EHG5086 - Excavation and watching brief - Land adjacent to Rainings Stairs, Inverness

Following trial trenching (see EHG5446) an excavation and watching brief was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in advance of development of land adjacent to Rainings Stairs, Inverness. Previous archaeological work had identified the charred remains of a possible timber structure, associated with ceramics dated to the C14th and C15th. The evaluation identified further burnt deposits containing medieval ceramics. To mitigate the proposed development, a pre-construction excavation was undertaken within a specified part of the site at the foot of the slope. The excavation revealed further evidence of modern activity and earlier burnt deposits including with the remains of a charred wooden wattle structure and a large millstone reused as a post-pad. These remains were associated with an assemblage of medieval ceramics. The evidence recorded in the excavation area confirms settlement related activity on the site during the medieval period and the continued subsequent use of a property boundary that was established in that period. The archaeology recorded on the site has significant research potential and a further stage of post excavation analysis and reporting is recommended, the details of which are set out separately (HAS RSI17/2). The proposed analysis stage work will provide a detailed and independent chronology for the significant deposits and structures identified on the site. It will also enable detailed analysis of artefacts and environmental remains recovered, which have the potential to elucidate our understanding of everyday life in medieval Inverness and the trade and industry of the burgh town. <1> For the full post-excavation report see <2>