Culduthel, Inverness: Greenfield housing development

Headland was commissioned by Tulloch Homes Ltd with regard to a housing development at Culduthel Mains Farm, Inverness. Evaluation by trial trenching established that the area was in an area of high archaeological sensitivity.

Liaison with the planning authorities and client was vital and Headland successfully planned and conducted a staged programme of mitigation including targeted excavations in two areas.

The investigations identified the remains of a significant prehistoric settlement and numerous Neolithic to post-medieval features. The prehistoric remains included sixteen roundhouses and finds relating to the production of iron, copper alloys, glass and enamel. Early historic and post-medieval features included industrial remains of iron working and agricultural storage pits.    

Headland’s in-house environmental and artefact analyses have now been completed and the publication monograph is currently being prepared. Development on the site has already been given the go-ahead and the final publication will see the formal lifting of the planning condition.