EHG5546 - DBA and site visit - Armadale Trading site, Skye

A desk-based assessment and site visit during geotechnical investigations were undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2018 on behalf of the Sleat Community Trust to inform a planning application to re-develop the existing community shop, post office and filling station at Armadale, Sleat, Isle of Skye. Given the close proximity of the site to a chambered cairn and the site of significant Bronze Age buried archaeology discovered during the construction of nearby housing, there is a possibility of further buried archaeology being present on the site. However, the invasive nature of the development is relatively small and the risk to buried archaeology is likely to be minimal. Three small test pits, approximately 1.0m x 0.5m, were excavated to the rear of the office building at the request of the site engineer. One was dug to the depth of about 1.0m being the maximum depth that the excavations would be required for construction purposes. The subsoil level was not reached at this depth. The material removed consisted of made-up ground of mid-brown loam, which included large stones (Plate 1). It is understood that much of the ground on the site was deposited there during the construction works of the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle to the north-northeast of the site. A watching brief during groundworks associated with the development was recommended. <1>