EHG5803 - Watching brief - new house plot, Clachan, Staffin, Skye

An archaeological watching brief was conducted by Highland Archaeology Services in 2021 on ground breaking works for a new house, four glamping pods, connected services and new access at Clachan, Staffin, Isle of Skye. All agreed areas of new ground breaking were monitored leaving areas around existing services that cross the site. The topsoil was found to be from 0.2m to 0.5m deep and comprised of a clay rich loam. The natural subsoil comprised silty clay with a few stony patches, varying slightly in colour from grey to yellow brown. No features of an archaeological nature were noted during ground breaking works and the few finds were modern rubbish material within the topsoil. Three upstanding features were noted within the development area and avoided. These were a ruined dry stone walled, two roomed structure surviving to around 1m in hight, the low turf covered footings of a wall, and a concrete and corrugated iron shed still in use. In addition, two features were recorded on Dun Smail just to the north west of the site. These were three sub rectangular turf covered wall footings, possibly the remains of adjoining structures and a possible curving wall following the top of the hill. As no archaeological features were damaged during the work and the finds recovered are of low historical value no further work is recommended. <1>