EHG5743 - Excavation - Milton of Leys (Area 1 )

An archaeological excavation was undertaken by Headland Archaeology in 2001 at Milton of Leys (Area 1), Inverness, Highland, following several phases of evaluation (see EHG227, EHG528 and EHG517) in advance of a proposed housing development. The earlier phases of evaluation had identified a cluster of prehistoric features. The work was undertaken in three phases. Initially, the area immediately surrounding the evaluation trenches was stripped of topsoil using a machine. The natural subsoil was then hand-cleaned and several more features identified and recorded. In all, an area of 2000m² was stripped, the limits of which were defined to the north-west by an existing high voltage cable running alongside the road, to the north-east by the apparent limit of archaeology as defined by intensive trenching, and to the south-east and south-west by the edge of the development. The excavations identified several more features similar to the cluster of small pits and post-holes seen during the evaluation phases. Neolithic Grooved Ware, including one vessel in the Durrington Walls sub-style, was recovered from several of the features, which appear to be domestic in function. <1>