EHG5756 - Trial trenching - Re-wilding Centre, Dundreggan

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2020 on land surrounding Dundreggan Lodge, Glenmoriston, Inverness prior to the construction of residential accommodation, educational facilities, and cafe. The evaluation was required due to the discovery of an archaeologist site, a possible structure, during a walkover survey of the development area. The structure was thought to consist of the degraded remains of a roofed structure identified on the 1904 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map for the area. A large trench encompassing an area of 13.4m² was excavated over the potential location of the entrance and banks/walls of the structure. The evaluation indicated the structure initially had consisted a geological feature, such as a drumlin, which had been modified for use. The interior had been quarried and the outer extent left as a natural bank of material. This bank was augmented on the external southeast face with a rough stone revetment wall and possible footing for a turf structure that included a possible posthole. The interior had been infilled with material during two separate events: first, to create a level surface in the hollowed-out interior, and later, during the insertion of a large steep-sided pit cutting through this, which contained stone and C19/20 ceramics, glass, slate and metal. <1> A watching brief was also subsequently undertaken (see EHG5757). See updated report for results of all the fieldwork: a programme of post excavation analysis was carried out on the environmental remains recovered from samples collected during the fieldwork. The artefacts predominantly dated to the 19th/20th century and included ceramic, glass, metal, and stone. In addition, a small programme of radiocarbon dating was undertaken on two samples. <2>