Past pits

Project summary

This project will use archaeological soil analysis to uncover hidden evidence of past human activity across three National Trust for Scotland properties: Culloden Battlefield, Crarae Gardens and Ben Lomond. Recent excavations at these sites have revealed features with limited visible artefactual evidence, making their date and function difficult to determine. By analysing soil samples for microscopic remains including charcoal and charred plant material, the project will recover new evidence of past environments, land use and human activity. Specialist analysis will identify suitable material for radiocarbon dating, helping to establish the chronology of previously undated archaeological features and reveal patterns of farming, woodland management, resource use and historic industries.

The project will enhance understanding and interpretation of these nationally important landscapes by demonstrating how scientific analysis can reveal stories that are invisible through traditional archaeological approaches alone. The findings will support the National Trust for Scotland in developing richer narratives for visitors, connecting well-known places with thousands of years of human interaction and environmental change. Through improved interpretation at sites visited by hundreds of thousands of people annually, the project will show how heritage science can transform understanding of Scotland’s cultural and natural landscapes.