Series: Rebecca Shaw Archaeological Services unpublished report series

An archaeological watching brief was carried out for Luddon Construction Ltd on behalf of their client. The works were undertaken in respect of an extension to a grade 'B' listed building located at 14 Montgomery Street, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. The works revealed a fairly recent cobbled surface which on turn lay on top of an earlier tarmac surface. The subsoil was a brown clay but in many area the clay was dirty as it had been re-deposited due to the insertion of numerous service pipes. No negative features, structures or residual artefacts were revealed within the development area during the course of the archaeological monitoring works.

A programme of archaeological works was required at 19 Market Street, Stranraer, prior to redevelopment works, as part of the requirement of the issued planning consent. A level 1-2 standing building survey was undertaken on the 11th March and 1st April 2008 and an evaluation was carried out on the 2nd and 3rd April. With the exception of the eastern gable which is stone and mortar rubble construction the rest of the structure, which was red brick, probably dates to the early 20th century with later repairs and additions. The sequence of five trenches sited randomly across the proposed development area identified no significant archaeological features. Cobbling however, was located in a number of trenches and probably dated to the late Victorian period when the two building fronting onto Market St and Fisher Street respectively, became one building. A discreet deposit of waste associated with a clamp or lime kiln was also located in one small area of the site, indicating industrial actively in the vicinity. Clinker debris presumably from the nearby railway had been used to level the site on top of the cobbles prior to a concrete floor being laid. Although the site of our structure undoubtedly housed a small dwelling structure with a backland or garden area in the early to mid 1840's, no features, structures or finds relating to this period were located. There are no indications that the as it existed prior to demolition had ever been used as a dwelling.

A programme of archaeological investigative works was undertaken in respect of the proposed extension at 23 Campsie View, Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire. The works were undertaken as part of the requirement of the issued planning consent to allow the client to fully discharge the terms of the condition of consent.The works comprised archaeological monitoring of the excavation of the foundation trenches for the proposed new extension. During the course of the works no features of archaeological significance were observed.

Archaeological investigative works undertaken in regard to proposed development works on a site works located at Altain Glen, Sandhead, near Stranraer, Wigtownshire (roughly centred on NGR NX 0975 4905). The proposed development works comprise: erection of poultry unit, installing of septic tank and 4 gas storage tanks. erection of 4 feed silos, formation of new access, erection of 1.2 metre high boundary fence and associated landscaping (planning application no 15/P/1/0134). A watching brief was carried out, 13-27 January 2016, during topsoil stripping associated with the construction of a poultry unit and a new access route. A total of 26 features of archaeological significance were noted. The features mainly consisted of pits, postholes or stakeholes, which appeared to be fairly randomly dispersed, but may form part of either smaller discreet features or a larger complex. The site has been radiocarbon dated to the Bronze Age (c3500-3700 years ago). Although a number of features had fragments or smears of charcoal associated with them, only one of the pits contained finds (a flint scraper and a hammerstone).

Archaeological investigative survey undertaken in regard to continuation of granite extraction for a further five year period at Barclosh Quarry, located near Dalbeattie in Dumfries and Galloway (NGR: NX 8466 6214). The proposed development work (extension of the existing quarry) lies within an area of archaeological interest relating to extensive late and post-medieval agricultural activity associated with Barclosh Castle and the later farmstead (HER ref. MDG4541). As the proposal would involve down-cutting works, which would remove any archaeological finds or features within the development area, Andrew Nicholson, Dumfries and Galloway Council Archaeologist, required archaeological works to be undertaken within the proposed extraction and working area prior to any further removal of material. The archaeological works comprised: recording of any upstanding earthworks and structures within the proposed quarry extension area specifically features relating to late and post-medieval agricultural activity - in particular to establish if any remains survived of a corn kiln(s), depicted on 1st edition OS mapping (1854) and mentioned in historical documentary sources (Maxwell W J, 1890).

