EHG5969 - Watching brief - site reinstatement, Cromwell's Fort, Inverness

A programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2022 during reinstatement and safeguarding works on a damaged section of Cromwell’s Fort, Lotland St, Inverness. The surviving bastion of Cromwell’s fort forming the scheduled monument, ‘Remains of Cromwell's Fort bastion west of Lotland Place, Inverness SM953’ was damaged in November 2021 by a member of the public creating space for a cabin in the area between the bastion and Lotland Street. The damage was created using a mechanical excavator digging out a section of the bastion and spreading spoil. The excavated area covered approximately 54m², with excavated spoil apparently cast above onto the top of the bastion as well as along the bank to the north east and south west. The disturbed spoil was removed from the top of the bastion and the damaged area, this spoil was inspected for artifacts and the bastion inspected for any features and artifacts. Once the spoil had been removed it was then used to backfill the damaged area in order to match the profile of the bastion established from Google Streetview. During the fieldwork a photographic record was made before and during the reinstatement to safeguard the monument. No archaeological features or artefacts were discovered, therefore no further work was recommended. <1>