EHG3350 - Loandhu to Portmahomack Water Main Renewal: Watching Brief

A desk-based assessment (DBA) and walkover survey of part of the proposed Water Main Renewal route – from Loandhu to Cadboll Mount was carried out by Highland Archaeology services in 2007. A subsequent series of watching briefs were carried out to identify and record any archaeological remains affected between Loandhu and Portmahomack. Eight features were marked out and the water main was re-routed to avoid these. Altogether site visits and watching briefs were conducted at 11 trench areas during construction works, including on the Hill of Fearn to Rhynie Road; at Rhynie Farmhouse; south of Cadboll Farm; at the site of St Mary’s Chapel / Cathabul; in the vicinity of the Cadboll Mount; at Meikle Tarrel Farmworkers’ Cottages, and 6 in the village of Portmahomack. These were undertaken at the contractors’ request as arranged in order to identify and record any archaeology disturbed during the laying of a new water main in these areas. Two finds of 19th – 20th Century domestic and architectural debris were recovered from Trench 1. A carved sandstone fragment, believed to be a medieval column capital, dated to the 13th Century, was recovered from Trench 11. A partially dressed stone slab was found in Test Pit A. <1>