Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

AOC Project Number: 70144 August 2017

© AOC Archaeology Group 2017

Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

On Behalf of: Glen Hydro Development Ltd 9 Reform Street Blairgowrie Perthshire PH10 6BD

National Grid Reference (NGR): NH 37262 29190

Planning Reference: 14/01569/FUL

AOC Project No: 70214

Prepared by: S. Williamson

Illustrations by: S. Williamson

Date of Fieldwork: October 2016 – June 2017

Date of Report: 30thAugust 2017

OASIS No.: aocarcha1-294424

This document has been prepared in accordance with AOC standard operating procedures.

Authors: Sam Williamson Date: 30/08/2017

Approved by: Mary Peteranna Date: 30/08/2017

Report Stage: Final Date: 31/08/2017

Enquiries to: AOC Archaeology Group Ardyne Studio Bank Street Ross‐shire IV11 8YE

Mob. 07972 259255 Tel. 01381 600938 E‐mail @aocarchaeology.com

www.aocarchaeology.com 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Contents Page List of figures ...... 2 List of plates ...... 2 List of appendices ...... 2 Abstract ...... 3 1.0 Introduction ...... 4 2.0 Project Background ...... 4 3.0 Site Visit ...... 6 4.0 Watching Brief Methodology ...... 6 5.0 Watching Brief Results ...... 8 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations ...... 9 7.0 References ...... 9

List of figures

Figure 1: Location plan of Corrimony Hydro Scheme Figure 2: Over view of surveyed sites and excavated archaeology Figure 3: Archaeological overview: pits 003 and 007, field drain 005, and path 023/Site 3 Figure 4: Archaeological overview: field boundary Site 5 and path 025 Figure 5: Archaeological overview: cairn 022, pit 020, and field boundary 024/Site 8 Figure 6: Archaeological overview: Sites 9, 10, 30, 31 and 32 Figure 7: Archaeological overview: Site 20 Figure 8: Section drawings of pit 003, 007 and 020 Figure 9: Post-excavation plan of Site 20

List of plates

Plate 1: Looking northeast over Site 20, a likely water supply tank Plate 2: Pre-excavation shot looking north across the powerhouse area Plate 3: Pre-excavation shot looking northeast downhill along the pipeline route Plate 4: Southwest-facing section of pit 003 Plate 5: West southwest-facing section of pit 007 Plate 6: Southwest-facing section of pit 020 Plate 7: Looking northwest across field drain 005 Plate 8: Looking west across clearance cairn 022 Plate 9: Looking east across cut terrace path cairn 023 Plate 10: Looking west across track 025 Plate 11: West-facing section of turf bank 024

List of appendices

Appendix 1: Gazetteer of Archaeological Sites (Walkover Survey) Appendix 2: List of Photographs Appendix 3: Context Register Appendix 4: Sample Register Appendix 5: Drawing Register

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 2 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Abstract

This report details the results of an archaeological watching brief at the site of a new run-of-river hydro scheme along the River Enrick at Corrimony, Glenurquhart. The watching brief requirement arose due to a number of archaeological sites being identified in a previous walkover survey.

Ahead of development in October 2016, a concrete structure was evaluated in order to create a record of the site prior to development. Further sites recorded during a demarcation survey included a possible cairn and two shielings, all of which were fenced off for their protection.

A watching brief was carried out intermittently between February to June 2017, where ground works for the associated hydro scheme structures, pipeline route and access tracks were monitored. A clearance cairn, a field boundary, a field drain and three pits of unknown age, which were impacted upon by the works, were excavated and recorded. No archaeological artefacts were recovered.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 3 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

1.0 Introduction

1.1 An archaeological watching brief was required by The Council in respect to the construction of a run-of-river hydro scheme on the River Enrick at Corrimony, Glenurquhart. The development consists of a penstock, powerhouse, intake and outfall at the Corrimony RSPB Reserve (14/01569/FUL). The aim of the watching brief as per the Written Scheme of Investigation (Fraser & Peteranna 2016) was to identify and record any archaeological features directly impacted upon by groundbreaking works.

1.2 The proposed development lies within the administrative area of The Highland Council, which is advised on archaeological matters by Kirsty Cameron, Archaeologist, Historic Environment Team. The watching brief was specified in keeping with the policies outlined in Scottish Planning Policy (2014) and PAN 2/2011 Planning and Archaeology (2011) in order to record the extent and significance of any archaeological remains which may be present within the development area.

