A field near Burghead could become Moray’s next big attraction for teams of archaeologists, it emerged yesterday.
Dr Fraser Hunter, the Roman and Iron Age curator for National Museums Scotland, has set his sights on Clarkly Hill as his next major Moray project.
The archaeologist is rounding off work at the excavation site he has been leading for the past 12 years at Birnie, near Elgin, because funding from Historic Scotland and National Museums Scotland has run dry.
Excavations there led to the discovery of an earthenware pot containing 314 Roman silver coins from the 1st and 2nd centuries, buried in the reign of Emperor Severus.
A team of archaeologists descended on the site for one month every year hoping to find out more about the Iron Age community that lived there, and their relationship with the Romans.
The valuable haul unearthed over the years includes the floor and timber beams of a 2,000-year-old roundhouse, neolithic pottery and an axe-head, believed to date back 6,000 years.
Yesterday, Dr Hunter said he regretted having to close the Birnie site but was eager to explore the Clarkly Hill site 10 miles away near Burghead if funding can be secured for excavations.
Metal detector users have made interesting discoveries in the field recently. Two gold rings, thought to be 5th and 12th century, a gold earring, believed to be Roman, and gold ring money, believed to date back to the Bronze Age, have been found.
Mr Hunter said: “We had a small trial trench in the field two years ago to see what was there. It would be a very interesting comparison 10 miles away from Birnie.”
He added: “I think it will be a real shame to finish at Birnie because it’s a fantastic site, but I do feel we have been able to excavate some fantastic information about some very important periods in Moray and, although I will be sorry to put the spade down, we have found some tremendous new insights to Moray’s history.”
This weekend offers a final chance to see the Birnie dig. An open day is being organised with adult tours at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm, and tours for families being held at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Booking is not required. Visit the What’s On section at www.nms.ac.uk for information.