EHG4992 - Watching Brief and Excavation - Inverness West Link Road

An archaeological watching brief and excavation were carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2016 in advance of construction of the new Inverness West Link Road, located in the south side of Inverness between Canal Park and Ness-side. The new road runs through greenfield sites and a former timber yard at Ness-side and crosses the River Ness into recreational fields at Canal Park near Inverness Leisure Centre. Previous archaeological evaluation and excavation in 2015 and 2016 had identified significant archaeological sites. The watching brief was required in order to identify and record further significant archaeological sites prior to their destruction by the development. Fieldwork was carried out during May to September 2016 as construction work progressed through different areas of the development. Over 100 previously unknown archaeological features of interest were recorded, comprising mostly the remains of truncated pits, some of which were interpreted as prehistoric settlement activity and including the remains of two possible roundhouses. Artefacts recovered included a saddle quern and coarse stone tools, struck flint flakes, flint tools and fragments of ceramic vessels. Post-excavation assessment of the finds and environmental material has been recommended as a necessity to interpret the fieldwork results. <1>