1.3 The works were carried out intermittently from October 2016 to June 2017 and comprised pre-development survey and small evaluation of a structure in October, and the watching brief from February to mid-June.

2.0 Project Background

2.1 The proposed hydro scheme site is located on the west side of the River Enrick to the south of Corrimony, Drumnadrochit, with the intake situated at NGR NH 37187 28552 and the powerhouse at NGR NH 37524 29857 (Figure 1). Archaeological monitoring was to be carried out from the point where the pipeline route crossed out of commercial forestry (NH 37174 29484) to the powerhouse.

2.2 The watching brief requirement and mitigation measures had arisen due to a number of archaeological sites being identified along the pipeline route during a desk-based assessment and two walkover surveys conducted by Highland Archaeological Services (HAS) in 2013 and 2014 (McKeggie and Wood 2014). This survey data was incorporated into the survey and watching brief work carried out by AOC Archaeology to inform mitigation strategies for preventing damage to existing sites where avoidable, and can be viewed in full in Appendix 1. Generally the sites within the vicinity of the development are post-medieval in date and related to an agricultural function, comprising field boundaries, enclosures, possible structures, paths and roadways, and footbridges. The Bronze Age burial cairns at Corrimony are located close to the hydro pipeline landscape and represent significant prehistoric archaeology.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 4 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 1: Location plan of Corrimony Hydro Scheme

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 5 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

3.0 Site Visit

3.1 A revision to the pipeline route necessitated a site visit on October 5th 2017. The new route was walked by an archaeologist to identify any archaeological features that could have been impacted upon by ground works. Three additional sites were identified – a cairn (Site 30) and two possible shielings (Sites 31 and 32). These have been added to the Site Gazetteer (Appendix 1; Figure 6). Site 31 is believed to be a more accurate representation of the same feature identified in the 2014 survey as an enclosure, Site 10. Sites 31-32 comprised low grass-covered banks that appear to form the remains of two shielings. The cairn, Site 30, consisted of a grass-covered mound spread to 11m by 9m and up to 1m high, situated on the edge of the hillslope. There was some stone visible through the turf and a slight dip at the top suggested there may be a structural element to it. Due to the dense vegetation covereage and the overall ground conditions, which contained extensive spreads of stone along the hillside, the interpretation of the cairn was uncertain. All sites adjacent to or in line with the pipeline route were demarcated with high visibility fencing and the route was slightly altered to safeguard them from any damage during ground works.

3.2 During the site visit, Site 20 (Plate 1; Figures 7 & 9) was cleared of vegetation overgrowth, evaluated and recorded in advance of ground works to remove it. The rectangular concrete- built structure appears to be a late 19th century or early 20th century tank or underground storage building.

Plate 1: Looking northeast over Site 20, a likely water supply tank

4.0 Watching Brief Methodology

4.1 The archaeological watching brief was carried out intermittently from February to June 2017. Groundworks for the powerhouse, outfall area and pipeline route were monitored. The powerhouse and outfall area is situated on a flat pastoral field (Plate 2) and the pipeline route leads uphill along the existing track through sparse natural woodland (Plate 3). Topsoil

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 6 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

stripping was carried out under archaeological supervision by a machine with a straight- edged bucket.

4.2 All features of archaeological significance were recorded and excavated to establish the date, nature, extent and state of preservation of the deposits. All works were recorded using high resolution digital photography to record the process as well as the archaeological features. Locations of the features were recorded using a Trimble Geo-XR RTK GPS rover.

4.3 The fieldwork, recording and reporting methods conformed to the Highland Council Historic Environment Team’s Standards for Archaeological Work (2012), the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard Code of Conduct (2014) and Planning Advice Note 2/2011 (PAN 2/2011): Planning and Archaeology (2011).

Plate 2: Pre-excavation shot looking north across the powerhouse area

Plate 3: Pre-excavation shot looking northeast downhill along the pipeline route

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 7 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

5.0 Watching Brief Results

5.1 The archaeological watching brief was carried out intermittently from February to July 2017. The weather was generally fair with some light snow in February and a few small showers for the duration. The underlying subsoil comprised a mix of yellow and orange sands and gravels with some areas of larger rounded stone; a typical glacial till.

