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MHG55807 - Late Bronze Age pit - Slackbuie Way, Inverness

Summary

An excavation in 2009 along the proposed line of the Inverness Flood Relief scheme south of Inverness at Slackbuie produced evidence of occupation in the late Bronze Age.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status

Full Description

An evaluation in 2009 by GUARD along the proposed line of the Inverness Flood Relief scheme south of Inverness at Slackbuie produced sparse evidence of possibly later prehistoric occupation. The work covered a linear route from Essich Road (NH 656 414) to Culduthel Road (NH 668 414) in the west and an area of land at Slackbuie in the east. A total of 40 trenches were opened, two of which revealed deposits of an archaeological nature.

Following the evaluation an area around trench 7 was subsequently opened up by GUARD for excavation. In this area, designated Trench 2, several postholes and pits mostly cut into the subsoil along the edge of an old, and dry, watercourse were exposed and excavated. In addition small spreads of charcoal and small pits interpreted as hearths were also found. Two large pits (2099 and 2015) contained charcoal-rich material suggesting in-situ burning though not at great temperature as there was no evidence for scorching on the subsoil. In addition a number of ploughmarks were also found below the old topsoil. The features remained undated due to the lack of finds but a later prehistoric date was inferred. A single fragment of probable late Bronze Age to early Iron Age pottery together with worked flint fragments were found. <1>

The findings of the evaluation and excavation phases were also included and discussed in a subsequent report on a watching brief also carried out by GUARD in 2010. <2>

Post-excavation work, including the obtaining of radiocarbon dates and environmental sample analysis has further refined the dating of the features found in the excavation area Trench 2. One of the pits, 2033, returned a radiocarbon date of 900-790 cal BC (late Bronze Age) from charcoal although the finding of a thumbnail scraper in the fill of the pit had suggested a date in the early Bronze Age. Another pit, 2049, returned a radiocarbon date of 2150-1950 cal BC (early Bronze Age) and a post hole, 2098, returned a radiocarbon date of 3240-3100 can BC (Neolithic). <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 66094 41415 (1m by 1m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH64SE
Civil Parish	INVERNESS AND BONA
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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