leica Cyclone format and PTS version for use in AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013. A reportsets out the methodology used, the results, lessons learned and how the deliverables were created and edited for further use by OIC. Mark Littlewood 2013.

This assessment identifies sites of cultural heritage significance along the route of the access road and inter-tidal zone that might be affected by the proposed new pier development and associated access road at Copland's Dock, Stromness, Orkney. Andrew Hollinrake 2011.

An archaeological watching brief was carried out at the site of a proposed disabled access ramp at Kirkwall Sheriff Courthouse, Watergate, Kirkwall. Garden soils dating from the 19th century were observed in the north end of the monitored area at a depth of 0.15m. Two segments of a medieval mortared wall associated with the Earl's Palace were observed in the centre of the monitored area with four courses of the eastern section and three of the western section surviving up to 0.36m in height. Archaeological deposits, in the form of medieval stone wall footings and post medieval garden soils were found to be present on the site from c 0.35m below the current tarmac level. The construction cut of the wall was also visible at depth. Stone from the wall had been removed, most likely as part of the construction of a footpath and stone steps leading to the Sheriff Court sometime in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, though no evidence of the robber cut remained. The archaeological features associated with what is thought to be the north facing wall of the Earl's Palace brewhouse were recorded in-situ before being covered with Terram and sand and boxed in with fibre board whereafter the construction of the disabled access ramp continued with no further archaeological monitoring.

Scottish Water Ltd. commissioned ORCA to undertake an excavation in Shapinsay, following the discovery of human remains and associated archaeological features on a watching brief. The site was located in the south west of the island of Shapinsay, Orkney, and is centred on NGR HY47025 16421. The excavation revealed what is likely to be the graveyard and boundary ditch of Lady's Kirk Chapel, which was known to be present in the vicinity. No structural remains were encountered of the chapel. A total of 10 machine truncated burials were excavated on the site. Two of the graves probably represent multiple inhumations, both of which contained an adult and a neonatal / infant burial interred together. Three further machine truncated burials were left in situ as they were overlain by undisturbed inhumations. Seven burials were identified which had not been affected by the development, and a further six probable grave cuts were identified. All of the burials (except one neonatal individual) were aligned broadly west to east, with the head at the west end of the grave, and were supine. The bone preservation was relatively good on the site, and none of the burials had grave goods present. There was no evidence of coffins within the graves, but a significant proportion of the inhumations had associated structural features. The alignment of the skeletons, lack of grave goods, typological dating and archaeological evidence for the site strongly suggests that these inhumations are Christian, and date to the medieval period.

A watching brief was undertaken by Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) on two wind turbine bases and associated cable trenches at Lynnside, Harray, Orkney. The excavation of two, north-south running, cables trenches, and two wind turbine base trenches were monitored under constant archaeological supervision between the 13th of April 2012 and the 3rd of May 2012. The site lay within a pasture field and garden which was in close proximity to a series of cists at Werne (NMRS Number HY31NW 56, RCHAMS 2012). No evidence of any cists was uncovered and no other significant archaeological finds or features were recorded.

Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) were commissioned to undertake an intrusive archaeological evaluation on land to the north east of Nears Farm, Rousay, Orkney. The archaeological work was undertaken in order to investigate a mound feature that was identified, and to assess the overall archaeological potential of the site. A total of five evaluation trenches were machine excavated on the site. No archaeological remains were discovered during the course of the evaluation.

A watching brief was undertaken by Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) on July 17th 2012, on a line of fence post holes and a shallow trench at the Scheduled Ancient Monument of the Norse horizontal mill, Orphir. The results of the watching brief show that the the post holes contained the possible remains of a road surface above the natural glacial clay. However because of the limited size and number of the fence post holes and lack of dating evidence full interpretation is limited. Samuel Voke 2012.

Historic Scotland commissioned Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment of key marine datasets for Orkney and the Pentland Firth. This work took place between October 2011 and March 2012 as part of Project Adair, a partnership between Historic Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and Orkney and Highland Councils. Marine datasets were collated, evaluated for their potential for archaeological analysis, and interrogated to enhance and amend the existing inventories. A variety of recent and traditional datasets were used including marine geophysics, historic charts, aerial photographs and local knowledge. Large spatial gaps in data coverage were identified. A methodology was developed that enables information gathered from similar studies to be effectively assimilated within national and regional inventories and to support cultural heritage within new marine planning, protection systems and the management of offshore resources. As a result, the project has enhanced the historic environment record for the Orkney Waters and the Pentland Firth. A total of 569 sites have been investigated as part of this project. Polygonisation of records resulted in GIS-based shapefiles identifying areas of archaeological potential in relation to wrecks; submerged prehistoric landscapes and sites; and anchorages and fishing areas. Edward Pollard 2012.

The project consisted of remote sensing surveys and archaeological diving evaluations within the important naval harbour of Scapa Flow, Orkney commissioned by Historic Scotland. The investigations aimed to establish or confirm the identification, extent of survival, character and condition of around 25 known but mostly poorly recorded First and Second World War wreck sites and associated structures, and to ground-truth a limited sample of geophysical anomalies identified in previous studies. This work successfully documented the condition of several high priority sites within Scapa Flow and at the Churchill Barriers recording the nature and extent of the remains. The side scan and diver surveys of some of the foul ground areas around Gutter Sound identified the presence of a variety of wartime debris associated with the salvaging activities at Lyness. While it has not been possible to catalogue or provenance the artefacts identified in these area within the scope of the project, it has successfully demonstrated that the wreckage at these and other salvage sites (the SMS Seydlitz and the SMS Bayern) is extensive. In addition, the project has successfully catalogued the blockships at the Churchill Barriers, correcting a number of errors reported by previous surveys pertaining to the nature and extent of the remains and documenting that in many instances the remains are more extensive that previously noted. This has resulted in the identification of a new wreck - Clio II and confirmation that the wreckage of the Rosewood is still present.