5.2 Eight archaeological features were identified and recorded, a brief summary of which follows. Detailed descriptions can be found in Appendix 3.

5.3 Two large pits – 003 (Plate 4) and 007 (Plate 5) – were identified in the powerhouse and outfall site (Figure 3). Both contained high densities of charcoal, fire-cracked stone and heat affected underlying natural subsoil. These were interpreted as fire-pits of an unknown date. An additional pit, 020, was located uphill near Site 30 (Plate 6). Whilst this contained burnt material in the fill, there was no evidence for fire-cracked stone and its significance is unclear. On the basis of the condition and buried location of the features, they are believed to be prehistoric. Section drawings of the pits can be found in Figure 8.

5.4 Feature 005 was a linear ditch 1m wide and extending through the 8m width of the access track (Plate 7). The cut was steep sided with a flat base and contained redeposited stone at the base. This was interpreted as a disused field drain.

5.5 Feature 022 comprised the remains of a small clearance cairn roughly 1.7m in diameter (Plate 8; Figure 3). There were no archaeological finds or features exposed during pipeline construction across it. There was no sign of Site 9, identified as a road, during stripping for the pipeline.

5.6 A path, 023 – identified in the 2014 HAS survey as Site 3 – was truncated by the pipeline route (Plate 9; Figure 2). The section indicated that this was a basic cut terrace into the natural slope and only minimally refined with the addition of some gravel. A second path, 025, was identified during stripping for the pipeline route (Plate 10; Figure 4). Constructed of rounded stone of varying sizes, this led from east to west downhill towards Sites 4 and 5. Site 5 could not be identified during stripping for the pipeline.

5.7 Feature 024 (Site 8) was the remains of a low turf field boundary that was cut through to facilitate the pipeline route (Plate 11; Figure 3). This feature had also been partially destroyed to the west for the placement of a pipeline unrelated to this development.

5.8 During the writing up of the report after fieldwork completion, evidence for an existing and unrecorded hydro scheme located on the River Enrick was found using online resources. Mark Stevens documented the site and surrounding locale in a series of photographs, and gives the grid reference as NH 373 290 (Stevens 2011). The scheme’s intake is above the Corrimony falls, the pipe for which leads downstream to a cinderblock and red-brick constructed powerhouse with internal machinery still in situ. A date stamp of 1927 is located on the machinery, and Stevens surmises the scheme was for use by Corrimony House. The site lies outwith the area monitored during the 2016-17 works.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 8 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations

6.1 The concrete tank, clearance cairn, field boundary, paths and field drain are all remnants of post-medieval agricultural infrastructure, which are unsurprising given the location of the site and the presence of correlating upstanding archaeology identified during the surveys.

6.2 Of the three pits uncovered, two – 003 and 007 – are almost definitely fire pits and the third, 020, is interpreted as a midden pit. Post-excavation analyses of the contents could provide information to help place them within their chronological context.

7.0 References

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014. By-laws of the Institute for Archaeologists: Code of Conduct. Reading: CIfA.

Fraser & Peteranna. 2016. Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit: Archaeological Watching Brief Written Scheme of Investigation. Unpublished AOC Archaeology report.

Highland Council. 2012. Standards for Archaeological Work

McKeggie, L and Wood, J, 2014. Archaeological Walk-over Survey Corrimony, , Highland. Unpublished Highland Archaeological Services report.

Stevens, M. 2011. Flickr: Corrimony Hydro 1927 photoset. Accessed online on 16th August 2017 at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/makfreak/6276870039/in/album-72157627850207267/

Scottish Government 2011. PAN 2/2011 Planning and Archaeology.

