EHG1232 - Watching brief - Beechwood Park, Inverness

A watching brief was carried out by CFA Archaeology in late 2004 at Beechwood Park, Raigmore, Inverness, during initial topsoil stripping and site works associated with the construction of a new bingo hall. Previous trial trenching earlier in the year (see EHG1102) had demonstrated the archaeological potential of the site. Unfortunately a 10m wide strip running from the southwest corner of the site to the centre of the northern boundary and a small area around the site compound in the northwest corner of the development area had already been cleared down to subsoil level prior to CFA being present on site. A larger area on the eastern side of the site had also already been partially stripped using a bulldozer, but in this area, c.02m of topsoil still remained. Nine features were identified and excavated, these consisted of a possible oven, a posthole and seven pits. One pit contained a relatively modern horse burial and other pits were thought to be similarly recent in origin. The possible oven was undated though it did contain charcoal. <1> The findings of the earlier evaluation and this watching brief have subsequently been published. <2>