EHG6117 - Excavation - proposed Cabot Driving Range, Castle Stuart

Archaeological excavations were undertaken by Avon Archaeology (Highland) in 2023 in advance of and during preliminary development works for a new driving range at Castle Stuart Golf, Dalcross near Inverness. A total of 67 evaluation trenches had initially been opened across the site, 33 of which revealed buried archaeological deposits and features of varying quality and significance provisionally dated to between the later prehistoric and earlier post-medieval periods. The principal results of the trenching indicated four focal areas (Areas SR1 to SR4) of archaeological activity, three of which were provisionally interpreted to reflect prehistoric settlement-related activity, including the remains of earth-fast timber structures, the fourth area was interpreted to represent an area of rural medieval industrial activity. Two of these areas (Areas SR1 and SR3 subsequently designated Mitigation Areas A and B) were fully investigated and recorded by excavation, the archaeology in the remaining two areas (Areas SR2 and SR4) were preserved in-situ by modifications to the design of the driving range. The mitigation excavations identified evidence for four and possibly five earthfast timber structures plus, miscellaneous dispersed postholes and small pits of indeterminate but probably prehistoric date, a small number of which produced dateable finds that included a largely complete Early Bronze Age Cordoned Urn. Evidence of later activity included a number of large sand quarry pits, one of which produced medieval pottery, and the well-preserved remains of a very large grain drying kiln, the latter provisionally dated to the late medieval to earlier post-medieval periods. A third phase of investigation, a wtaching brief, was carried out over the rest of the area (see EHG6118). In view of the significant and extensive evidence recorded on the site it was recommended that a further final stage of post-excavation assessment, analysis and reporting be undertaken in order to clarify the chronology of the archaeological activity and fully understand, interpret and report the evidence gathered during the various stages of fieldwork. <1>