Scottish Government 2014. Scottish Planning Policy.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 9 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Plate 4: Southwest-facing section of pit 003

Plate 5: West southwest-facing section of pit 007

Plate 6: Southwest-facing section of pit 020

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 10 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Plate 7: Looking northwest across field drain 005

Plate 8: Looking west across clearance cairn 022

Plate 9: Looking east across cut terrace path cairn 023

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 11 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Plate 10: Looking west across track 025

Plate 11: West-facing section of turf bank 024

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 12 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 2: Over view of surveyed sites and excavated archaeology

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 13 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 3: Archaeological overview: pits 003 and 007, field drain 005, and path 023/Site 3

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 14 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 4: Archaeological overview: field boundary Site 5 and path 025

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 15 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 5: Archaeological overview: cairn 022, pit 020, and field boundary 024/Site 8

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 16 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 6: Archaeological overview: Sites 9, 10, 30, 31 and 32

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 17 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 7: Archaeological overview: Site 20

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 18 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 8: Section drawings of pit 003, 007 and 020

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 19 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Figure 9: Post-excavation plan of Site 20

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 20 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Appendix 1 Gazetteer of Archaeological Sites (Walkover Survey)

Site Survey Align- Condit- Site type Description Period Easting Northing No. Date ment ion Dry stone walling, up to 1.3m high but tumbled down in places. It zig-zags along the east side of the river Enrick Field NE- Very Post- Not Not 1 2014 near to Powerhouse Location boundary SW degraded medieval given given A. Its overall length is approximately 43m. It appears to have been truncated by a track way at the north end. Abutments of a footbridge, probably that shown on 1st edition OS 6 inch map. Stone built quite substantial footings Foot- on both the eastern and Very Post- Not Not 2 E-W 2014 bridge western sides of the riverbank. degraded medieval given given It appears to be of dry-stone construction. Wide footings narrow towards the crossing area at the top, now gone. Pathway to the old footbridge, cut into the natural bank, and lined with oak trees. There is no apparent surviving surface. Post- Not Not 3 2014 Path Approximately 2m wide, it runs N-S Degraded medieval given given for approximately 40 metres before being truncated by a modern track way. Context 023 in context register. Turf-covered gravelly topsoil situated on a slight terrace 1.5m wide cut into the hillside, aligned N-S. This was 0.05m Post- 3 2016 Path thick and directly overlying the N-S Degraded 237251 829592 medieval subsoil. Not well surfaced and no signs of kerbing, just a slight cut into the natural slope. . Context 023 in context register. Dry stone wall enclosure, probably associated with D3. It is approximately 115m by 70m at its widest points. The enclosure wall survives as a low bank, up to 0.25m high, Very Post- Not Not 4 2014 Enclosure with some visible stones. n/a degraded medieval given given Various lumps and bumps are visible inside the enclosure including probable clearance cairns. The eastern edge of enclosure is defined by a sharp drop. Earth and stone bank with a ditch on the south-west side. It runs approximately south-east to north-west for 175m and has been cut by the track and a Field fence. It survives to a height of NW- Very Post- Not Not 5 2014 boundary approximately 0.4m, the bank is SE degraded medieval given given around 0.5m wide and the ditch is approximately 1m wide and up to 0.3m deep, although it has probably been filled by wash.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 21 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Site Survey Align- Condit- Site type Description Period Easting Northing No. Date ment ion Line of rubble, initially thought to be a clearance cairn but probably the remains of a wall which Field Very Post- Not Not 6 2014 includes Feature F7. An area of n/a boundary degraded medieval given given rubble extends to approximately 12m by 5m and comprises rounded stones of various sizes from fist-sized to large rocks. Very rough boundary wall of large boulders. Quite clear for Field 14m at the grid reference, but it NE- Very Post- Not Not 7 2014 boundary may well have originally SW degraded medieval given given continued to Feature F6. Earth and rubble wall running for 40m. It runs downhill, and Field Very Post- Not Not 8 2014 was perhaps used to direct E-W boundary degraded medieval given given water drainage. Context 024 in context register. A grass and moss covered low denuded turf bank aligned E-W. Surviving segment is 15-20m long and becomes less distinct as it progresses W. A slot Field Post- 8 2016 excavated through the structure E-W Ruinous 237250 829593 boundary medieval revealed it was 0.5m deep and comprised orange brown sandy silt and rare subangular stones. Spread extends up to 2m wide. Context 024 in context register. Ephemeral roadway comprising a flattened level area approximately 2m wide that cuts through other features (Feature F10) and into the Post- Not Not 9 2014 Road slope. This feature is apparent N-S Degraded medieval given given for around 43m but may continue beyond this. Possibly associated with an older track route shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey. Ephemeral earth and stone bank, possibly part of an enclosure of which parts of two sides remain. There is a raised NW- Post- Not Not 10 2014 Enclosure area on the eastern end which Degraded SE medieval given given may be a platform of some kind. This feature appears to have been cut through by Feature F9. Hut circle of approximately 13m external diameter, with a hollow centre. The wall footings stand to approximately 0.3m high and 1.5m broad. It is Very Pre- Not Not 11 2014 Hut circle n/a covered by heather and degraded historic given given saplings. It is surrounded by undulations but no definite cairns were identified as reported on the HHER.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 22 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Site Survey Align- Condit- Site type Description Period Easting Northing No. Date ment ion ‘Mony’s Stone’, an undressed standing stone, just less than 2m high and approximately Standing 0.8m wide. It leans in towards Pre- Not Not 12 2014 n/a Degraded stone the track. The stone has been historic given given inscribed with a benchmark near the base and an unrelated date starting ’18...’. Footings of ‘New Corrimony House’ or immediately adjacent landscaped garden. The walls survive up to 1.5m, 0.3m thick, with dressed stone corners and random rubble mortared Post- Not Not 13 2014 Building n/a Degraded construction. The area has medieval given given been heavily disturbed and levelled to make a hard standing since the 2008 report and some areas have been buried in hardcore. Building of concrete block construction west of F13. Corrugated roof, possibly asbestos, with metal roof framing. Poured concrete NE- Not Not 14 2014 Building Derelict C19/20 floor with raised area in centre SW given given and metal fixings. Concrete lintel has been inscribed with ‘7.6”’ describing the height of opening. Remains of a dry stone wall approx. 1m wide survive up to Post- Not Not 15 2014 Wall 0.3m high. Stones of varying N-S Degraded medieval given given sizes from fist-sized to large boulders. Shallow ditch. Curved base, Field well defined for 20m and then WNW- Post- Not Not 16 2014 Degraded boundary dissipates. Some stones visible ESE medieval given given along a southern bank. Roughly circular feature on side of a natural ridge, consisting of a raised bank approx 30cm high with a gap in the northern side at the lowest part of the ridge, and a sunken interior Very Post- Not Not 17 2014 Kiln (?) approx 1m deep, but level with n/a degraded medieval given given a gap in the bank on the northern side. It appears to be of dry stone construction now covered by turf; some stones appear to flare out from the NW terminal. Possibly a kiln. Large circular feature consisting of raised banks approx 1.5-2m wide with a possible gap in the 2014 northern side, although cut by an existing track here so this is

