EHG5384 - Evaluation - Greenside Farm, Rosemarkie

An archaeological evaluation was carried out on land northwest of Greenside Farmhouse, Courthill Road, Rosemarkie by AOC Archaeology Group in January 2018 in relation to the construction of 50 dwellings and associated works. The evaluation was required as part of a planning requirement as the site is situated within an area of known archaeology. Fourteen trenches were excavated across the site, limited by the depth of deep soil layers extending up to 1.5-1.6m deep across two-thirds of the site. Significant prehistoric archaeology was present on the site. Two features contained prehistoric pottery, some of which potentially dates to the Neolithic period and coarse stone tools and pieces of a possible crucible, objects used for melting metal for smithing, were also recovered from one prehistoric pit. A collection of medieval pottery fragments was recovered from a deep soil layer below the upper ploughsoil, indicating that medieval archaeology could also be present on the site. Linear ditches and the fragmentary remains of a possible stone wall were also uncovered, including a substantial slab-built culvert, which correlates to a description in the Old Statistical Account (OSA, 1794) of works undertaken by the local minister to drain a pond. An archaeological watching brief is recommended during all site clearance. <1>