EHG5779 - Watching brief - OHL undergrounding, Boat of Garten - Nethy Bridge

A programme of mitigation and archaeological watching brief was carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2019-20 along the route of the underground cabling of an overhead line between Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge as part of the VISTA project. A previous walkover survey carried out by AOC Archaeology in October 2018 (see EHG5522) identified heritage assets that had the potential to be impacted upon by the works. Recommendations for mitigation and monitoring were put forward prior to and during works in order to minimise these impacts. Those recommendations formed the basis for the programme of archaeological works carried out during this development. The works took place from November 2019 to June 2020. Upstanding archaeological remains comprising prehistoric field clearance and possible kiln sites were demarcated in advance of plant movement and groundworks. Ground-breaking for the insertion of a 132kV electric cable, including the stripping of a 6-10m wide track and drill exit pits, as well as access roads and laydown areas, were subject to watching brief. A number of features were uncovered during the works, including: a possible medieval road leading to Castle Roy, a clearance cairn, possible post-structure, prehistoric hearth pits, further isolated and small groups of pits and ditches of unknown date/function. A programme of post-excavation work was carried out comprising sample processing and analysis of fired clay and flint artefacts, in addition to a small selection of radiocarbon dates retrieved from four features. Mesolithic and Medieval dates were retrieved from ditch features near Tom Pitlac, while a late medieval date came from an isolated pit. Another pit provided a date suggesting more modern activity. <1>