Old Town Of Leys

NH 6668 4142 A watching brief was undertaken December 2010–January 2011 at Culduthel, SW of Inverness. The site is S of Culduthel Mains Avenue and c50m S of the high status Iron Age metalworking site excavated by Headland Archaeology (DES 2010, 96; 2009, 100). A total of 28 features were identified including a hearth, pits and evidence for an old ground surface; 16 pits were located in a distinct group and many contained Neolithic pottery and associated lithics.

The group of 16 pits, which were of various shapes and depths, were located on a flat terrace at 67–68m OD, in the area of the gravel grading compound. The recovered pottery indicated that six of the pits were certainly related. An examination of the pits morphology and spatial distribution suggested that another five features probably related to this group. Apart from one flint flake, which was recovered from a pit in the flood relief channel, the entire assemblage of small finds was recovered from pits in the gravel grading compound. Although no fully intact pots were recovered, there was an unusual mixture of styles (representing at least 13 pots) and both Early to Middle Neolithic style and Late Neolithic Grooved Ware. Samples of charcoal from two of the pits containing prehistoric pottery and lithics were radiocarbon dated and returned dates of 4365±30 BP (3090–2900 cal BC at 2s ) and 4335±30 BP (3030–2890 cal BC at 2s).

Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Report: Highland HER

Funder: Global Construction Ltd

Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services, 2011

Information also reported in Oasis (rosscrom1-111010) 9 February 2012