EHG5836 - Trial trenching - proposed house plot, Ruilick

A trial trenching evaluation was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2021 in advance of the development of a single house plot with garage at Ruilick, Beauly. This is in order to fulfil planning condition 5 related to application 20/03636/FUL. A desk based assessment revealed that the site has been an agricultural field for at least the last 300 years. It also highlighted the presence of prehistoric features within the wider landscape. Evaluation trenching was undertaken on 19th April 2021, with trenches targeted at the footprint of the house, the garage, and the parking area comprising 21% of the redline development area. A trench was also excavated across the planned sewage treatment facility location outside the redline development area. Despite the large sample only 2 features were encountered and no artefacts were recovered. Feature 1 comprised an isolated shallow pit filled with topsoil and with no obvious function or dateable material. Feature 2 was a stone-filled field drain, attesting to the historic land improvements of the area. No further archaeology work was recommended. <1>