The Powerhouse
The Powerhouse The powerhouse drew on water from the three main dams and various other inlets on the scheme (see separate records) to drive five
Lochaber
Detecting Group
Recovering artefacts relating to the history of Lochaber.
Formerly Lochaber Archaeological Society.
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Garvamore project
Garvamore project started last year with Jahama estate’s (Alvance) recording the valley from Melgarve, to Laggan Valley. Garvemore, Garvebeag, Sherabeag, Shermore and Crathie Village near Spey Dam.
Ongoing project metal detecting the land over three years discovering the history of the landscape and farming of the valley. Working with the estate and staff in all weather’s and finding some amazing artifacts, Bronze age Torque Bracelet, 15th century coins to present day.
Another nice find on Saturday.
Excavating Dun Deardail in Glen Nevis
Dun Deardail is a vitrified hillfort; its wooden and stone defences were burned at such high temperatures, and for such a long time, that the stone fused together. This phenomenon was previously thought to be unintentional, the result of accident or attack, but experimental archaeology has shown that vitrification occurs only after long periods of burning.
Members of Lochaber Archaeology Society were amongst the volunteers conducting the first excavations at Dun Deardail.
Having never been dug before, very little is known about the hillfort at Dun Deardail or the people who built it. This first phase of excavations will reveal new information about the fort, from details about the construction of the defences to learning whether the traces of any buildings remain in the interior, and will also aim to date the site. The project runs over three years, and the results of 2015’s excavations will inform further work which will take place in 2016 and 2017.
Excavations at Dun Deardail are taking place in partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) as part of Nevis Landscape Partnership, which is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Glen Turret Survey
Glen Turret is located at the northeast end of Glen Roy, a well-known landscape for the geomorphological conditions, the ‘parallel roads’ caused by glaciation. Glen Turret runs along the River Turret northwest from Brae Roy Lodge, near the northeast end of Glen Roy
An archaeological walkover survey was conducted by Lochaber Archaeological Society and AOC Archaeology as part of an initial study of the Glen Turret landscape, which appeared to have undergone no or very little archaeological study in the past. In particular, the survey aimed to ground-truth the location of several possible sites noted on modern aerial imagery.
An initial day of survey in Glen Turret has identified significant, previously unrecorded sites, including one possible prehistoric roundhouse, three farmsteads pre-dating the 19th century settlement, a group of shielings and other post-medieval buildings present on the site of a recorded 19th century sheep farm.
Read more on our Projects page.
Uncovering the Commando: Achnacarry
Achnacarry Castle, the ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan Cameron, was crucial to the allied campaign against the Axis powers during WW2.
The castle, about 15 miles north east of Fort William, was used to train elite commandos from Britain and the US as well as France, the Netherlands, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Belgium from 1942 to 1945.
Earlier excavations have uncovered live ammunition, including bullets from captured German weapons.The grounds of Achnacarry House are the focus of a research project involving Lochaber Archaeology Society.
Read more on our Projects page.
Medieval Highland castle once again accessible
See more on our Projects page.
Read the article in the Press and Journal.
The ruins of a medieval Highland castle are once again accessible and attractive thanks to the work of local volunteers.
The castle at Torcastle near Banavie, which is designated a scheduled monument, is set on a prominent knoll overlooking the River Lochy.
Until recently it had been hidden within an overgrown jungle.
But following approval from Historic Environment Scotland, Lochaber Archaeological Society undertook the necessary work to safeguard and make visible what remains of the medieval tower house.
Banquo's Walk.
Banquo’s Walk, a wide, tree-lined avenue with parallel banks, has long been believed to have been formed as a ceremonial route associated with folklore attached to the nearby ruins of Tor-castle. However, the 8m-wide route, which ended abruptly at both ends, was located in line with no known sites or features. Combined with its extreme width and low-lying surface, the assumption of it construction as a road was brought into question.
The route of Banquo’s Walk has evoked much legend and intrigue over time in association with the castle at Torcastle and the tenuous links of Clan Cameron to Banquo. In order to learn more about the construction and potential use of the site, a survey and archaeological evaluation was undertaken in November 2016 by Lochaber Archaeological Society. Read more on our Projects page.
Our Objective
To look at current known history of the Highland area and uncover artefacts relating to the history at various sites to support the historical backgrounds.
Achnacarry DVD
Buy the DVD in our online store
This DVD shows some of the discoveries set in an historical context with some evocative wartime black and white footage of the troops training at Achnacarry and interviews with veterans who share their memories.
Projects
Torcastle Lime Kiln
An ongoing project to fully explore this lime kiln at Torcastle – Photographs here.
Culloden House Survey
Download the AOC report of Geophysical Survey & Metal-Detector Survey at Culloden House Inverness.
Culloden House Survey
Pipelines and Portals
Pipelines and Portals The scheme harnesses the headwaters of the Rivers Treig and Spean and the flood waters of the River Spey (plus a further
Loch Treig Dam and Railway
Loch Treig Dam and Railway Loch Treig (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Trèig, meaning loch of death) is a 9 km freshwater loch situated in a steep-sided
Building the Lochaber Factory
Building the Lochaber Factory The scheme was initially designed by engineer Charles Meik but after his death in 1923, the scheme’s realisation was left to
Casting Shop Lochaber
Casting Shop Lochaber The liquid aluminium was drawn off from a holding furnace where it was held in the molten state after the smelting process.
Lochaber Tunnel
Lochaber Tunnel The Lochaber Power Company was established by Act of Parliament in 1920 to produce aluminium using electric smelters. The company was authorised to
