has120503 loch buidhe report

7 Duke Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YH Tel / Fax: 01381 600491 Mobile: 07834 693378 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hi-arch.co.uk

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Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together

Loch Buidhe

Walk-over Survey

Report

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Loch Buidhe Walk-over Survey

Report

Report No. HAS120503

HAS Site Code LBE12

Client SSE

OS Grid Ref NH655978 (centred)

HCAU / Planning Ref

N/A

Date / Revised 15/05/2012

Author John Wood

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Contents Aims and objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Location ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Archaeology and policy background ............................................................................................................ 7 Method .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

1. Desk Based Assessment .................................................................................................................... 9 2. Walk-over survey .............................................................................................................................. 9

Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 9 Table of Photographs .................................................................................................................................. 12

Summary A supplementary archaeological walk-over survey was undertaken in advance of construction of an electricity substation at Loch Buidhe (Cambusmore), Sutherland. This followed an initial desk-top and walk-over survey conducted in 2011 at site selection stage for substations at Alness and Cambusmore1 Provided care is taken in siting new poles and other structures, it should be possible to avoid damage to archaeological features, but marking features with flags is recommended as a precaution.

1 Wood J 2011 Archaeological Desk-Based and Walkover Survey: Proposed Alness and Cambusmore Electricity Substations, Highland Archaeology Services Report HAS110301, Cromarty

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Contents Aims and objectives ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Location ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Archaeology and policy background ............................................................................................................................. 7 Method ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9

1. Desk Based Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Walk-over survey ............................................................................................................................................. 9

Results ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Conclusion and Recommendations ................................................................................................................................ 9 Table of Photographs ................................................................................................................................................... 12

Illustrations Figure 1 Survey location ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2 Site options 2011. Site A and adjoining area were the subject of the 2012 visit. .......................................... 6 Figure 3 Survey area ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 4 Features plotted by GPS against SSE drawing ............................................................................................. 10 Plate 1 Turf and stone dyke in foreground, part of site 274.2, from NNE .................................................................. 11 Plate 2 House site 275.1, from N ................................................................................................................................ 11

Acknowledgements Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. A plan showing the proposed substation site, sealing end compound, towers and other details has been kindly supplied by the client.

Aims and objectives To minimise any possible delay or cost to the development by anticipating archaeological

requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently.

To determine as far as possible the character, extent, condition, date and significance of any archaeologically significant remains; and to recommend mitigation where appropriate so that they can be preserved where possible and recorded where necessary in line with national and local policies and standards.

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Location The proposed substation and associated connections are centred approximately at NH 6541 9803 at a height of between about 168m and 240m above sea level.

Figure 1 Survey location (above: OS 1:50:000, below: OS 1:25,000 maps - not reproduced to scale)

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Introduction An archaeological desk-based assessment and walk-over survey were undertaken in 2011 by Highland Archaeology Services Ltd to identify and record any archaeological features which might be affected by the construction of electricity substations at Alness and Cambusmore. This was undertaken at site selection stage as part of the Archaeological Heritage Impact Assessment for the Beauly to Dounreay 275kv Line Phase 2 Reinforcement Project2. This report covers a supplementary site visit on 27 April 2012 to examine details of possible impacts on features previously noted by siting of towers and connections. As access had not been possible in 2011 to the site finally chosen for the substation, the opportunity was taken to visit this also and examine it as far as possible. However this remains at present under a dense stand of commercial forestry planted on forestry ploughing, so full access was not possible to all areas. Both the 2011 fieldwork and the supplementary site visit reported on here were carried out in line with Scottish Government and Highland Council current policies and advice.

Figure 2 Site options 2011. Site A and adjoining area were the subject of the 2012 visit. Existing power lines shown in blue.

