EHG5306 - Watching Brief - Beachan Court Proposed Housing Developments, Grantown-on-Spey

An archaeological watching brief was conducted by AOC Archaeology Group in 2019 during groundworks for a new housing development at Beachan Court, Grantown-on-Spey. The watching brief was required due to features identified during archaeological evaluation carried out in 2016 (see EHG5061). A total of 21 truncated features were recorded comprising: 5 postholes forming an arc; 6 small pits (one of which contained a saddle quern); a large pit containing prehistoric pottery; a fire pit; 3 possibly modern refuse pits filled with a stony material; and 5 ephemeral features, possibly small pits which had been severely truncated and/or affected by burrowing and bioturbation. A programme of subsequent post-excavation analysis, including radiocarbon dating, provided evidence for a long period of activity from the Early Neolithic to the Early Medieval period. The earliest activity at the site was represented by Neolithic pits which contained pottery and a saddle quern. Middle Iron Age activity comprised an arc of postholes which may represent a curvilinear structure. Early Medieval activity was represented by a fire-pit.<1>