EHG6345 - Watching brief - Trunk Main-Torgorm Valve Cluster Replacement, Black Isle

An archaeological desk-based assessment and watching brief were carried out by West Coast Archaeological services in 2024 on behalf of Scottish Water in advance of a valve cluster replacement scheme at Torgorm, Black Isle, Highland. The work was undertaken to assess the nature and extent of any archaeological sites, features or deposits likely to be affected within the areas outlined for the proposed development works, which comprised a small area for the new valve cluster, decommissioning of the old site infrastructure, and especially lay-down areas and a temporary haul road. The desk-based assessment and investigation of aerial imagery covering the development area identified a number of cultural heritage assets, spanning the prehistoric and historic periods. Located on well-drained raised beach terraces on the southwest side of the Black Isle and overlooking the inner reaches of the Cromarty Firth and Conon Bridge, this area would have formed a particularly favourable location for prehistoric settlement, while the rich soils have promoted farming and dispersed settlement through to the present day. The sites recorded during the watching brief included a drystone dyke of post-medieval date, which formed a part of a field system, and a number of pits excavated into the subsoil containing stone, ashes, coal, small, abraded sherds of post-medieval ceramics and glass, and some modern plastics. The pits and their contents may have been associated with the demolition of the smithy at Torgorm, or just convenient dumps for rubbish from the nearby farm. However, the spreads of stone at the south-southeast end of the temporary haul road, in close proximity to the existing farm and minor road, may have comprised a more recent attempt to form the bed of a track into the fields where the ground was wet, or hard standing on which to feed livestock. In some areas of the development, ground stripping did not extend down to the interface with the underlying subsoil. This was primarily due to the depth of the topsoil in some areas and temporary nature of much of the works for a lay-down area and haul road. A check of the removed topsoil across the area revealed a few abraded sherds of post-medieval ceramics and glass, some small fragments of slate, small pieces of coal, and some modern plastics. No earlier historic, or prehistoric artefacts were recovered. It was recommended that no additional archaeological input would be required. <1>