EHG5175 - Watching Brief - Highland Rugby Club, Bught Road, Inverness

An archaeological watching brief was carried out from March to April 2017 in Canal Park, Inverness, to facilitate the reconfiguration of three rugby pitches. These archaeological works followed on from a previous archaeological evaluation and excavation in 2015 (See EHG4690 and EHG5117) that uncovered significant prehistoric settlement in the area to the southwest quadrant of Canal Park. The site, which is located on the north side of the River Ness, consisted of playing fields on ground formed by a river terrace. Forty-five archaeological features were recorded, comprising mostly groups of pits containing pottery sherds from multiple vessels, carbonised hazelnut shell and charcoal. Struck flints were also present in the pits. The pits appear mostly to represent prehistoric activity on the site and relate directly to the 2015 excavation results and the 2016 Inverness West Link Road archaeological watching brief results (See EHG4992). The remains of two mammal burials of likely medieval or post-medieval date were also present on the site. A programme of post-excavation analysis and reporting will be recommended to enable interpretation and publication of these significant archaeological results. <1>