EHG3871 - Watching brief - Rhicullen, Invergordon

Highland Archaeology Services undertook a watching brief on topsoil stripping for a development of residential houses at Rhicullen, Newmore, Invergordon in 2012. The fieldwork was carried out in association with Archaeology North Ltd. Trial trenching by S Farrell in November 2011 (see EHG3739) had identified possible remains of rig and furrow cultivation, an undated pit with in situ burning and slag, field clearance and possible footings of former buildings and dykes. The watching brief was limited to observation and supervision of topsoil stripping of the southern part of the site. Topsoil and superficial deposits were removed by machine across the whole of the observed area, to a depth of between 0.10m and 0.80m, depending on overburden, and the clean surface of the natural below was carefully examined. More evidence of rig and furrow cultivation, and 10 pits with evidence of burning, were recorded. These all survived below either a layer of colluvium of restricted extent or stone clearance cairns and associated spreads, which had protected them from later ploughing. Samples were taken of the fills of the deeper pits, and it was recommended that these be processed in an attempt to date them to determine the nature of the process which led to their formation. <1>