EHG5899 - Watching brief and excavation - new housing development, Greenside, Rosemarkie

An archaeological watching brief consisting of extensive excavation was carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2020-21 on land 90m northwest of Greenside Farm, Rosemarkie, Highland. The land forming the development area has been traditionally used as grazing and otherwise minimally cultivated, and the site is located within an area known for being rich in prehistoric and early medieval archaeology. The work was undertaken following an initial trial trenching evaluation in 2018 (see EHG5384). The watching brief was carried out between 12th August 2020 – 1st July 2021 and produced extensive prehistoric remains across the majority of the development area. These included: a large field system; six roundhouses, one with an enclosing timber palisade fence; 14 major pit groups, one of which was surrounded by a likely monumental earth enclosure; the remains of at least four more ephemeral and/or degraded post or stake-holed structures; three possible degraded grain-drying kilns; a pottery-firing pit; and numerous other isolated pits, post-holes and small linear features; and evidence for prehistoric forest clearance. Post-medieval archaeological remains comprising a stone culvert and several ‘tattie’ pits were also identified. A large number of artefacts were recovered from the site and were generally of prehistoric date. These included coarse stone tools, lithics, a significant number of saddle querns and quern rubbers, ceramics, a bronze hoard, and others. Some medieval and post-medieval material including ceramics, glass and miscellaneous metal was also recovered. During the course of the works it became evident that the site has been inundated with several land-slip events, the colluvium from which has successively introduced deposits on the west side of the site of over 2m in depth. These events have preserved archaeological features at different levels. A programme of post-excavation work was recommended in order to fully contextualise the site. <1>