EHG1420 - Trial trenching - Dornoch Business Park

A trial trenching evaluation was carried out by Rathmell Archaeology in 2006 in respect of a commercial development at Dornoch Business Park, Dornoch, Highland. The fieldwork comprised twelve trenches covering 10% of the total area, supported by a metal detector survey, which failed to identify any archaeologically significant material. The development area comprised three distinct sections; the north-western section composed of topsoil directly overlying subsoil, the north-eastern section composed of betterquality cultivable land, and the central and south-western areas which were composed of lower lying waterlogged ground. One potentially archaeologically significant feature, a possible highly truncated posthole was located in the north-eastern area of cultivable land. However, the determination of date or function of this feature was problematic due to its isolated nature and the lack of diagnostic datable evidence. A further possibly significant area was revealed in the south-eastern corner. However, after further investigations in the central section of the development area the original interpretation of this area as ditch feature may need to be revised; its is suggested that this area may possibly represent a natural hollow or sloping of the ground. Seven rectangular pit features were also recorded in a band around the periphery of the cultivable land in the north-eastern area. The form of these pits suggests that they may possibly be of a more modern origin. However, this cannot be stated with any degree of certainty due to the lack of datable diagnostic material. Given the presence of archaeological features within the development site it is recommended that archaeological monitoring in support of the topsoiling of the development area be carried out.<1> Finds from the excavation were submitted to Tresure Trove (TT 58/07) and allocated to Historylinks Museum. They are pictured on Dornoch Historylinks Image Library Nos. 6252-65. <2> <3> <4> <5>