EHG184 - Excavation and trial trenching - water treatment works, Loch Ashie

Archaeological work was carried out by CFA Archaeology Ltd between September and November 2000 in advance of the construction of Inverness Water Treatment Works and Reservoir at the north end of Loch Ashie. The work was commissioned by North of Scotland Water Authority. The work comprised an archaeological survey, a contour survey, hand excavation of selected sites, trial trenching using an earth-moving vehicle, and a watching brief during the initial earth-moving construction phase. The fieldwork demonstrated that the development area includes part of an extensive agricultural field system of probable prehistoric date, comprising cairns and walls. This field system continued outwith the development area, where it was associated with a burial cairn and a group of hut circles. However, no settlement or burial sites were discovered within the development area. <1>