Ground‐penetrating radar time‐slices from North Ballachulish Moss

In the late 1990s ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) was used to map the underlying topography of North Ballachulish Moss as part of an archaeological evaluation of the area that was under threat of development. In the process a series of radar anomalies were identified. These were confirmed subsequently by sediment coring and trial excavation to correspond to a buried prehistoric surface with associated man‐made artefacts. These GPR data have now been used to develop horizontal time‐slices. The series of time‐slices is presented showing the development of discrete surfaces and their relationship to an adjacent headland. The orientation of the site and its proximity to the location of a buried prehistoric wooden figure suggest ritual importance. Although comparable data in similar locations are lacking, the possibility exists to shed further light on the Ballachulish evidence without destroying wetland resources if further GPR investigation can be carried out on other wetland sites of recognized ritual significance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.