Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the past and future together Desk Based Assessment and Walk-over survey Dulnain Bridge Water Main Renewal Desk Based Assessment and Walk-over Survey Dulnain Bridge Water Main Renewal Report No. HAS071104 Project code DUL07 Client Halcrow PLC Highland Council Ref N/A Date 27 November 2007 Authors Cait McCullagh and John Wood Summary A desk based assessment was conducted to establish as far as possible the nature and extent of any archaeology likely to be affected by the construction of a new water main at Dulnain Bridge. One diversion of route is recommended to avoid archaeologically sensitive areas and a watching brief is also proposed for a section of the route. Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................3 Aims and Objectives.....................................................................................................................................................3 Location........................................................................................................................................................................3 Archaeological background and cultural significance..................................................................................................4 Desk-based assessment.................................................................................................................................................6 Conclusions and Recommendations...........................................................................................................................11 List of Figures Figure 1 Location ........................................................................................................................................................4 Figure 2 Water main line and survey results ...............................................................................................................5 Figure 3 Extract from 1st Edition OS 1:10560 Map (1867-71)...................................................................................6 Acknowledgements Fieldwork was carried out by Cait McCullagh. We wish to thank the client, Halcrow PLC, for commissioning this report, and to Sylvina Tilbury at Highland Council for assistance with aerial photographs. Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. Introduction This report presents the results of a desk based assessment conducted in November 2007 to establish as far as possible the nature and extent of any archaeology likely to be affected by the construction of a new water main in the Dulnain Bridge area of Badenoch and Strathspey. Aims and Objectives The overall aims of this assessment are to identify any recorded archaeological sites or features that might be affected by this work; propose mitigation or recording as appropriate to ensure that archaeological evidence is not unnecessarily damaged or destroyed; and to minimize any possible delay or costs to the development by anticipating any archaeological requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently. Location The new water main is intended to run from approx Ordnance Survey Grid Reference NH 992 245 approx. NH 990256. Figure 1 Location Archaeological background and cultural significance Dulnain Bridge and its environs are situated within the historic parishes of Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie and Duthil and Rothiemurchus, part of the District of Badenoch and Strathspey, the village is itself bounded by the River Spey and sits in the midst of a landscape resonant with sites of archaeological and historic interest. The proposed water main route traverses and is associated with a number of these sites and features. The local record demonstrates evidence for prehistoric human activity. A polished stone axe, believed to have been found at Ballintomb Farm and later deposited within the structure of the garden wall at Finlarig House and the presence of a possible Bronze Age (c2,400 – 500BC) Hut Circle at Laggan Hill attest to the likelihood of both settlement and high status gift exchange in the area. Local provenance is given for two Class I Symbol Stones. This concentration of Pictish Sculptural art suggests that area continued to be a centre of significant social and cultural exchange onwards into the Late Iron Age – Early Medieval periods (c.AD300 – 600). There is little known archaeological evidence to indicate how the area’s medieval inhabitants lived and worked. There is every chance that the ephemeral nature of domestic evidence from this period – many structures from this period are likely to have been largely constructed from turf and/or timber. There is, however a great deal of evidence for the intensive investment directed at ‘improving’ the area by a succession of members of the Grant family, landowners and incumbents of nearby Castle Grant, Figure 2 Water main line and survey results Orange line shows approx. line of new water main (indicative only); red stars indicate archaeological or historic features. throughout the 18th and 19th centuries1. The abundance of limekilns in the Dulnain Bridge area and the survival of two planned relic townships – at Upper Finlarig and Skye of Curr - are testament to this activity. As is typical of many central Highland locations, Dulnain Bridge and its environs demonstrate are also possessed of an architectural heritage that evidences the close relationship between the flouriat of Highland Rail Tourism and the development of gaming estates. The close proximity of both Wester Finlarig Lodge and Tigh-Na-Sgiadh to the Highland Railway Line, running South of the village towards Perth are key examples of such. Figure 3 Extract from 1st Edition OS 1:10560 Map (1867-71) 1 Grant, L. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘Parish of Cromdale (Counties of Moray and Inverness – Presbytery of Abernethy – Synod of Moray)’, OSA, No. 12; Vol. 8, Edinburgh, pp.255 – 58; Grant, P. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘The United Parishes of Duthil and Rothiemurchus (Counties of Moray and Inverness)’, OSA, No. 42; Vol. 4, Edinburgh, pp.310 – 14 & Grant, W. (Rev) 1834, ‘The Parish of Duthill (County of Elgin, Presbytery of Abernethy, Synod of Moray)’ NSA, Vol 13, Edinburgh, pp.134 – 5. Desk-based assessment Method The route map supplied by the client was checked in detail against the archaeological records and associated literature and maps. The offices of the Highland Council Historic Environment Record were nd visited on 22 November 2007, when relevant archaeological reports and, where available, the relevant RAF vertical aerial photographs, taken in 1947, were not available in the Highland Council collections and therefore were not examined as part of this assessment. The OSA and NSA, the National Monuments Record for Scotland, the 6 inch Ordnance Survey map series, and the map collections of the National Library of Scotland were checked online2. The previously recorded features in the area represent a diverse archaeological record of prehistoric and historical, monumental and settlement features, including two notable Late Iron Age – Early Medieval sculptured stones. Crofting townships, farmsteads, and industrial and infrastructural developments instituted as part of a programme of 18th and 19th centuries improvements are present. The following sites were noted (see also index and plans): F1 Upper Finlarig / Laggan of Findlarig Township In 1997 the RCAHMS recorded that a township comprising five roofed buildings, one partially roofed building and two unroofed buildings is evident on the First Edition of the OS 6 inch map (Elginshire 1874; Sheet xxxii). Five roofed buildings; one arranged around three sides of a courtyard were depicted on the 1972 edition of the OS 1:10000 map. The township will not be directly affected by the water main but its presence is associated with the improvements instituted in the late eighteenth century by Sir James Grant of Grant3 and may indicate that there is further associated evidence in the wider area here. F2 Garth of Finlarig A 20th century C (S) Listed house, Garth of Finlarig is still in use. This will not be affected by the water main. F3 Wester Finlarig Lodge Forming part of the Wester Finlarig House nexus, the Lodge is a 20th century B Listed building and is still in use. This is close to the current water main route but will not be affected by the proposed new water main. F4 Wester Finlarig House A 20th century B Listed building that is still in use and will not be affected by the new water main. 2 www.rcahms.gov.uk; www.nls.uk/collections/maps/index.html; http://www.promap.co.uk/ 3 Grant, L. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘Parish of Cromdale (Counties of Moray and Inverness – Presbytery of Abernethy – Synod of Moray)’, OSA, No. 12; Vol. 8, Edinburgh, p.255. F5 Wester Finlarig Farmstead In 1996 the RCAHMS recorded that a farmstead comprising one unroofed building and one enclosure is evident on the First Edition OS 6 inch map (Inverness-shire 1874-5; Sheet xxxiv). The enclosure remained evident on the 1972 edition of the OS 1:10000 map. The farmstead will not be directly affected by the water main but it is indicative of the intensity of such features throughout the area of the proposed new water main route. F6 Finlarig Burn Bridge This stone bridge is believed to be one of a series constructed at