Archaeological Evaluation of the Area of a Proposed Windfarm Development at South Shebster, Reay Parish, Caithness
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Archaeological Evaluation of the Area of a Proposed Windfarm Development at South Shebster, Reay Parish, Caithness Catherine Dagg for C W Sutherland The Schoolhouse Achreamie Caithness KW14 7YB Archaeological Evaluation of the Area of a Proposed Windfarm Development at South Shebster, Reay Parish, Caithness 1. Introduction The author was asked by C W Sutherland to carry out an archaeological evaluation, consisting of a desk-based assessment and walk-over survey of the area potentially affected by a proposed windfarm development at South Shebster in Caithness. This development consists of up to 25 wind turbines, with associated temporary and permanent access tracks and power lines, and the widening by approximately 1m of the existing public road from Shebster to Broubster. This evaluation addresses the following issues: 1.1 Archaeological features within the area of development which may be adversely affected by the development: The evaluation aims to identify all archaeological features or areas of archaeological interest, both previously recorded and newly located during fieldwork, to place these within the context of the local and regional archaeological, cultural and historical record, and to assess the significance, both local and regional, of these sites. Sites will be evaluated both individually and as a part of a surviving archaeological landscape. It is assumed that there is a degree of flexibility in the siting of individual wind turbines, and that the main archaeological features can be protected from damage by incorporating the findings of this report into the design of the development. Minor features such as areas of former cultivation are more likely to be adversely affected by the construction of access tracks. Recommendations will be made in this report for the routing of these access tracks to minimise this damage. It may be considered necessary, where damage to archaeology can not be avoided, for further measuring and recording to be carried out before work commences, or monitoring during work The ongoing management of the archaeology within the defined area of the development will also be addressed, particularly as there are various options for land use to run concurrently with the windfarm, and as part of the area of development is already under forestry but without a management plan for the protection of archaeology during forestry operations Any decisions on further archaeological work would be made in consultation with the Senior Archaeologist in charge of this project at the Highland Council Department of Planning and Development 1.2 Visual impact of the proposed development on archaeological sites in the surrounding area, particularly those which have been developed for visitor access and interpretation. Visibility of the development from these sites may not have a negative impact; this would depend on the relationship of these archaeological 2 sites to others in the area, particularly in, for example, a prehistoric ritual landscape, and the presentation of the archaeological landscape to visitors. 2. Desk-Based Assessment The following data sources were consulted during the desk-based assessment: Highland Sites and Monuments Record, held by the Archaeology Unit at Highland Council in Inverness RCAHMS database ‘CANMORE’ 1st and 2nd edition Ordnance Survey maps, held by the Archaeology Unit at Highland Council in Inverness Old maps of Caithness held by the Map Library within the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh Caithness Community Website: ‘A Brief History of Brubster’ by JK Butler. 3. Site Description The area covered by this evaluation lies on both sides of the Shebster-Broubster road, on a gentle north facing slope. It is divided into the following areas of modern land use: (see site plan 1.) A. Open ground with light grazing by sheep. Mostly grassy, but the higher ground, particularly to the SW and W of the area has a cover of low heather. The SW corner of the area is wet, but elsewhere the land drains either naturally or artificially through a system of ditches down to the Burn of Shebster B. Strip of young forestry on deep mechanical ditching. These trees are approximately 5 years old C. Area of mixed trees 1-4 years old on deep mechanical ploughing. D. Area of mixed trees, 1-10 years old on deep mechanical ploughing. E. Improved fields on a gentle south facing slope north of the Burn of Shebster F. Area of mixed trees approximately 11 years old on deep mechanical ploughing. G. Mature forestry. H. Mature Forestry (outwith area of evaluation) 4. Archaeological Background A number of archaeological sites are recorded within the area of this evaluation, representing at least three phases of occupation and land use: 3 a. Prehistoric Features: one probable and two possible Neolithic or Bronze Age cairns, two areas of Bronze/Iron Age settlement consisting of hut circles and associated field systems, and two burnt mounds b. Post-Mediaeval, pre-Improvement Settlement: a non-nuclear township of up to 13 individual farmsteads, with a probable head dyke c. Post-Improvement features of sheep farming; three sheep shelters or fanks. 