EHG6033 - Desk-based assessment and walkover survey - proposed housing development, Whitehills, Alness

An archaeological desk-based assessment and walkover survey were undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2022 for a proposed residential housing development at Whitehills, Alness. It was found that the site had experienced a high level of disturbance in the form of soil stripping, excavation, road formation, laydown area construction, and drainage construction in the 1970s-1990s and from 2019 to the present. It was considered that this may have affected the potential for archaeological remains of any period to survive within the site, particularly within the central and southern portions. There was considered to be no potential for archaeological remains to survive within the central and southern sections of the site based on the level of disturbance observed. In order to investigate the level of disturbance in the eastern and western sides of the site it was expected that an evaluation of the ground conditions would be required prior to construction, likely by trial trenching. The results of this evaluation would determine the extent and severity of the disturbance and inform the levels of potential for the survival of archaeological remains in these areas. Depending on the results of the evaluation, further archaeological works such as archaeological monitoring may be required. <1>