Archaeology Notes

Event ID 769087

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/769087

NM78SE 2 751 827

Related sites:

NM78SW 10 centred on NM 749 825

NM78SE 13 centred on NM 7520 8254

NM78SE 2, NM78SW 10 and NM78SE 13 are all part of a dispersed settlement known locally as Lower Polnish. From map evidence, it appears that NM78SE 2 and NM78SW 10 may have formed a single township, which was already largely deserted by the time of the 1st Edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1876, sheet cxxxvi). NM78SE 13 appears to have been established slightly later and remained occupied well into the twentieth century, with one building remaining roofed and occupied until the present day.

Information from RCHAMS (IM) 24 January 2011.

An unroofed building is shown on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1876, sheet cxxxvi), but it is not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974).

Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 20 August 1996.

NM 752 828 to NM 729 841 During December 1995 and September 1996, a programme of evaluation and excavation was carried out in advance of the proposed widening and realignment of the A830 between Polnish Chapel and the Loch Nan Uamh viaduct.

The characteristic steep slopes and rocky terrain meant that the potential for site identification was limited. However, several features were identified during the evaluation, in two cases confirming identifications made during the desk-based study.

Sixteen trenches were excavated, all located at the W end of the road corridor in an area comprising arable flood plain (NM 7317 8410). The only feature located within the trial trenches was a large scooped feature, possibly an old stream course.

The following sites were located and recorded by fieldwalking and palaeoenvironmental assessment elsewhere within the road corridor:

1 NM 7512 8265 Post-medieval building 1.

2 NM 7509 8275 Post-medieval building 2.

3 NM 7504 8280 Possible kiln.

4 NM 7503 8280 Rig and furrow.

5 NM 7507 8270 Quarry.

Sites 1-5 clustered to the W of Polnish chapel, and together with a spread of similar structures located outside the road corridor, appear to form components of a depopulated settlement. A trial section was excavated through part of the rig system (site 4), revealing a width of 2.1m between crests.

During September 1996, excavations were conducted at sites 1, 2, 3 and 6 and a programme of peat coring was carried out.

Building 1 (site 1), noted as roofed on the OS 1st edition map, lay 50m to the S of the Roman Catholic chapel. The basal course of the walls was constructed of rough, undressed, unmortared stones. Excavation revealed that the building had been substantially altered. Although extensively robbed on its E side, there was a secondary stone trough constructed in the centre of the building filled with a deposit of material very like manure. On the W side of the building, this trough exited through the wall where there was a large flat stone in place, presumably placed there to allow the removal of manure. Other than within the N section of the building where there was an area of cobbling, any earthen floor layer appeared to have been heavily disturbed, presumably by stock animals. A varied selection of 19th-century pottery and glass was recovered from this building which is presumed of late 18th/early 19th-century origin.

Building 2 (site 2) lay c 30m to the W of Polnish RC chapel and was built in the lee of a W facing steep slope, into which the building had been constructed. Its walls were constructed from roughly dressed stones. Excavation revealed a rough floor into which, at the SW corner, longitudinal timbers had been set. The entrance lay on the E side. Continuing into the building from the entrance was a paved area constructed from large flagstones. Immediately adjoining this was a raised hearth area with the remains of a hearth in situ. The building had been constructed over a layer of peat which presumably represents the approximate ground surface during construction, but a horizontal foundation raft of large slabs had been laid below the E facing wall, increasing the width of the wall to 1m.

The possible kiln (site 3) located on the crest of the slope to the W of buildings 1 and 2 was found by excavation to comprise the remains of a circular structure 3m in diameter with unmortared rough stone walls 0.6m thick. These walls survived only to a height of 0.4-0.5m. On the N side, a narrow (0.2m wide) flue was noted; however, no trace of burning was found within the structure and thus its function remains unclear.

A Data Structure Report has been produced for the evaluation phase of the work, and a Data Structure Report for the excavations is in preparation.

Sponsor: The National Roads Directorate of The Scottish Office Development Department, managed on their behalf by Historic Scotland

A Rees 1996