EHG6118 - Watching brief - proposed Cabot Driving Range, Castle Stuart

Archaeological excavations were undertaken by Avon Archaeology (Highland) in 2023 in advance of and during preliminary development works for a new driving range at Castle Stuart Golf, Dalcross near Inverness. Following an initial trial trenching evaluation (see EHG6116) and subsequent open area excavation (see EHG6117) undertaken over two areas, a final watching brief was undertaken which identified some more dispersed and localised archaeological features outside the detailed mitigation areas, most of which appeared to reflect further prehistoric settlement-related activity. The evidence recorded during the watching brief indicated that the evaluation stage had succeeded in identifying the principal areas of archaeology preserved on the site. In view of the significant and extensive evidence recorded on the site during the three phases of work it was recommended that a further final stage of post-excavation assessment, analysis and reporting be undertaken in order to clarify the chronology of the archaeological activity and fully understand, interpret and report the evidence gathered during the fieldwork. <1>