EHG6340 - Watching brief - east of Nigg Energy Park, Nigg

Watching briefs were carried out by AOC Archaeology Group in 2024 at the proposed site of the Nigg HV cable factory. Following a trial trenching evaluation (see EHG6339), several recommendations were made for follow-up mitigation on four targeted areas of the site. These comprised: a watching brief on the area to the eastern side of the site around Trenches 50, 51, and 55, to further investigate the deeply stratified deposits in this area. This became areas 101 and 102; a watching brief was recommended during the excavation of a well (Site 116) at the northwest corner of the site; a watching brief was also recommended during the demolition of Site 93 (the thatched cottage, previosuly subject to historic building recording - see EHG6338) primarily to collect samples suitable for further analysis, including mortar samples and dendro-chronological samples; an HBR survey was recommended for the well (Site 300) at the southwestern corner of the site which had been previously obscured by vegetation. The methodology for Areas 101 and 102 was adapted from a standard watching brief to a controlled topsoil strip followed by machine-excavated sondages across these areas. Four sondages were excavated on a west-east alignment in Area 101, and the profiles of the exposed deposits were recorded. This revealed that the stratified deposits were not contiguous across the area and were not present in Sondage 4. Soil core samples were taken from each of the sondages with stratified buried soils. The same methodology was employed on the east side of the overhead electricity lines in Area 102, which revealed that the deposits seen in Trench 55 were incredibly limited in their extent. It was therefore deemed unlikely that the deposits would be traceable between Areas 101 and 102 underneath the overhead lines. The well (Site 116) was half sectioned by machine under watching brief conditions. This revealed that the well was crudely constructed from rough, rounded blocks of stone in an almost dry-stone fashion. The modern backfills of the well originally seen in Trench 16 were consistent to the bottom of the well which proved to be c. 2-3 m deep. Access for detailed recording was not possible as the well collapsed during excavation as the ground was saturated and the excavation filled with water. The final phase of mitigation was undertaken during the demolition of cottage Site 93 (Plate 66). No further architectural or structural details were identified, but the structure was extensively sampled for mortar, dendrological samples, daub-wall core material, and turf roofing materials. Given the presence of archaeological features and deposits within the development area, and the well-preserved historic structures, it was recommended that all samples be appraised by relevant specialists and any further analysis be undertaken as outlined by them. <1>