EHG6146 - Watching brief - Roster-Occumster water main renewal (southern area)

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2023 during pipework rehabilitation between Roster and Occumster in Caithness. The requirement had arisen as the development site was located in an area with potential for the survival of buried archaeological deposits. The watching brief was undertaken in two areas of pipeline trenching located next to two prehistoric broch sites were monitored (for the northern area see EHG6147). Topsoil stripping using a machine equipped with a 0.4m flat-edged ditching bucket was monitored by an experienced archaeologist. The scope of works included emergency repairs to an existing fracture pipe, consisting of the replacement of 32m of iron ductile pipe plus concrete anchors and other necessary infrastructure. Despite the archaeological potential, no buried archaeological remains were observed and it was considered that no further archaeological monitoring would be required. <1>