EHG3505 - Trial trenching - Kirksheaf Road, Tain

A trial trenching evaluation was conducted by Highland Archaeology Services over 5% of a proposed housing development site on Kirksheaf Road, Tain, in 2009. The site was considered sensitive due to its proximity to the historic centre of Tain. All eight of the trenches showed evidence of early agricultural use and yielded fragments of medieval and modern pottery. Trench 3 contained features identified as the remains of rig and furrow agriculture. The other seven trenches showed scattered linear ard marks reflecting multiple periods of use. In addition to the numerous medieval pottery fragments three metal finds were recovered by a local metal detectorist, a decorative strap end, a copper alloy jug foot and a copper alloy octagonal decorative boss. The scattered finds and the remains of agricultural practices have provided key evidence of the use of the site by the inhabitants of medieval Tain. <1> Excavation assemblage disclaimed at TT finds allocation panel meeting 28/6/2012.