EHG6449 - Trial trenching - Housing Development, Chapelton, Balloch (Phase 2)

An archaeological trial trenching evaluation was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2025 ahead of a proposed housing development at Balloch, Inverness. The work was undertaken in order to evaluate the archaeological potential of a possible cropmark site, an historic chapel site and the overall development area of Phase 2 housing at Chapelton. A 10% trench evaluation was undertaken across the development area for Phase 2, which included the location of a possible cropmark MHG36089. Disused rubble field drains were encountered across the site but no archaeological features or finds were uncovered. Targeted machine trenches were excavated at the historic location of St Mary’s Chapel (see MHG2890), which was situated outside of the Phase 2 development but within the overall development boundary for later phases. This revealed a dark soil deposit and underlying deposit that contained displaced human remains and partially articulated remains interpreted as burials associated with the chapel. It appeared that no in situ structural material survived and that the location of these deposits represented demolition debris and spread of material that was later reprofiled with plough soil. A scatter of iron nails, burnt lead objects and late medieval ceramic sherds were recovered from the deposits. Further trenches around the area revealed a possible curvilinear ditch and two large pit features. One large, straight-sided pit was interpreted as a well, with a clay base overlain by a slab setting. A bronze buckle was recovered from the backfill. A second pit contained a slabbed setting, possibly representing a hearth pit or other unknown function. Further archaeological evaluation would be required across future areas of development within the planning boundary. Further excavation would be required at the chapel site unless the area could be microsited out of the development. A programme of post-excavation analysis was recommended to better contextualise the significance of the initial results. <1>