Site Event/Activity record EWE383 - RCI Stornoway County DMA, Aird,Tong & Upper Coll Water Main Renewal Watching Brief

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken on areas of open-cut trenching through areas of undisturbed ground on specified sections of the route as identified in a previous the walkover survey. These areas were: • Open cut trenching within sand dune environments adjacent to Traigh Chuil (Upper Coll) • Open cut trenching within undisturbed ground to the north of Bun-Sgoil Thunga (Aird Tong) Archaeological deposits were located within the coastal machair area of Upper Coll, within Trenches 2, 3, and 5. Predominantly, this material comprised well-stratified layers with evidence of human activity, including coarse ceramic, animal bone and shell. The trenching around Aird Tong revealed an area of peat deposits with deeper bog and cutting areas seen towards the east in Trench 7. The central area had been significantly disturbed by modern construction deposits and services with only evidence of boundary drainage ditches, likely dating to the Post-Medieval period identified.