EHG4280 - Watching brief and excavation - Fortrose and Rosemarkie Waste Water Works

A desk-based assessment, archaeological watching brief and subsequent excavation were conducted by Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services in June and July 2012 on behalf of Scottish Water during groundworks on the site of the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Waste Water Works. The site was located on land to the west of Greenside Farm, Rosemarkie Road, Rosemarkie. Thirty-nine features of archaeological interest, which included Neolithic and Bronze Age domestic pits, a large Bronze Age corn-drying kiln, a small Bronze Age cremation complex and medieval or post-medieval pits were identified during the watching brief. Two of the cremation pits contained an intact inverted urn and a truncated upright urn. The prehistoric pits and Neolithic fire-pit yielded pottery sherds and lithics as well as charred hazelnut shells and grain. <1> Subsequent post-excavation analysis was carried out, providing more detail. <2> The excavation assemblage from the site was allocated by Treasure Trove (TT 186/14) to Cromarty Courthouse Museum. <3>