Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Inverness, Raining's Stairs

Midden (Medieval), Structure(S) (19th Century), Wall (Medieval)(Possible)

Site Name Inverness, Raining's Stairs

Classification Midden (Medieval), Structure(S) (19th Century), Wall (Medieval)(Possible)

Canmore ID 82861

Site Number NH64NE 165

NGR NH 6676 4516

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/82861

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Administrative Areas

  • Council Highland
  • Parish Inverness And Bona
  • Former Region Highland
  • Former District Inverness
  • Former County Inverness-shire

Archaeology Notes

NH64NE 165 6676 4516.

NH 6676 4516 Watching brief during digging of three test pits by developers on steep 45 degree slope adjacent to Raining's Stairs to E of Castle Street medieval street frontage (NH64NE 104).

Exposed W-facing section of one pit revealed layers of burnt daub associated with charcoal lenses and possible stone floor surface. Access to section not possible but spread of material covered area of c2m square. Indication of at least three phases of timber structures. A post hole was visible in the E-facing section.

Represents evidence for possible medieval timber buildings terraced into hillside to rear of main Castle Street frontage.

Sponsor: Inverness District Council.

Hanley 1993a.

Rescue excavation in advance of building development on steep slope adjacent to Raining's Stairs to E of Castle Street medieval street frontage (NH64NE 104) was undertaken. This produced evidence for a timber building terraced into the slope of Barn Hill, of a single phase of construction founded on re-deposited gravels. This was destroyed by burning, with charcoal-rich deposits associated with spread of charred ?oak planking, indicating probable plank wall in sill beam construction.

Building sealed by redeposited gravels, a probable cultivation soil and deep hiliwash deposits. Associated pottery (currently under study) suggests a 14th to 15th-century date for the building construction.

Site probably represents 'backlands' development to E of main Castle Street frontage.

Watching brief ongoing.

Sponsor: Inverness District Council.

Hanley 1994b.

Activities

Excavation (6 April 2017 - 22 August 2017)

NH 66766 45163 Evaluation trenches followed by a targeted excavation and watching brief were carried out, 6 April – 22 August 2017, on land just S of Rainings Stairs, close to Inverness Castle.

As well as more modern structures first depicted on 1821 and 1904 maps and a 1929 garage, the work recorded an area of possible medieval activity focused at the W/lower end of the steeply sloping site. This medieval phase was represented by dumps of midden-like material containing medieval red wares and a possible wall. The footings of the

possible medieval wall appeared directly beneath a modern clay bound wall and consisted, where surviving, of a large burred millstone apparently reused as a post-pad. The structure that had once utilised this pad appeared to have collapsed to the S and consisted of a number of charcoal

timbers mixed with burnt and heat effected clay. This was interpreted as the remains of a burned wattle and daub wall. The development only allowed for a limited area of investigation but the watching brief indicated this burnt material was fairly localised. It is not clear if this medieval wall represents part of a structure or a boundary and further post-excavation work is expected.

Archive: Highland HER and NRHE

Funder: William Gray Construction Ltd

Lachlan McKeggie – Highland Archaeology Services

(Source: DES, Volume 18)

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions