EHG5525 - Trial trenching - Cairnurenan, Mulbuie, Muir of Ord

A trial trenching evaluation was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2019 in advance of a new residential development at Cairnurenan, Mulbuie. The site is located at the southwest end of the Black Isle to the northeast of Muir of Ord and incorporates the remains of a large prehistoric passage-grave ring-cairn, Cairn Irenan, of probable Bronze Age date, which is a Scheduled Monument (SM3122). Nineteen evaluation trenches were excavated. Fourteen of the trenches were archaeologically sterile and a further two revealed features of C20 date. Trenches 7 and 11, both located on the north side of the scheduled area, revealed a series of isolated and shallow cut soil features that produced charcoal fragments but no dating evidence. Trench 13, located adjacent and to the SE of the scheduled area, revealed the remains of a substantial masonry structure of uncertain function, possibly an animal shed or store, which is indicated on the 1st Edition OS map. The trench also revealed a series of shallow linear and localised cut soil features, one of which produced modern finds. It is noted that the other, undated, soil features recorded in the trench could conceivably be associated with prehistoric activity relating to the scheduled monument although the majority are deemed more likely to be associated with post-medieval settlement and related activity. It was concluded that the archaeological potential of the areas scheduled for intrusive ground work was low. Nonetheless, it was recommended that demolition of the existing buildings and preliminary ground works for the new building are monitored archaeologically by watching brief. <1> A photographic survey of the existing buildings on the site was also carried out (see EHG5526).