2 Wood J 2011 Archaeological Desk-Based and Walkover Survey: Proposed Alness and Cambusmore Electricity Substations, Highland Archaeology Services Report HAS110301, Cromarty

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Archaeology and policy background The Electricity Act 19893, as amended by the Utilities Act 20004, requires Electricity companies to preserve ‘amenity’ including the cultural heritage, and to mitigate impacts of new infrastructure works. The wider policy framework includes the Highland Council’s Structure Plan5, and Scottish Government’s Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), issued in February 2010, which consolidates and supersedes the previous SPP and NPPG series. The fundamental principles underpinning all the above legislation and policies are set out in Passed to the Future: Historic Scotland’s Policy for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment (2002)6 and the Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS 1999).7 The Codes of Conduct and Approved Practice and Standards of the Institute for Archaeologists8 are applicable to this work. Archaeological fieldwork was requested by SSE in this case because features had been noted in an area proposed for new towers to connect the existing electricity lines to the new substation. These features were recorded by CFA Archaeology Ltd during a cultural heritage assessment of proposed upgrading of the Beauly to Dounreay 275kV overhead transmission line. This cultural heritage assessment was part of the wider Environmental Assessment for the works. Reconnaissance field survey was undertaken of a 200m wide corridor centred on the existing 275kV line and 100m wide corridor centred on temporary or upgraded existing access routes proposed to cross land currently with no roads or tracks. Where construction works would use existing tracks, site visits were made to identified archaeological sites present within 20m of them, in order that requirement for avoidance and protection mitigation could be assessed. In the area to be checked by the present visit the following sites were noted by CFA: Table 1 Sites recorded by CFA Archaeology Ltd 2008-10 Site no

Name NMRS* HHER* Type E N

274.1 Loch Buidhe

NH69NW 24 (EHG3360) Enclosure 265050 898180

274.2 Loch Buidhe

-- (EHG3360) Field bank 265000 898150

275.1 Loch Buidhe

-- (EHG3360) Building 264880 898040

*NMRS: National Monuments Record; HHER: Highland Council Historic Environment Record

3 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1989/ukpga_19890029_en_1 4 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/en/ukpgaen_20000027_en_1 5 http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/developmentplans/structureplan/thehighlandstructureplan.htm 6 www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pasttofuture.pdf 7 http://www.icomos.org/australia/burra.html 8 http://www.archaeologists.net/

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None of the individual sites recorded along the Beauly to Dounreay line have yet been fully accessioned into the archaeological records although the CFA survey itself is accessible through the Highland Council’s HER.9 Sutherland has been settled since the end of the last Ice Age, about 8,000 years ago, but over the last 250 years the population has declined to the extent that today it is one of the least populated parts of the UK. As a result of this and the acid ground conditions, archaeological features have been much less subject to recent damage by development than in other parts of the UK. The extensive use of organic materials in the highlands, such as wood, leather, woollen fabrics, turf and thatch, and the extensive traditional re-use and recycling of materials wherever possible, means that survival of archaeological evidence is often limited. However the re-use applied to sites as much as artefacts and it is not unusual to find apparently post-medieval features overlying others of much earlier date. The proposed substation site itself is densely planted with commercial conifers and the trees have been planted over forestry ploughing and little thinning of the crop has been done. The area across the road to the NW, where the two existing power lines converge, is open moorland. The main focus of possible interest lies on the western side of the site, where a few stone and turf dykes have been noted by the Ordnance Survey (Figure 1, lower map). These were also recorded by CFA and by the present writer. These have been marked up on SSE drawings and should be readily identifiable in the field.

Figure 3 Survey area

9 CFA Archaeology Ltd. 2008-2010. Beauly-Dounreay 275kV Overhead Transmission Line: Second Circuit Environmental Statement. Chapter 10: Cultural Heritage. (HHER EHG3360)

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Method

1. Desk Based Assessment A desk-based assessment was carried out in 2011 by the present writer for the substation sites. In addition another desk-based study was undertaken for the Beauly – Dounreay line by CFA Archaeology. These studies checked relevant archaeological / historical records, maps and aerial photographs were checked for recorded sites and background information. The results have been made available and were taken into account here.

