EHG5680 - Watching brief - new swing bridge, Caledonian Canal, Inverness

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group intermittently in 2019-20 in respect to the construction of a new swing bridge on the Caledonian Canal. This was required by Historic Environment Scotland and the Highland Council. The Caledonian Canal is a Scheduled Monument (6499), a nationally important heritage asset and Scheduled Monument Consent was required for these works. The new swing bridge required intrusive works on the canal and construction of new moorings/pontoons and a new control building, to operate the new and existing swing bridges, impacted upon the canal banks. Initial construction works for the new swing bridge started in November 2019. This involved construction of temporary sheet piled dams across the Canal, followed by dewatering and excavation of the canal bed. These works had the potential to reveal material lying in the canal during more than two centuries. Excavation of the canal bed was undertaken under archaeological supervision for the recovery of significant artefacts. All retained artefacts where catalogued and stored. Further sheet piling, as above, was undertaken through the bank and bed of the canal for the swing bridge construction, as well as construction work for the new elements of infrastructure (pontoons, footpaths, services, etc). All groundworks where undertaken with a view to avoiding damage to significant archaeological features or deposits which appeared to be worthy of preservation in situ. No archaeological deposits were entirely removed unless this was unavoidable and was done in agreement with Historic Environment Scotland and the Highland Council HET. Photographic recording of all groundworks was undertaken, alongside plan/section recording where visible elements of the canal are exposed. Artefacts retained comprised post-medieval pottery and glass fragments, as well as modern detritus. No further archaeological work is recommended. <1>