A9 Dualling – Crubenmore to Kincraig DMRB Stage 3 Environmental Impact Assessment Appendix 15.3 Raitts Cave Archaeological Evaluation Report A9 Dualling – Crubenmore to Kincraig DMRB Stage 3 Environmental Impact Assessment Rais Cave Lynchat, Kingussie Highland Archaeological Field Evaluaon Data Structure Report Project No: 759 April 2018 ORCA, UHI Archaeology Instute, Orkney College UHI, East Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1LX www.orca‐archaeology.org t: +44 (0) 1856 569345 e: [email protected] Raitts Cave Lynchat Kingussie PH21 1LU Archaeological Field Evaluation Data Structure Report Project No: 739 ORCA UHI Archaeology Institute Orkney College UHI East Road Kirkwall KW15 1LX Project Manager: Pete Higgins Report Author: Rick Barton Report Figures: Rick Barton Client: CFJV Project File Location: X:\ORCA\ORCA Projects\HIGHLAND\1704\739\A095\Report This document has been prepared in accordance with ORCA standard operating procedures and CIfA standards Authorised for Distribution by: PBH Date: 12 February 2018 i X:\ORCA\ORCA Projects\HIGHLAND\1704\739\A095\Report Title: Raitts Cave Data Structure Report Author(s): Rick Barton Derivation: CFJV Origination 29 November 2017 Date: Revised by: Sean Bell Date of last 2 April 2018 revision: Version: 1.3 Status: Final Summary of Edits following receipt of radiocarbon dating results Changes: Circulation: Rick Barton, Sean Bell, Pete Higgins Required Distribution Action: File Name / X:\ORCA\ORCA Projects\HIGHLAND\1704\739\A095\Report Location: Approval: PBH ii X:\ORCA\ORCA Projects\HIGHLAND\1704\739\A095\Report 739 Field Evaluation DSR ©ORCA 2017 Executive Summary This report sets out the results of an archaeological field evaluation undertaken by Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) on land adjacent to Raitts Cave Souterrain, to the north east of Kingussie. The work was undertaken in order to identify the presence or absence of archaeological remains and to ascertain if any such remains were associated with the Scheduled Ancient Monument in advance of the proposed A9 dualling in the vicinity of Raitts Cave. Following consultation with the Local Authority Archaeologist and in line with best practice, the field evaluation consisted of a programme of excavations from 23 October to 11 November 2017 within the land taken for the proposed dualled A9 highway. The results of the fieldwork identified archaeological features within two locations on the site. The remains of a structure were identified at the eastern end of the study area. The structural remains are associated with deposits containing material derived from human activity, with evidence for burning and a small number of ceramics. Radiocarbon dating of material recovered from the palaeoenvironmental samples has indicated that at least some of this activity occurred during the later medieval period. The environmental data also provides some information regarding the usage of nearby woodland resources. A series of features which appear to represent stone-revetted earthworks, which may be related to General Wade’s Military Road, were identified within the west extent of the evaluation area. A significant proportion of the Site to the south of the Souterrain has been affected by intensive ploughing. However, the presence of earthworks on the west side of the development area, appears to have preserved some features and deposits, within discrete pockets throughout the Site. iii X:\ORCA\ORCA Projects\HIGHLAND\1704\739\A095\Report 739 Field Evaluation DSR ©ORCA 2017 Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Outline of the Proposed Development ...................................................................... 6 2 Site Location, Topography and Geology ..................................................................... 6 3 International and European Legislation ...................................................................... 7 3.1 UK and Scottish Legislation ...................................................................................... 7 4 Archaeological Background ......................................................................................... 9 4.1 Prehistoric Period ..................................................................................................... 9 4.2 The Medieval Period ................................................................................................. 9 4.3 The Post Medieval and Modern Period .................................................................... 9 4.4 Previous Investigations ............................................................................................. 9 5 Fieldwork Aims and Objectives .................................................................................... 9 5.1 General Considerations ............................................................................................ 9 5.2 Site-Specific Objectives and Research Questions ................................................. 10 6 Fieldwork Methodology ............................................................................................... 11 7 Fieldwork Results ........................................................................................................ 11 7.1 TT9-3-100: Trench 1 ............................................................................................... 11 7.2 TT9-3-101: Trench 2 ............................................................................................... 12 7.3 TT9-3-102: Trench 3 ............................................................................................... 13 7.4 TT9-3-103: Trench 4 ............................................................................................... 13 7.5 TT9-3-104: Trench 5 ............................................................................................... 14 7.6 TT9-3-105: Trench 6 ............................................................................................... 16 8 Specialist Analyses ..................................................................................................... 16 8.1 Worked Stone ......................................................................................................... 16 8.2 Environmental Sampling ......................................................................................... 16 8.2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 16 8.2.2 Methodology .................................................................................................... 17 8.2.3 Results ............................................................................................................ 17 8.2.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 17 8.3 Radiocarbon Dating ................................................................................................ 17 9 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 17 9.1 Original Research Aims .......................................................................................... 17 9.2 Review and interpretation ....................................................................................... 18 9.3 Interpretative Issues ............................................................................................... 19 iv X:\ORCA\ORCA Projects\HIGHLAND\1704\739\A095\Report 739 Field Evaluation DSR ©ORCA 2017 10 Conclusion and Recommendations ........................................................................... 19 11 Publication and Archiving .......................................................................................... 20 12 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 21 13 Bibliography ................................................................................................................. 21 14 NMRS OASIS Form ...................................................................................................... 22 Figure 1: Site Location ......................................................................................................... 23 Figure 2: Plan and Section: Trench 1 .................................................................................. 24 Figure 3: Plan and Section: Trench 4 .................................................................................. 25 Figure 4: Plan, Trench 5 ....................................................................................................... 26 Figure 5: Sections, Trench 5 ................................................................................................ 27 Plate 1: Trench 6 – Post Excavation .................................................................................... 28 Plate 2: Trench 5 – Deposit 510 ........................................................................................... 28 Plate 3: Trench 5 – Feature 503 and 510 ............................................................................. 29 Plate 4: Trench 5 – Posthole 513 ......................................................................................... 29 Plate 5: Trench 5 – North extension and feature 503 ........................................................... 30 Plate 6: Trench 5 – West extension ....................................................................................