EHG6151 - Trial trenching - new house plot, Allanfearn

A trial trenching evaluation was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2023 to satisfy a planning condition on a new house to be built in the place of an older bungalow at Allanfearn Farm, Inverness. The targeted evaluation trenches focused on areas to be expanded into by the new development and aimed to avoid the old bungalow. Three trenches were opened across the development area targeting areas proposed for disturbance under the plans for a new building and wider access. Upon arrival at the site the old bungalow had been demolished and material largely removed. As per the project design three trenches were opened up. The first Trench 1 was opened close to the entrance to the plot in an area where the entrance would be widened. Trench 2 was opened along the south west gable of the old bungalow and Trench 3 which ran along the long South East side, North East gable and off towards the North site corner. All these were opened under archaeological supervision with a flat bladed bucket. The north west end of Trench 1 was found to come down onto existing hard standing/ tarmac which was left in place as this would be expanded and not removed under the new plan. A portion of the trench was opened down to the natural. Some modern clay pipes, the old bungalow porch and the base of a modern gravel filled surface drain were noted. No features of an archaeological nature were visible and no further work on the site was recommended. <1>