possibly the result of damage. Pre- Kiln (?)/ A sunken interior, similar to Very historic - Not Not 18 Hut circle F17. It appears to be of dry- n/a degraded post- given given (?) stone construction covered by medieval turf; some loose stones are now gathered within the interior and

in the northern area, possibly field clearance. The bank is approximately 0.1-0.3m high on its outer edge, while the interior

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 23 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Site Survey Align- Condit- Site type Description Period Easting Northing No. Date ment ion has been dug out to 1.4m depth. This is possibly an extremely large kiln, or it might be an altered hut circle. Dry stone wall surviving up to 0.4m high, approx 1m wide. Constructed of substantial stones on its outer edges with Field smaller stone infill. It runs very NE- Very Post- Not Not 19 2014 boundary close to F18 and appears to SW degraded medieval given given respect it. Cut through in various places by animal tracks, water courses and vehicle tracks. Rectangular pit or cistern lined with double block stone wall c 0.3m thick with mortar. Stonework is finely dressed to even rectangular blocks. Pit filled with rubble from walls and earth, but still greater than 1m Not Not 20 2014 Structure N-S Degraded C19/20 deep in places. Upstanding given given walls appear to have fallen inwards. Approx 3m x 2m. It is possibly a game store or water cistern relating to the 19th Century estate. A moss and turf covered partially subterranean concrete structure, measuring 2.85m E- W by 3.8m N-S, and 2.05m x 3m internally. The height extent of the walls is currently at ground level but concrete debris within the interior of the structure suggests they did extend somewhat upwards. A curve is evident in some of the debris which may indicate a possible rounded roof. The 20 2016 Structure N-S Ruinous C20 237231 829297 walls are 0.4m wide. The interior of the structure is at least 1.35m deep below the base of the front E wall and 1.55m deep below the base of the back W wall. There are two 0.05m wide slots through the concrete in the N wall, likely slots for a door jamb as the walling here has a small partition in the form of a slight step 0.4m wide. Possibly a C20 war-time bunker. Large grass and moss-covered mound 9m x 8m with a spread up 11m x 10m, NE-SW aligned. Survives up to 1m high. Some stone visible through the vegetation. The site is situated NE- 30 2016 Cairn Ruinous Unknown 237162 829490 on a very gently sloping hill top. SW A slight dip in the centre of the mound is visible and may indicate a collapsed structure within, such as a chambered cairn.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 24 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Site Survey Align- Condit- Site type Description Period Easting Northing No. Date ment ion A moss and turf covered possible stone and/or turf subcircular/subrectangular structure with a dip in the centre. 5m x 4.5m NE-SW and Possible NE- Post- 31 2016 surviving up to 0.5m high. 3 Ruinous 237224 829546 shieling SW medieval upright boulders forming a possible internal face on the W side. The banks are spread between 1 - 1.5m wide. Located W of Site 32. A moss and grass covered suboval stone and/or turf structure, partially revetted into Possible the hillside to the E. 3m x 2.5m Post- 32 2016 E-W Ruinous 237236 829536 shieling E-W, 0.9m deep on the revetted medieval side with rubble evident on the W wall. Spread is up to 1m wide.

