Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the past and future together Archaeological walk-over survey Mellon Charles Water Main Renewal Phase 2 7 Duke Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YH Tel / Fax: 01381 600491 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hi-arch.co.uk VAT No. 838 7358 80 Registered in Scotland no. 262144 Registered Office: 10 Knockbreck Street, Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1BJ Mellon Charles Phase 2 Water Main Renewal Walk-over Survey 2008 Archaeological walk-over survey Mellon Charles Water Main Renewal Phase 2 Report No. HAS081106 Project code MNC08 Client Halcrow Ltd Highland Council Ref N/A Date 27 November 2008 Author Cathy Dagg Summary A walk-over survey was undertaken to identify any archaeology to be affected by the laying of the new Aultbea to Mellon Charles Phase 2 water main, Ross and Cromarty. Several features were noted which should be marked off and avoided during excavation work. 2 Mellon Charles Phase 2 Water Main Renewal Walk-over Survey 2008 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Aims and Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Location ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Archaeological background and cultural significance .................................................................................................. 4 Results .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix 1: Photo Index ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Appendix 2: Locations of Features ............................................................................................................................ 15 Plate 1 Feature 1 .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Plate 2 Feature 2 .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Plate 3 Feature 3 .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Plate 4 Feature 4 .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Plate 5 Feature 5 .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Plate 6 Feature 6 .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Plate 7 Feature 7 ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Plate 8 Feature 9 ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Plate 9 Feature 10 ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Plate 10 Feature 11 .................................................................................................................................................... 12 Plate 11 Feature 13 .................................................................................................................................................... 12 Plate 12 Feature 14 .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Plate 13 Feature 16 .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 1 Location ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 See also Appendix 2 Acknowledgements Desk-based assessment and fieldwork were carried out by Cathy Dagg. We wish to thank the client Halcrow PLC for commissioning the work. Background mapping has been reproduced by the permission of Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. This report was edited by John Wood. Introduction A walk-over survey was carried out on 8 September 2008 by Highland Archaeology Services Ltd on behalf of Halcrow Group Ltd in order to identify any archaeology likely to be affected by excavations for a new water main between Aultbea and Mellon Charles, Ross and Cromarty. Weather conditions were clear, dry and sunny. Aims and Objectives The aim was to identify any archaeological concerns at the earliest stage, so as to avoid any unnecessary damage to features and minimise any possible delay or cost to the development. The objective was to identify and record as far as possible the character, extent, condition, date and significance of any archaeologically significant remains likely to be affected by excavations for the new water main so that these could be preserved where practicable and recorded where necessary in line with Scottish Executive and Highland Council policies. 3 Mellon Charles Phase 2 Water Main Renewal Walk-over Survey 2008 Location The new route is located in Mellon Charles, Wester Ross, Scotland, centred approximately at OS Grid Reference NG 848 914. The height ranges from almost sea level to about 40m above OD. Figure 1 Location Archaeological background and cultural significance Sites with statutory protections There are no Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed buildings or gardens and designed landscapes within the evaluation area. Recorded archaeological sites No prehistoric sites are recorded in the vicinity of Mellon Charles. The following sites, recorded on the Highland Historic Environment Record, lie within the evaluation area: 1. MHG 47638. Mellon Charles, Military Camp, centred on NG8416 9113 The hut bases of the accommodation camp are visible on RAF vertical air photographs (CPE/Scot/UK182, 1348-1350, flown 8 October 1946). One hut of corrugated iron at NG 84157 91116 is still extant and is presently standing empty. Eight hut bases were noted to the E of the road and a further six to the N of the remaining upstanding building. Some of the hut bases have been cut through by a road constructed in the postwar period. Many of the hut bases can still be found and there are two small concrete bases on the top of the small hill possibly for a flagpole or mast immediately to the S. (Visited by RCAHMS (DE), August 2000) 4 Mellon Charles Phase 2 Water Main Renewal Walk-over Survey 2008 2. MHG 33201 An Fhaiche: Burial Ground at NG 8436 9116 Recorded as an unenclosed burial ground on the 1st edition OS map. 3. MHG21360 Mellon Charles, crofting township at NG 8450 9130 "Applies to a large district of fishermen's crofts situated on the E shore of Loch Ewe and W of Ormiscaig...extending from a dyke immediately to the E of Allt Bhruachan Rhuadha to Geodhachan Bana..." (Name Book 1881) A crofting township comprising 106 roofed, 13 partially roofed, 24 unroofed buildings and their associated enclosures is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire 1881, sheet xix). Several of the roofed buildings have rounded unroofed compartments at one end which may indicate that these buildings are kiln barns. 88 roofed, 4 partially roofed and 50 unroofed buildings and their associated enclosures are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1969). (Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 22 April 1996) Historical Background Mellon Charles is historically a part of the MacKenzie of Gairloch estates. The area of the present croft township is not shown or named on Roy’s military survey of the 1750s, nor is the ground shown as cultivated. Thompson’s 1820s map gives the name Mellon without any indication of a settlement,so this may be a topographical name referring to the prominent Cnoc Meall Onfhaidh. However, in 1815 the Mellon Charles tacksman is recorded as having been replaced by small tenants and cottars as a first step in the estate’s reforms. In the 1840s the area was laid out in the experimental grid pattern of crofts unique to Gairloch. Each square holding had an approximately central croft house in an attempt to encourage good husbandry. The main disadvantage of this layout was difficulty of access. A number of trackways had to be included in the design, running between the crofts, to allow access to the higher houses. Unlike the other crofting townships laid out on the grid pattern, Mellon was later served by more than just one public road running through the township, rather, many of the former tracks have been surfaced and provide access to the higher holdings. It may be for this reason that Mellon supports a greater population than the other townships. Uniquely along the NW shore of Loch Ewe, the township is centred on a sheltered sandy beach, backed by a