EHG6035 - Watching brief - cabling remediation works, Moy-Dores

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2021-22 in respect to underground cabling remediation works for approximately 21km of 33kV cabling between the Dores Roundabout in Inverness and Moy. The watching brief was carried out intermittently between 30th November 2021 and 18th July 2022 during initial stripping of the cable corridor and subsequent excavation of three cable trenches. A total of three archaeological features were identified comprising two firepits and one patch of vegetation burning. A deposit of peat was sampled for geoarchaeological analysis. A programme of post-excavation work is recommended. Only a small fraction of the total site was stripped to the top of the underlying geology. Despite this, areas of stratified archaeological and palaeoenvironmental layers along with three definite archaeological features (probably prehistoric) were identified during the watching brief: one within the cable corridor and two within the cable trenches. It is probable that futher archaeological features may survive within the cable corridor. It is recommended that any future groundworks within the cable corridor be subject to an archaeological watching brief. <1>