Appendix 2 List of Photographs Photo Site/ Direction Description Date No. [Feature] Facing 1 5 Looking over boundary bank NE 05/10/2016 2 20 Pre-excavation shot of site SW 05/10/2016 3 20 Pre-excavation shot of site NW 05/10/2016 4 20 Pre-excavation shot of site N 05/10/2016 5 20 Post-excavation shot of site WNW 05/10/2016 6 20 Post-excavation shot of site WNW 05/10/2016 7 20 Post-excavation shot of site W 05/10/2016 8 20 Post-excavation panorama shot of site SW 05/10/2016 9 20 Post-excavation shot of site S 05/10/2016 10 20 Post-excavation shot of site NE 05/10/2016 11 20 Post-excavation shot of site NE 05/10/2016 12 20 Post-excavation shot of site NE 05/10/2016 13 20 Post-excavation shot of site NW 05/10/2016 14 20 Post-excavation shot of site NW 05/10/2016 15 20 Record shot of curving slabs SE 05/10/2016 16 20 Record shot of curving slabs SE 05/10/2016 17 20 N wall showing 2 slots for stakes - entrance? W 05/10/2016 18 20 Overlooking fragments of structure and opening SW 05/10/2016 19 20 Overlooking fragments of structure and opening S 05/10/2016 20 20 Overlooking fragments of structure and opening SE 05/10/2016 21 20 Post-excavation panorama shot of site SW 05/10/2016 22 20 Post-excavation shot of site SE 05/10/2016 23 20 Post-excavation shot of site ENE 05/10/2016 24 20 Lip between upper and lower structure visible in NW W 05/10/2016 corner 25 30 Looking over possible cairn WNW 05/10/2016 26 30 Looking over possible cairn WNW 05/10/2016 27 30 Looking over possible cairn ENE 05/10/2016 28 30 Looking over possible cairn ENE 05/10/2016 29 30 Looking over possible cairn ENE 05/10/2016 30 30 Looking over possible cairn ENE 05/10/2016 31 30 Looking over possible cairn ENE 05/10/2016 32 31 Looking over possible structure NE 05/10/2016 33 32 Looking over possible structure ESE 05/10/2016

