EHG5840 - Watching brief - new holiday pods, Castlecraig, Nigg

An archaeological watching brief was carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2021 at Castlecraig Farm, near Nigg, in advance of a holiday pods development. The watching brief was required due to the close proximity of the North Sutor Battery (SM13570) and due to the potential for prehistoric archaeological remains. The watching brief was carried out between 22nd February and 19th March 2021 during which a total of 22 archaeological features were identified. The features comprised 14 pits, 5 fire-pits, 1 posthole, and 2 linear features. While some of the pits and linear features may have had relatively recent origins, a group of pits and fire-pits on the southeast slope have possible prehistoric origins. Radiocarbon dates from recovered environmental material provided archaeological evidence for two periods of activity: the middle Bronze Age and the early medieval period. The Bronze Age firepit contained fired clay fragments and charcoal suggestive of a possible timber-built structure. One of the early medieval firepits contained a large quantity of oat caryopses, indicating an association with grain processing/storage. Other pits on the site also showed evidence of cooking activities but could not be attributed specifically to either period. <1>