Fortrose, Ness Gap

An archaeological desk-based assessment was carried out by Headland Archaeology on the site of a proposed housing development in the eastern margins of Fortrose, The Black Isle, Ross and Cromarty.

The assessment included a consultation of documentary and cartographic evidence within the Development Area, and within a wider Study Area, which generally extended 500m from the centre ofthe site. Outside of the Study Area, the Scheduled Ancient Monument, Fortrose Cathedral was included in this assessment due to its Designated Status.

Although no sites of cultural heritage interest are known within the proposed development area and cartographic evidence suggests that the area has remained an open field for a considerable period of time. There are no known archaeological sites within the proposed development area but the general area with its close proximity to the remains of Fortrose Cathedral has high potential for the survival of archaeological deposits. A road, which bounds the development area to the north would have been the main thoroughfare between the town and the nearby Chanonry Point from where a ferry plied to first to Ardersier, and later to Fort George in Morayshire. A footpath, which divides the development area, may also have been an important early route between the outlying farmland and the town and its market.

NH 7329 5651 An evaluation was undertaken 21 September 2010–18 February 2011 on Areas B–G of a proposed housing development off Ness Road. A total of 50 trenches were excavated and revealed a range of prehistoric features, including an urned cremation, a stone cist with a Bronze Age Food Vessel and a further possible cist. The cist and possible cist were close together but the urned cremation, which had been badly truncated by ploughing, was located almost 200m to the E.

Archive: RCAHMS

Funder: Tulloch Homes Ltd

Headland Archaeology Ltd, 2011

NH 73376 56471 Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd was commissioned to undertake a monitored topsoil strip of a 3.6ha plot at Ness Gap, Fortrose in advance of a planned housing development by Tulloch Homes Ltd. This work follows on from earlier phases of desk-based assessment, monitoring and evaluation. The results show two phases of activity on the site – a period of early Bronze Age activity and a series of modern pits and ditches.

The early Bronze Age period is represented by five urned cremations (including two complete cordoned urns), two unurned cremations, two or possibly three cists and several small pits containing pottery. Typologically, these remains could span a broad period between c 2150 and 1500 BC, although they may also be closely contemporary. This will be better understood with further analysis.

Archive: HES

Funder: Tulloch Homes Ltd

Headland Archaeology Ltd, 2014