EHG5469 - Watching brief - Smithton and Culloden Flood Protection Scheme

A watching brief was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2018 for the Smithton and Culloden Flood Protection Scheme, near Inverness following a metal detecting survey (see EHG5468). All groundworks for the site clearance work were monitored by an archaeologist by way of a controlled topsoil strip. The archaeologist directed digging by a mechanical excavator fitted with a straight-edged bucket in order to establish the presence or absence of archaeological remains with the development area. The watching brief did not identify any archaeological features. Topsoil clearance revealed that all areas of the site had been cut and filled during construction of the park. Modern field drains were evident in many areas of the site. The lack of archaeological features is likely caused by the landscaped ground conditions whereby any buried archaeology had been previously removed. <1>