EHG5819 - Watching brief - housing development, Site F, Slackbuie

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group at Site F, Slackbuie, Inverness as part of a planning condition for the erection of 49 residential units. The development area lies in an open area of grassland located approximately 110m southeast of 1 Earls Gate, Inverness. The site is bordered by a copse of trees to the southwest, existing residential housing to the north and west, and an existing track to the east. The site lies within a wider known area of mid to late Bronze age activity. A total of nine features were uncovered, including two ditch features, five fire-pits, along with two pits that may represent natural features. The presence of multiple fire pit features within the watching brief area may represent prehistoric activity. Whilst the two ditch features identified are likely to represent large-scale land management of unknown date. The results from the archaeological work undertaken at Slackbuie further enhances the location of prehistoric activities within the area. A small programme of post-excavation analysis will be required to understand the chronology of the activities undertaken on the site. <1>