EHG4290 - Trial trenching - Wester Drakies, Culcabock, Inverness

An archaeological evaluation was carried out at Wester Drakies, Culcabock, Inverness, in 2014 by S Farrell and M Peteranna as part of a planning application to develop the site for new housing. The proposed development site comprised an area of open ground and an existing house site. The evaluation work followed upon a desk-based assessment and photographic survey of the steading conducted in 2009 (See EHG3134). A total of 6.8% of the whole development area (approximately 5,800 m²) was evaluated. The entire development area was not evaluated due to the location of an existing house plot and large rubble pile (from the demolished steading) on the southwest side of the site. A total of 11 trenches or 394 m² were excavated being about 9.7% of the area beyond the existing house plot. Trenches 1, 2 and 9 were extended to investigate features uncovered in the trenches and to avoid existing underground utilities, the latter caused a trench to the south of the existing house not to be excavated. The evaluation revealed the remains of thirteen pits of unknown use, a stone-lined drain associated with the former steading and structural remains associated with C20 farm buildings, a household midden and sheep burial. Finds made were of a C19-C20 date. <1>