EHG5476 - Watching brief - proposed NHS elective care centre, UHI Campus, Inverness

An archaeological watching brief was conducted by AOC Archaeology Group in 2020 during topsoil stripping at the NHS Highland Elective Care Centre development site at Inverness UHI campus. The watching brief was required due to previous excavations across the UHI campus uncovering the remains of significant prehistoric settlement. A watching brief was also carried out in a field to the south of the development site to facilitate the creation of a soil stockpile. A temporary access road and turning area were stripped, with soil being stockpiled on top of the turf in the rest of the field. The majority of the access road was not excavated to the depth of the natural subsoil and as such the presence of buried archaeological remains could not be ascertained. The topsoil in this area was predominantly disturbed ground containing modern drains and debris from the construction of the UHI campus road and two concrete bridges/culverts over an existing stream. Within the turning circle in the main field, natural subsoil was reached consisting of mid yellow-brown gravelly sand. No archaeological features were observed in this area. A total of 73 features were uncovered within the development area, comprising several discrete groups or arcs of pits and postholes, and other isolated pits. The features can be broadly attributed to four phases of activity or occupation: Neolithic, Late Bronze Age, medieval, and later post-medieval. The Neolithic remains, although confined to one small group of pits, contained finds of two carinated bowls and coarse stone tools. The majority of features appear to be from the Late Bronze Age, with three potential roundhouse structures tentatively identified. A rare and significant find of a clay mould for casting two small penannular rings was found within one of the Late Bronze Age features, suggesting non-ferrous metalworking was taking place on site. Medieval activity was present in the form of a large pit containing burnt material and cereal grains. Other features on the site are thought to be the remains of post-medieval agricultural or vegetation clearance activities. <1>