EHG3749 - Watching brief - Loch Maree Regional Scheme, Gairloch

A programme of archaeological monitoring works was undertaken on the Loch Maree Regional Scheme, Gairloch, Wester Ross, by Rathmell Archaeology in 2011 in relation to the insertion of a replacement treated water mains pipe by Scottish Water Solutions. Two phases of DBA and walkover survey had been carried out previously in 2008 and 2010 (see EHG2788 & EHG3414). During the phase of work a continual archaeological presence was maintained on site. The work was carried out in three phases. The first phase, between 5th-6th October, involved monitoring of vegetation clearance and the excavation of test pits at Croft Hill (DBA site 18). In the event only two test pits were excavated due to the number and size of boulders both on and within the topsoil. The second phase was carried out between the 24th and 27th October during machine excavation of sections of the 5m wide pipeline trench. The third phase was carried out on 31st October and involved walking a small section of the new proposed pipeline and validating that it would not encroach on a known enclosure (DBA Site 42). In all cases disturbance to known archaeological and historical sites was avoided and no new deposits of significance were discovered during the course of these works. <1>