2. Walk-over survey

A standard walkover survey was undertaken on 27 April 2012, which included checking and plotting the previously recorded walls and identifying any associated features. The weather was wet initially but this cleared later to grey cloud. The survey was carried out in line with Highland Council Standards for Archaeological Work, particularly Section 310. The site for the substation was accessed also and inspected, although as indicated above, large parts of this were found to be under dense commercial forestry, planted over forest ploughing, so detailed examination was not possible. However it seems likely that any archaeology in this area will have been severely damaged by the forestry work.

Results The sites (274.1-2) noted by the Ordnance Survey and CFA Archaeology were located and plotted using GPS. Note that these features plotted slightly west of the location given by the Ordnance Survey, although this could be a GPS error. These should be flagged off to prevent accidental damage by plant crossing them, but they are marked on the SSE drawings and should be reasonably easy to locate on the ground. Provided care is taken in this area, there should be little or no damage to them. There is also a longhouse with three compartments (Site 275.1) which is more sensitive, and lies close to a proposed new connection line. This should be safeguarded during the construction work. A test pit appears to have been excavated close to the SW corner of this site.

Conclusion and Recommendations The features noted should be safeguarded during construction work. Marking out with flags to indicate buffer areas would be a sensible precaution. Some realignment of the proposed new connection may be advisable to avoid possible damage to site 275.1 and potential associated buried archaeology nearby. We would recommend a buffer of 15m from the nearest visible edge of this feature. Apart from this, no further archaeological fieldwork is recommended.

10 Available at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/conservation/archaeology/developmentguidance.htm

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Figure 4 Features plotted by GPS against SSE drawing

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Plate 1 Turf and stone dyke in foreground, part of site 274.2, from NNE

Plate 2 House site 275.1, from N

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Table of Photographs All photographs were taken by John Wood on 27 April 2012

No. Location Direction (facing) Subject

DSC_0001 CP1 SSW General View (panorama)

DSC_0002 CP1 S General View (panorama)

DSC_0003 CP1 SE General View (panorama)

DSC_0004 CP1 ESE General View (panorama)

DSC_0005 CP1 E General View (panorama)

DSC_0006 CP1 ENE General View (panorama)

DSC_0007 CP1 NE General View (panorama)

DSC_0008 CP1 NNE General View (panorama)

DSC_0009 CP1 N General View (panorama)

DSC_0010 CP1 NNW General View (panorama)

DSC_0011 CP1 NW General View (panorama)

DSC_0012 CP1 W General View (panorama)

DSC_0013 CP1 WSW General View (panorama)

DSC_0014 CP1 SW General View (panorama)

DSC_0015 DELETED


DSC_0017 CP2 SSW General View (panorama)

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DSC_0019 CP2 SSE General View (panorama)

DSC_0020 CP2 SSE (DOWN) General View (panorama)

DSC_0021 CP2 SE (DOWN) General View (panorama)


DSC_0023 CP3 NNE General View (panorama)

DSC_0024 CP3 NE General View (panorama)

DSC_0025 CP3 ENE General View (panorama)

DSC_0026 CP3 E General View (panorama)

DSC_0027 CP3 ESE General View (panorama)




DSC_0031 CP3 NW General View (panorama)

DSC_0032 CP3 N General View (panorama)

DSC_0033 CP4 SW/Down House site 275.1 from N (Panorama)

DSC_0034 CP4 SW House site 275.1 from N (Panorama)

DSC_0035 CP4 S House site 275.1 from N (Panorama)

DSC_0036 CP4 SE (Panorama)

DSC_0037 CP4 ESE (Panorama)

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DSC_0038 CP4 E (Panorama)

DSC_0039 DELETED

DSC_0040 CP5 WSW Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0041 CP5 W Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0042 CP5 WNW Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0043 CP5 NW Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0044 CP5 N Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0045 CP5 NE Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0046 CP5 ENE Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0047 CP5 E Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0048 CP5 ESE Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

DSC_0049 CP5 SE Substation site / Sealing End compounds (panorama)

has120503 loch buidhe report

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