EHG4448 - Trial trenching - Seafield West, Inverness

Technique(s)

Organisation

Centre for Field Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

Date

April 1996

Description

Trial trenching was carried out in fields at Seafield West (Stoneyfield) by the Centre for Field Archaeology in 1996 in advance of the construction of a proposed business and retail park. A total of 1940m² was excavated, which took the form of nine trenches. Trenches 1, 8 and 9 were initially positioned to intersect features recorded as cropmarks, whereas trenches 2-7 were positioned to locate potential archaeological features identified during an earlier geophysical survey carried out by GUARD in 1993 (see EHG4445). A substantial circular ditch was identified in Trench 1 which fixed the absloute position of a large circular cropmark. Additional features around it were also identified, including potential cist burials and cremation pits. A substantial ring ditch was also identified in Trench 8, again fixing the position of the cropmark feature. A substantial charcoal-rich layer was recorded within its interior which suggested protracted human occupation. A copper alloy fibula or bow brooch was recovered from the fill of the ring-ditch. No features were exposed in trenches 2-7. <1> An additional trench, not mentioned in the text of the evaluation report <1> but shown on the plan of the evaluation area was apparently excavated along the crest of the ridge aligned approximately east-west from the west end of trench 1. It was 200m in length. This was opened to locate the presence of a suspected pit-alignment and enclosure recorded in the NMR. In the event, no archaeological features were encountered. This is reported on in a draft of a subsequent full excavation report (the features of trench 1 were subsequently subject to full excavation, referred to as Area 1 - see EHG865) intended for publication. <2> However, these details were omitted from the final published report. <3> The findings of trenches 8 and 9 and their subsequent full excavation (referred to as Area 2 - see EHG247) were published separately. <4> The excavation assemblage from the site was submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 61/02) and allocated to Inverness Museum. They are listed under Acc. No. 2012.006. A museum transfer form and box list inventories are with the museum archive files.<5> <6>

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <1>XY Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Cressey, M.. 1996. Archaeological Site Evaluation at Seafield West, Inverness, Highland Region. Centre for Field Archaeology, Univ of Edinburgh. 08/05/1996. Paper (Original). [Mapped features: #2245 Trenches 1-7 and unlabelled, ; #13252 Trenches 8 & 9, ]
  • <2> Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Cressey, M.. 2002. Draft Publication Report: The Excavation of a Bronze Age Cemetery at Seafield West, near Inverness, Highland. CFA Archaeology Ltd. 25/10/2002. Paper and Digital. p.2.
  • <3> Text/Publication/Article: Cressey, M. & Sheridan, A.. 2003. The excavation of a Bronze Age cemetery at Seafield West, near Inverness, Highland. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol 133. 47-84. Digital.
  • <4> Text/Publication/Monograph: Cressey, M. & Anderson, S.. 2011. A Later Prehistoric Settlement and Metalworking Site at Seafield west, near Inverness, Highland. Scottish Archaeological Internet Report. 47. Digital.
  • <5> Dataset/Database File: Treasure Trove. 2019. Highland Finds from Treasure Trove Annual Reports 2004-18. Treasure Trove. Digital. TT 61/02.
  • <6> Collection: Inverness Museum. 2019. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery Archive Files. 2012.006.

Map

Location

Location Stoneyfield, Seafield West
Grid reference Centred NH 6942 4559 (479m by 521m) (3 map features)
Map sheet NH64NE
Operational Area INVERNESS NAIRN BADENOCH AND STRATHSPEY
Civil Parish INVERNESS AND BONA
Geographical Area INVERNESS

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

  • BA Cemetery - Seafield Farm (Monument)
  • Iron Age settlement - Stoneyfield House (Monument)

Record last edited

Jul 10 2023 4:38PM

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