EHG5751 - Trial trenching - proposed warehousing development, Fearn

A trial trenching evaluation was undertaken by AOC Archaeology in 2021 in advance of construction of a whisky maturation warehouses development near Fearn, Tain. The development comprises the erection of whisky maturation warehouses, cask filling and disgorging facility with associated tank farm, tanker filling bay, welfare facilities, car park and associated infrastructure on land 700m northwest of Tower View, Fearn. The requirement for archaeological works arose due to the presence of remains of part of the WW2 Fearn Airfield on the site, as well as the potential for buried archaeological remains. The evaluation was carried out between 1st and 18th November 2021. Eighty trenches were excavated across the proposed development site. The trenches were situated over the locations of both upstanding features, former military road surfaces, and greenfield areas. A metal detector survey of 100% of the trenches was completed, which resulted in the retrieval of iron objects, including agricultural implements, remnants of the aircraft hangar structure including a light fixture and a tin marmalade top. A watching brief undertaken by an Unexploded Ordnance specialist identified buried ordnance in the northwest field. Despite being located in an area for potential prehistoric archaeology and close to the location of cropmark evidence, no prehistoric archaeological features were identified on the site. <1>