EHG6241 - Trial trenching - new house site and access, Staxigo

A trial trenching evaluation was carried out by West Coast Archaeological Services in 2023-24 on land northeast of Norbrae, Staxigo, near Wick, in advance of the construction of a proposed new house, access track and associated infrastructure. The work was undertaken to assess the nature and extent of any archaeological sites or features likely to be affected within the areas outlined for proposed development and to inform recommendations for their protection and management where necessary. The condition for field evaluation and watching brief was requested by Highland Council’s Planning Department and Historic Environment Team, as archaeological features were present within the development area, including the potential remains (foundations) of two buildings associated with the old settlement of Staxigo, demolished in the 1940’s. The archaeological field evaluation, covering one of the two buildings within the development area was carried out between the 9th of November 2023 and the 30th of May 2024 and party concoded with watching briefs covering the service trench and access road (see also EHG6242). The field evaluation covering one of the buildings located within the development site uncovered the robbed and mortared foundations of a large building, areas of Caithness flag floors, and a contemporary garden or boundary wall. The recovered artefacts, which generally comprised large quantities of fragmented clay pantiles, fragments from ceramic plates, saucers, tea pots, and storage jars, and some sherds from glass bottles, all suggest activity in the building during the 19th century. Excavation of the floors and associated ground surfaces abutting the building revealed no evidence for earlier features, although some contemporary negative-cut features were identified including a drain, and some pits filled with demolition materials. <1> The area of the trenching was also subsequently subject to watching brief - see EHG6242.