New Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Survey
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New Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness Archaeological Desk-based Assessment and Walkover Survey AOC Project Number: 70312 July 2018 © AOC Archaeology Group 2018 New Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness Archaeological Desk-based Assessment and Walkover Survey On Behalf of: DMPM Services Ltd Planning Reference: 18/03521/PREAPP National Grid Reference (NGR): NH 69676 43906 AOC Project No: 70312 Prepared by: L. Fraser Illustrations by: L. Fraser Date of Fieldwork: 26th July 2018 Date of Report: 31st July 2018 OASIS No.: aocarcha1-324384 This document has been prepared in accordance with AOC standard operating procedures. Authors: Lynn Fraser Date: 31st July 2018 Approved by: Mary Peteranna Date: 3rd August 2018 Report Stage: Final Date: 10th August 2018 Enquiries to: AOC Archaeology Group The Old Estate Office Rosehaugh Estate Avoch IV9 8RF Mob. 07972 259255 Tel. 01463 819841 E-mail [email protected] www.aocarchaeology.com 70312: Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report Contents Page List of illustrations ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 List of plates ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 List of appendices ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.0 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................. 3 2.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................................... 8 4.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................... 9 5.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE ........................................................................................ 10 6.0 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 7.0 REFERENCES..................................................................................................................................................... 21 List of illustrations Figure 1: Site location map Figure 2: Extract from General Roy Military Map 1747-55 Figure 3: Extract from the OS 1st edition 6-inch-to-the-mile map 1874 Figure 4: Extract from the OS 2nd edition 6-inch-to-the-mile map 1902 Figure 5: Location of the archaeological sites List of plates Plate 1: General view of the survey site, facing NW Plate 2: Looking over the sub-rectangular area (Site 1), facing S Plate 3: Location of the channel along the tree line (Site 2), facing SW Plate 4: Location of the channel along tree line (Site 2), facing W Plate 5: Revetment wall visible on the NW side of the channel (Site 2), facing NE Plate 6: Pile of demolition rubble (Site 4), facing SW Plate 7: Arched entrance to the NW of the gatehouse (Site 5), facing NE Plate 8: The northwest elevation of the gatehouse (Site 5), facing E Plate 9: The southeast elevation of the gatehouse with the outbuilding (Site 5), facing NNE List of appendices Appendix 1: Gazetteer of Archaeological Sites Appendix 2: List of Site Photographs © AOC Archaeology 2018 | PAGE 2 OF 23 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70312: Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report 1.0 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY 1.1 AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by DMPM Services Ltd to undertake a site assessment report for a proposed development site at Inshes near Drumossie, Inverness. The proposed development site, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Site’, lies within the local authority administrative area of Highland Council. 1.2 The assessment has established that the Site was likely part of the agricultural landscape that surrounded Inverness, most likely from medieval times, although it is not until the post- medieval period that the Site can be identified as being utilised in such a way. The agricultural landscape within the vicinity of the Site has subsequently changed with the construction of housing estates and other infrastructure in the modern period, although the Site has remained part of the surviving pastural landscape. The construction of housing and other infrastructure in the vicinity has revealed a plethora of prehistoric sites. There is a Medium potential for prehistoric and early historic remains to be present on the Site and a Low potential for medieval and later remains. 1.3 In order to investigate the potential for further remains to survive on the Site a programme of archaeological works may be required. The greenfield nature of the Site means that any remains that may survive are likely to be well-preserved. Such works would be required to enable any significant archaeological remains to be identified, assessed and recorded. The exact scope and extent of any programme of archaeological works required should be agreed in advance with the Highland Council Historic Environment Team. The programme of works may include an archaeological evaluation, prior to development. If significant archaeological remains were encountered, then further archaeological fieldwork, post- excavation analysis and reporting, including publication may be required. Any such requirement will be determined by the Highland Council Historic Environment Team acting as Highland Council’s advisor on archaeological matters. 1.4 A walkover survey was carried out on 26th July 2018 which identified five archaeological sites. Most will not be impacted by the development and those that may be are of limited archaeological value. Mitigation is not proposed for these features. 1.5 Impacts on the settings of designated heritage assets, including Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings, within 500m of the site have been considered. The proposed development will not have an effect on the settings of designated heritage assets in the surrounding area. This is due to the setting of the Site and the setting aspects of the designated heritage assets. The Site does not have intervisibility with the designated heritage assets nor does it affect the primary setting aspect of the designated heritage assets. The proposed development would not result in any significant change to their current settings. Therefore, the impact of the proposed development of the Site on the designated assets will be slight. Consequently, no mitigation for indirect effect is considered necessary. © AOC Archaeology 2018 | PAGE 3 OF 23 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70312: Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Proposed development site 2.1.1 The Site is situated in Inshes, near Drumossie, Inverness. It is bounded on the northwest by land occupied by Simpson’s Garden centre, on the north by Culloden Road (B9006), on the east by the B9177 and on the southwest by the A9 centred on grid reference NH 69646 43906 (Figure 1). The terrain consists of open farmland with woodland on the northwest side (Plate 1). 2.2 Topographical and geological conditions 2.2.1 According to the British Geological Survey (2018), the Site is underlain by sandstone sedimentary bedrock formed approximately 383 to 393 million years ago in the Devonian Period from fluvial deposits. This is overlain by superficial deposits of Devesian till from the Quarternary Period up to 2 million years ago and resulting from glacial detritus created by the action of ice and meltwater. 2.2.2 The Site occupies terrain that slopes gently from south to north. During the site survey it was noted that ground investigation test pits had revealed a gravel-rich subsoil. 2.3 Development proposal 2.3.1 DMPM Services commissioned AOC Archaeology Group to undertake an archaeological site assessment and walkover survey to assess the archaeological and heritage value of the Site proposed for residential development at Inshes, Inverness. 2.4 Government and local planning policies and guidance National Planning Policy Guidelines 2.4.1 The statutory framework for heritage in Scotland is outlined in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, both of which are modified by the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011. Plate 1: General view of the survey site, facing NW © AOC Archaeology 2018 | PAGE 4 OF 23 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70312: Housing Development, Inshes, Inverness, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report Figure 1: Site location map © AOC Archaeology 2018 | PAGE 5 OF 23 | www.aocarchaeology.com/inverness 70312: Inshes, Inverness, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report 2.4.2 The implications of the acts noted above with regard to local government planning policy are described within Scottish Planning Policy 2014 (SPP), Historic Environment Scotland Policy Statement 2016 (HESPS) and Planning Advice Note 2/2011 (PAN 2).