EHG6011 - DBA and field survey - proposed housing, Riverford, Conon Bridge

An archaeological desk-based assessment (DBA) and site visit were undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2022 in order to inform a planning application for proposed development at Riverford, Conon Bridge. This DBA sought to establish the archaeological potential of the site by investigating records that may provide evidence for heritage assets within or around the proposed development area. A site visit was undertaken on 8th June 2022 in order to confirm the use and character of the site, and ground-truth the findings of the DBA. Whilst there were no records suggesting the presence of specific structures or events within the proposed development site, and no visibly upstanding structural or earthwork remains, there was a scattering of historical and archaeological sites in the surrounding area. It was also clear that the site had been used for agriculture for at least the last 200 years. Although this has the potential to have caused some damage to potential buried remains through ploughing, it is still possible that features and artefacts may survive within the site. Overall, there is a reasonable potential for buried archaeological or historical remains to be present within the proposed development area. Although this is not specific enough to allow targeted excavation. It was therefore recommended that a programme of trial trenching be undertaken in order to establish the likely presence or absence of buried archaeological features within the site. <1>