EHG5167 - Trial Trenching - Land 145m north of Smiddy Bar, Lewiston, Drumnadrochit

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2017 on land near Lewiston, Drumnadrochit, in advance of the construction of a mixed-use development. The evaluation was required in order to inform developers of the potential for archaeology that could be found during development. Fieldwork was carried out during June 2017. Significant prehistoric archaeological remains were uncovered along a slightly raised ridge along the northwest side of the site. During the fieldwork, five areas were extended to excavate concentrations of archaeological features. The sites comprised primarily hand-dug pits containing prehistoric pottery, burnt hazel shell and a small collection of stone tools including a flint scraper. The features have been tentatively identified as Neolithic in date. Other pits comprised subrectangular pits of uncertain use, which are interpreted as medieval or post-medieval in date. <1> Subsequent phases of fieldwork were carried out at the site by AOC Archaeology Group (see EHG5166 and EHG5183). During the two programmes of fieldwork in 2017, extensive and significant archaeological remains were excavated, including: prehistoric pits containing prehistoric pottery, coarse stone tools and lithics; a Bronze Age cist burial containing a Beaker vessel; post-medieval storage pits and a post-medieval field boundary. Other phases of fieldwork within adjacent areas of this landscape have been undertaken as part of separate developments, upon which further prehistoric features and cist burials were excavated. A programme of post-excavation work was carried out on the environmental and artefact assemblages, indicating that most of the archaeological features related to Early Neolithic activity. The cist burial is one of six Early Bronze Age burials discovered in the Lewiston site. The grave contained a nearly intact Beaker vessel. <2>