Pitcarmick Excavations 1993-5

The Pitcarmick project arose from the publication of the Royal Commission survey for North East Perth (1990), which revealed and mapped settlement sequences likely to have extended back from the 18th century into prehistoric times. One element noted on the maps was a type of long house with rounded corners that was tentatively attributed to the Early Historic or Pictish period. These became known in the literature as Pitcarmick-type houses. A notable sequence of buildings, round, long and rectangular was seen on high ground to the west of Strathardle, in the area designated as Pitcarmick North or Site 154-4B. Following an initiative from the Department of Archaeology at Glasgow University, the area was investigated on the ground by John Barrett (of Glasgow, now Sheffield university) and Jane Downes (of Sheffield University and now UHI). Between 1993 and 1995, the project team excavated five sample areas and carried out topographic, phosphate and magnetometer surveys. The excavations defined a round-house dated to the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age, three points of settlement with hearths and structures in the Early Historic period, and a clearance cairn and lynchet, probably of the post-medieval period. As a result of discussions with the principal investigators in 2009, Martin Carver was invited by Historic Scotland to help publish the results of this campaign.