EHG4871 - Watching brief - Strathrory Bridge rebuilding

A watching brief was carried out by GUARD between April and September 2005 during the rebuilding and strengthening of the Strathrory road bridge as part of the Beinn Tharsuinn wind farm development. This involved observing the bridge rebuilding work, recording any internal architectural features relating to its original construction and subsequent structural adaptations and the observation of all ground-breaking work and topsoil disturbance relating to the adjacent temporary bridge construction, and to identify, expose and fully record any archaeological features, structures and deposits encountered. Evidence of several rebuilding episodes and frequent smaller repairs was encountered. With regard to the construction phase of the temporary bridge, on the north bank excavation was only needed to remove vegetation and surface bumps to create a level platform for the diversion ramp, which revelaed lenses of silts and rounded river stones, corresponding to remains of earlier flooding episodes. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered. On the southern side of the river excavation was required to create a downward sloping ramp through a gorse-covered area and a remnant stretch of tarmac from a realignment of the road. A stone lined drain ran under the tarmac remnant. A linear bank at the river edge was thought, following investigation, to be the result of river dredging to ease flood water passage through the bridge and had no archaeological significance. During bridge fill removal, a number of features, both original and related to subsequent episodes of repair and re-build were recorded. A photographic record of the works was maintained. <1>