A programme of archaeological undertaken in respect of proposed works at Birrens Cottage, located near Ecclefechan in Dumfries and Galloway (NGR: NY 21816 75066). The proposed works comprised an extension to the existing Birrens Cottage (planning application no - 18/0315/FUL). Archaeological works were required as the proposed works were to be undertaken within an area recognised as being of national importance and designated as a scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979) relating to Birrens to Broadlee, Roman forts, camps and henge (SM666; HER ref MDG7432). The monument comprises the upstanding remains of a fort and later enclosures, visible as a series of turf and stone banks and ditches and likely to date to the later prehistoric period. As the proposed extension had the potential to affect any surviving subsurface archaeological features or deposits of national significance, archaeological works were required to ensure that any impacts upon the scheduled monument were minimised and that archaeological information is recovered and recorded to a satisfactory standard. As the works will involve disturbance within the scheduled area, Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) was required from Historic Environment Scotland (HES). The proposed works comprised the excavation of three foundation trenches. The monitoring works indicated a fairly sterile silted topsoil above a clean silted clayey or gravelly subsoil. No significant archaeological deposits or finds were noted during the course of the monitoring works.

A programme of archaeological monitoring works were undertaken at the Camphill Vaults, 1-3 Main Street, Bothwell. The works were carried out from the 9th to the 12th June 2008 and comprised monitoring of the reduction of the ground level for the footprint of the new extension. A roughly rectangular red sandstone structure measuring 11m by 5m internally and divided into two compartments with one main entrance and as well as an access between the two compartments. The walls averaged 1m in width with both entrances measuring more than 1m. No finds were located but cartographic evidence indicates that the structure dates from between 1816 and 1859 and was demolished between 1963 and 1974. The thickness of its walls and width of the entrances indicate that the structure was probably originally used for some form of industrial or storage purpose rather than a dwelling, though it was possibly used as a dwelling latterly.

Rebecca Shaw Archaeological Services were appointed to undertake the works by John Hair from Cowal and Trossachs Forest District on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland in regards to a proposed forest road. The road measures roughly 9km in length through the Cruach Tairbeirt Forest.

Archaeological monitoring works undertaken in respect of proposed works close to Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway. The proposed works comprise: erection of ticket office and formation of decked area (17/1473/FUL). The proposal lies within the Area of Archaeological Interest relating to Roman finds made during the construction of the adventure playground (MDG21061) and the line of the ha-ha (MDG21375) associated with the Drumlanrig Inventory Designed Landscape. Examination of 19th century estate maps by McCallum and Dundas and subsequent Ordnance Survey mapping indicates that the area has been lightly wooded parkland since at least 1848. The proposals will involve ground disturbance and down-cutting which may affect any surviving buried remains associated with the Roman fort and marching camps to the southeast. Deposits related to the construction of the ha-ha may also be uncovered. Dumfries and Galloway Council Archaeology Service therefore requested that a watching brief be Data Structure Report - Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill undertaken during all ground breaking works. The archaeological monitoring works revealed a fairly clean fine silted topsoil of varying depths above either a bright red very stony silt with frequent larger stones / rocks in the western half and a pale yellowy orange gritty silt containing a moderate to frequent amount of small stones (in the eastern half). With the exception of a few angular rocks / stones recovered at the eastern edge of the site, which may be related to the construction of the haha, no significant archaeological finds or features were uncovered.

Archaeological undertaken in respect of proposed remediation works at Glen Tarras, near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway (NGR: NY 38204 81352). The detailed works comprise the undertaking of highway repairs to the B6318 public road on the north side of Glen Tarras. Although the proposed main construction works were not near any of the previously noted areas of identified archaeological interest, a piped outfall for the surface water drainage will be required running from the road down the side of the glen to the Tarras Water. The route of this pipe will pass through the demolished remains of the former Glen Tarras Distillery (HER reference MDG7977; Canmore ID 67678). As the proposals involved ground reduction works where there is the possibility of uncovering archaeological finds or features, Dumfries and Galloway Council asked for a programme of archaeological monitoring works to be undertaken as a requirement of the issued planning consent. Dumfries and Galloway Council Archaeology Service, who advise Dumfries and Galloway Council on archaeological matters provided guidance on the nature of archaeological works required. The archaeological works comprised monitoring of the pipeline excavations within the location of the Glen Tarras Distillery. No significant archaeological deposits or finds were noted during the course of the monitoring works.