EHG5725 - Trial trench - new telecoms mast site, Glengeoullie, Cawdor

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Avon Archaeology (Highland) in 2022 in advance of groundworks for a new telecommunications mast and associated development at a site located c 585m SE of Glengeoullie, Cawdor, Highland. The evaluation was designed to establish the presence or absence of significant buried archaeological deposits and features within the footprint of the telecoms development site, in particular all features associated with an 18th century military road constructed by Major William Caulfield in the period 1748-57, which is recorded to run directly adjacent to or possibly through the development area. The evaluation confirmed that the route of the military road runs directly adjacent to the development area and that the formation of the road at this location is represented by a sequence of deposits up to 0.5m deep. A shallow ditch aligned parallel to the line of the road some c 3.5 m to the south was interpreted to reflect the remains of a contemporary roadside ditch. No evidence was identified to indicate that the military road was accompanied by a roadside bank at this location. The evidence gathered during the evaluation has added to our understanding of the 18th century military road although it is concluded that further detailed archaeological recording in the development area, either prior to or during development ground works, is very unlikely to add significantly to the information gathered during the evaluation project. In view of this no further archaeological mitigation was recommended on the site. <1>