Recent investigations into the micromorphological features of hill soils in north-east Scotland have revealed the presence, within the soil profile, of what appear to be perithecia containing dark-coloured muriform spores. These perithecia are apparent in profiles from Meall-an-t-Slughain, Aberdeenshire (at heights of 2,050 ft. and 2,300 ft.), Ben Rinnes, Banffshire (2,500 ft.), and Morven Aberdeenshire (2,025 ft., 2,800 ft. (two) and 2,850 ft.). The profiles are developed on parent materials derived from both granite (Meall-an-t-Slughain and Ben Rinnes profiles) and basic igneous rocks (Morven profiles). Peat cover is either absent or amounts to no more than 2–3 in., except on one of the 2,800 ft. profiles on Morven, which has a peat cover 14 in. thick, the base of the peat being pollen dated within the Sub-Boreal period.