5. Historical Background The township of Shebster, marked on all early maps from Pont’s survey of the 1580s on, was, by the beginning of the 18th century, improved into fertile enclosed fields covering the south facing slopes north of the Burn of Shebster. West Shebster occupies marginal agricultural land bypassed by the early agricultural improvers and remained an area of small croft holdings. The high ground of the Highlands of Brubster to the south provided common ground vital to the economy based on black cattle. It was the enclosure of this formerly common ground for sheep farming and the blocking off of traditional herding routes to shielings further south which led to the depopulation of West Shebster In 1827 a Capt. McDonald bought the estate of Shebster with the intention of developing sheep farming. In 1828 he put a ditch and dyke across the estate, which had a manned gate, severely restricting access to the Brubster Highlands from Shebster. The removal of small tenants was gradual but persistent until 1838 when a major clearance programme was initiated. The last person is thought to have left West Shebster in 1864. The land appears to have been incorporated into the sheep farm with the construction of sheep shelters. 6. The Archaeological Survey This was carried out on 24.2.03 in fine and sunny weather conditions. The following archaeological features lie within the area of this evaluation: This list runs from west to east and is divided into each area of modern land use, with a brief summary of the state of preservation of archaeology in each area Area A. Open Ground 1. Targets at ND 0061 6353. This feature is recorded on the 2nd but not the 1st edition OS map, so dates to around 1900. It is a well-preserved feature, consisting of a stone lined trench, with the walling of what was probably a roofed area at its west end. The targets themselves would have been sited on the bank to the north of the trench, with a line of sight from a stance at the Bield, to the west of Shebster on the present road. (Photo no. 1) 2. Cairn, possibly Neolithic/Bronze Age, at ND 0090 6356, SMR no. ND06SW0002. This feature is a poorly defined grassy spread. Although recorded as a cairn, possibly because of its proximity to the Grey Cairn, it might be 4 alternatively interpreted as a large burnt mound, particularly in view of its location on the low ground adjacent to the present course of the Burn of Shebster (Photo no. 2) 3. Structures at ND 0078 6355. Not previously recorded. One structure or enclosure consisting of low grass-covered footings, aligned E-W and measuring approximately 7m by 6m, divided into two compartments. Approximately 20m east of this is a second structure, also defined by low grassy footings, and measuring 4m by 4m, open to the east 4. Cairn, possibly Neolithic/Bronze Age, at ND 0126 6351, SMR no. ND06SW0009. This cairn is also poorly defined, grassy and spread and could also possibly be redefined as a burnt mound 5. Cairn ‘The Grey Cairn’ at ND 0081 6336, SMR no. ND06SW0003 A prominent high, stony mound, not grassed over. This would appear to be a prehistoric mound. Recorded on the 1st edition OS map as ‘Pict’s House (remains of), this apparently had a later sheep shelter attached to its west side, but this structure is no longer visible. 6. Settlement at ND 008 632, SMR no. ND06SW0035. Two hut circles, A. at ND 0084 6322 and B. at ND 0084 6321, associated with approximately 2 hectares of clearance cairns and sections of walling. The hut circles are not prominent features (Photo no. 3) but the field system is fairly clear. This lies on a gentle north facing slope of low heather, in contrast to the grasslands of the post- mediaeval cultivation to the east, but may originally have extended further east. Heather-covered field clearance piles are scattered across the area from ND 0081 6302 to almost the Grey cairn. At ND 0080 6313 is one end of a possibly contemporary low heathery bank running west at least as far as the drystone dyke. 7. Sheep Shelter at ND 0090 6295. Two joined semicircles of a typical Caithness style. This feature is as recorded on the 1st edition OS map and is located on heather at the edge of the wet ground west of the settlement. It does not appear to have been constructed on top of a previous building to utilise a ready source of stone, and may pre-date the final clearing of the township. (Photo no. 4) 8.