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 25 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Photo Site/ Direction Description Date No. [Feature] Facing 34 8 E-facing section of slot through bank SW 05/10/2016 35 8 E-facing section of slot through bank W 05/10/2016 36 8 Post-excavation shot of slot through bank S 05/10/2016 37 8 W-facing section of slot through bank E 05/10/2016 38 8 W-facing section of slot through bank E 05/10/2016 39 8 W-facing section of slot through bank E 05/10/2016 40 8 Post-excavation shot of slot through bank SW 05/10/2016 41 8 Post-excavation shot of slot through bank S 05/10/2016 42 8 Post-excavation shot of slot through bank S 05/10/2016 43 30 Pre-excavation shot of pipeline route, cairn is out of shot N 07/02/2017 to the left 44 31, 32 Pre-excavation shot of pipeline route near possible NNE 07/02/2017 shielings, right 45 - Record shot of pipeline route - 07/02/2017 46 - Post-excavation stripped area NNE 07/02/2017 47 - Post-excavation stripped area SSW 07/02/2017 48 - Pre-excavation of area NW 17/04/2017 49 - Pre-excavation of outfall area SE 17/04/2017 50 [003] Pre-excavation shot of pit NE 17/04/2017 51 - Post-excavation shot of outfall area NE 17/04/2017 52 - Post-excavation shot of powerhouse area SW 17/04/2017 53 [003] Mid-excavation shot of pit showing stone NE 17/04/2017 54 [003] SW-facing section of pit NE 17/04/2017 55 [003] SW-facing section of pit NE 17/04/2017 56 - Pre-excavation of access track area NW 19/04/2017 57 - Pre-excavation of access track area NW 19/04/2017 58 [005] Record shot of field drain in access track NW 19/04/2017 59 [005] Record shot of field drain in access track NE 19/04/2017 60 [005] S-facing section of field drain N 19/04/2017 61 - Post-excavation shot of areas stripped W 19/04/2017 62 - Post-excavation shot of areas stripped E 19/04/2017 63 - Post-excavation shot of areas stripped N 19/04/2017 64 [007] Pre-excavation shot of pit ENE 11/05/2017 65 [007] Location shot of pit ENE 11/05/2017 66 [007] WSW-facing section ENE 11/05/2017 67 - Stripped area overview NNW 11/05/2017 68 - Working shot of ground works ENE 11/05/2017 69 - Working shot of groundwork NNW 11/05/2017 70 - Working shot of groundwork NE 11/05/2017 71 - General view of bank/revetment E 17/07/2017 72 - General view of bank/revetment NE 17/07/2017 73 - General view of penstock at power house end NE 17/07/2017 74 - General view of penstock at power house end SW 17/07/2017 75 - General view of slope to powerhouse NE 17/07/2017 76 - General view of slope to powerhouse NE 17/07/2017 77 - General view of slope to powerhouse NE 17/07/2017 78 - General view of middle section of penstock S 17/07/2017 79 - Modern field boundary E 17/07/2017 80 - View back towards powerhouse NE 17/07/2017 81 - Pre-excavation shot of middle section penstock W 17/07/2017 82 - Pre-excavation shot of middle section penstock N 17/07/2017 83 - View towards end of penstock watching brief area S 17/07/2017 84 - View towards end of penstock watching brief area S 17/07/2017 85 - Current extent of pipe up to watching brief area SE 17/07/2017 86 31, 32 View down slope towards shielings in trees S 17/07/2017 87 025 Exposed stony spread of old track W 17/07/2017

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 26 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Photo Site/ Direction Description Date No. [Feature] Facing 88 025 Exposed stony spread of old track SW 17/07/2017 89 024 W-facing section of turf bank E 17/07/2017 90 024 W-facing section of turf bank E 17/07/2017 91 (022) Pre-excavation shot clearance cairn W 17/07/2017 92 (022) Pre-excavation shot clearance cairn NW 17/07/2017 93 (022) Pre-excavation shot clearance cairn SW 17/07/2017 94 [020] Pre-excavation shot of pit SW 17/07/2017 95 [020] SW-facing section of pit NE 17/07/2017 96 - Shot of stripped area at top of hill NW 17/07/2017 97 - Shot of stripped area at top of hill NW 17/07/2017 98 - Shot of stripped area at top of hill NW 17/07/2017 99 - Shot of stripped area and slope by powerhouse NW 17/07/2017 100 - Shot of stripped area and slope by powerhouse NW 17/07/2017 101 [023] Shot of terrace/path cut into slope E 17/07/2017 102 [023] Shot of terrace/path cut into slope W 17/07/2017 103 - View over stripped powerhouse area NE 17/07/2017 104 - View over stripped powerhouse area NE 17/07/2017 105 - Area N of track stripped E 17/07/2017 106 - Area N of track stripped E 17/07/2017

Appendix 3 Context Register

Context Filled Fill Type Description Interpretation No. By Of Turf and dark brown silty loam, some small rounded 001 Deposit - - Topsoil. stones.

