EHG617 - Excavation - proposed Kyle of Lochalsh Water Treatment Works

A third phase of fieldwork was carried out by the Centre for Field Archaeology in 1999-2000 at the site of the proposed Kyle of Lochalsh Water Treatment Works. This followed on from walkover and topographic surveys (see EHG4344) and preliminary evaluation (see EHG685). The principal objectives of the fieldwork were to excavate Feature 7 and to undertake the controlled dismantling of features 5 and 14. During the excavation of Feature 7 in October 1999, it was found to comprise a natural mound, on the northern side of which a cairn of cleared stone had been dumped. A spread of charcoal rich and ashy deposits, apparently midden, had been deposited subsequently against the south side of the cairn. Controlled dismnataling of the other two features on 8th and 15th of March 2000, confirmed that they represented collections of field clearance material comparable to other examples investigated at the site. <1> A programme of post-excavation work was carried out between May 2000 and November 2001. This included soil micromorphological analyses, palaeobotanical analysis and radio-carbon dating. Analysis confirmed that the deposit abutting Feature 7 was medieval in origin, dating from the early C14 to mid C15. <2>