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Watching Brief
Date December 2008 - October 2009
Event ID 607905
Category Recording
Type Watching Brief
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/607905
A watching brief and small excavation were carried out December 2008 in a sheet-piled cofferdam, prior to the insertion of a concrete base for a temporary jetty, on the shoreline to the W of Urquhart Castle (NH 5302 2870).
An area of slippage at the base of the slope E of the Water Gate (NH 5308 2856) was also recorded prior to remedial work. There were no finds or features of archaeological significance.
A minor excavation was carried out at Urquhart Castle in February 2009 prior to the replacement of a wooden stair leading to the upper level of the motte (NH 5302 2856). The work aimed to ascertain the depth of bedrock and to check for archaeological deposits. No finds or features of archaeological significance were encountered and bedrock was found in all but one trench. This trench contained the concrete base of the existing steps. The area appears to have been heavily disturbed, probably during previous archaeological excavations and during the installation of the original wooden steps.
In February 2009 a further visit was made to monitor the taking of core samples in the area of the proposed new jetty (NH 5300 2870). There were no finds or features of archaeological significance.
In September 2009 a small area in the ditch abutting the W façade of the Grant Tower was excavated, to uncover the earthing mesh of a lightning conductor running down from the SW parapet (NH 5309 2866). An area of 5m was cleared to a depth of 0.3m but nothing of archaeological interest was recorded.
Further to an initial assessment in February 2009, a watching brief was maintained in October 2009, during the excavation of nine small trenches to provide concrete footings for a stair. The new trenches revealed nothing of archaeological significance.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: Historic Scotland
Paul Fox, Andrew Hollinrake and David Murray – Kirkdale Archaeology
OASIS Id: kirkdale1-249710