Mixed orange yellow and brown silty sand, sand, and 002 Deposit gravel. Some subangular and subrounded stones ranging - - Natural subsoil. in size from 0.05m to 1.0m long.

Cut for an oval shaped pit 1m x 0.9m NE-SW and 0.28m Stone-lined fire pit 003 Cut deep at its deepest point. Steep sided in profile curving 004 - of unknown age, down onto a rounded but uneven base, deeper to the SE. similar to 007.

Fill of 003: black sandy silt underlying some loose disturbed topsoil. Lots of well-preserved charcoal (5-10%) comprising large chunks up to 0.08m long and from large pieces of wood, and some smaller round wood charcoal. 004 Fill - 003 Fill of pit 003. Several large heat affected subrounded stones up to 0.25m long set into the base and sides of the pit (60%). The surrounding natural was very compact, likely heat affected.

Cut for linear feature 8m long, aligned N-S. ~1m wide and 005 Cut 006 - Field drain. 0.2m deep, U-shaped in profile with steep sides.

Fill of 005: mid brown silty sand identified as topsoil. Some rounded stones within the fill with a higher concentration at Fill of field drain 006 Fill - 005 the base that have likely been deliberately placed. 005. Otherwise sterile.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 27 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Context Filled Fill Type Description Interpretation No. By Of

Stone-lined fire pit Cut for a suboval pit, 1.5m E-W x 1.1m N-S. 0.18m deep. 007 Cut 008 - of unknown age, Gently sloping sides and somewhat flat base in profile. similar to 003.

Fill of 007: dark black sandy silty with frequent charcoal fragments, some small fragments of fire-cracked stone up to 0.08m long. Some large rounded stones up to 0.35m 009 Fill - 007 Fill of pit 007. long situated at the base of the pit. Ashy lenses visible in the section. The surrounding natural was very compact, likely heat affected.

Refuse it for fire Cut for an oval pit, 1.1m x 0.75m N-S. 0.15m deep. 020 Cut 021 - waste. Unknown Somewhat bowl shaped age.

Fill of 020: loose dark brown sandy silt with charcoal 021 Fill - 020 Fill of pit 020. fragments. Very disturbed by roots.

Sub-circular spread of stones 1.75m in diameter, with stones varying in size from 0.2m to 0.45m long. Stones are 022 Structure - - Clearance cairn. generally subrounded. No real sense of structure, just a dump of stone. Overlies natural subsoil.

Turf-covered gravelly topsoil situated on a slight terrace 1.5m wide cut into the hillside, aligned N-S. This was A crude track cut 023 Cut 0.05m thick and directly overlying the subsoil. Not well - - into the hillside. surfaced and no signs of kerbing, just a slight cut into the natural slope. Site 3 in site gazetteer.

A grass and moss covered low denuded turf bank aligned E-W. Surviving segment is 15-20m long and becomes less 024 Structure distinct as it progresses W. A slot excavated through the - - Field boundary. structure revealed it was 0.5m deep and comprised orange brown sandy silt and rare subangular stones. Spread extends up to 2m wide. Site 8 in site gazetteer.

A compact deposit of rounded stone of varying sizes, from A path leading 0.4m long to 1.5m long. Spread up to 4.2m wide and 025 Structure - - down to Sites 4 aligned E-W, situated alongside a modern fence. In places and 5. a mid brown sterile sandy matrix was visible.

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 28 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70144: Corrimony Hydro Scheme, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit Archaeological Watching Brief: Data Structure Report

Appendix 4 Sample Register

Sample Volume Notes Context No.

004 2 bags Charcoal 008 1 bucket Charcoal 021 1 bag Charcoal

Appendix 5 Drawing Register

Drawing Context Description Scale Date Initials No. 1 Site 20 Plan drawing of feature 1:20 05/10/2016 MP 2 003 SW-facing section of pit 1:10 17/04/2017 SW 3 007 W-facing section of pit 1:10 11/05/2017 SW 4 020 W-facing section of pit 1:10 17/07/2017 CM

© AOC Archaeology 2017 | PAGE 29 OF 29 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness

AOC Archaeology (Inverness) Ardyne Studio Bank Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YE | tel: 01381 600 938 | mob: 07972 259 255 | e-mail: [email protected]