EHG3279 - Excavation of Two Buildings, Environmental Analysis and Recording of a Bridge, near Polnish Chapel

CFA were comissioned by Historic Scotland to carry out a programme of archaeological fieldwork in advance of proposed road improvement of the A830, between Polnish Bridge and the Loch Nan Uamh viaduct. This followed an evaluation. Two buildings identified in the road corridor in a walkover survey were excavated. Building 1 comprised a traditional 18th-19th century longhouse dwelling with undressed, unmortared walls. Internal divisions appeared to indicate a substantial alteration in function from a dwelling house to a stock byre. Building 2 was found to be of 19th-century construction, built on the edge of a peat bog. A putative kiln was excavated. No evidence of slag or burning was recovered. It had a blocked flue on the north side. Limited exacavation was carried out at Polnish Bridge. The building was constructed of roughly dressed and unmortared stones. The tarmac surface of the bridge survived in places, and was unerlain by a grey, sandy core overlying a dumped rubble core. It had low turf banks for revettment. Environmental samples were taken from an area of rig and furrow, adjacent to the kiln. <1>