Erection of Meteorological Measuring Mast Nigg Hill, Nigg, Tain, Easter Ross
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Erection of Meteorological Measuring Mast Nigg Hill, Nigg, Tain, Easter Ross Archaeological Watching Brief Planning Consent Ref. No: 03/00147/FULRC Catherine Dagg for Shell WindEnergy Ltd 7-9 North David Street Edinburgh EH2 1AW Erection of Meteorological Measuring Mast, Nigg Hill, Nigg, Tain, Easter Ross: Archaeological Watching Brief Contents Page 1.0 Executive Summary………………………………….…3 2.0 Background……………………………………………..3 3.0 Method…………………………………………….….…3 4.0 Results…………………………………………….…….6 5.0 Conclusions………………………………………….….6 6.0 Appendices: 1. Bibliography and Sources…………7 2. Photographic Record…………...….7 7.0 List of Figures……………………………………………7 2 Erection of Meteorological Measuring Mast, Nigg Hill, Nigg, Tain, Easter Ross: Archaeological Watching Brief 1.0 Executive Summary An archaeological watching brief was carried out on ground breaking work associated with the erection of a meteorological measuring mast on Nigg Hill, Easter Ross. No archaeological features or deposits were located 2.0 Background 2.1 This archaeological watching brief was commissioned by Shell WindEnergy in fulfilllment of Condition no. 4 of Planning Consent, which stated: Prior to the commencement of development, a programme of archaeological work for the preservation and recording of any archaeological features affected by the proposed development, including a timetable for investigation, all in accordance with the attached specifications, shall be submitted to and require the approval in writing of the Planning Authority. Arrangements shall be made by the developer to ensure an archaeological watching brief to be carried out on site clearance and excavation works. All arrangements thereby approved shall be implemented by the developer at his expense in accordance with the approved timetable for investigation. Reason: In order to ensure the protection of the archaeological interest of the site. 2.2 The Brief for archaeological work prepared by the Archaeology Unit within Highland Council Planning and Development Service specified the following components of the methodology: a. Desk-based assessment: the archaeologist will carry out a check of relevant archaeological records and aerial photographs to provide background information. b. Visual inspection and photographic record. The archaeologist will make a detailed visual inspection and photographic record of all areas to be affected by this development before any site work takes place. c. Watching brief: the archaeologist will be present on site at all times during works where ground disturbance will take place to conduct a watching brief. d. Report: The archaeologist will produce a brief report setting out the results of the work. 3.0 Method 3.1 Desk-Based Assessment At the time the desk-based assessment was carried out, two potential sites for meteorological measuring masts were under consideration: Location no. 1. At NH 8165 6940, in an improved field approximately 250m west of Castlecraig Farm 3 Location no. 2. At NH 8345 7228, on high ground approximately 1km ENE of Bayfield Loch and 1.75km south of Wester Rarichie Farm. Both locations were assessed, although only the mast at Location no. 2 was erected. The results of the desk-based assessment for both sites is given below: Location no. 1. No archaeological sites are recorded within the improved fields north of the road. The following sites are located in the vicinity of the proposed mast site: • Dunscaith Castle, motte and bailey, at NH 8070 6898, SMR no. NH86NW0001, Scheduled Ancient Monument.This site is located on the shore at the bottom of the hill, approximately 1.4km from the mast site. Although the effect of any development on the setting of a Scheduled site would normally require consideration, the short lifespan of the mast (approximately two years) makes this factor of less importance. • Castlecraig farmstead at NH 8150 6917, SMR no. NH86NW0015. This is a working farm with the addition of recent buildings to the original steading, located approximately 250m from the proposed mast site • Castlecraig, millpond and dam at NH 8184 6942, SMR no. NH86NW0028. The formerly extensive millpond has now been drained, and although some features of the dam and sluice may survive, these are now within the farm building complex of Castlecraig Farm, 250m from the proposed mast site. In addition to these recorded sites, the 1st edition Ordnance survey map indicates a small farmstead south of the road, in what is now a clearing within the modern forestry plantation, and a cottage north of the road at the top of the rise, approximately 500m from the mast site. Neither of these features is marked on the modern map. The 1880 map records the improved fields north of the road, occupying approximately the same area as the present enclosed fields. Modern land use includes the forestry plantation south of the road and a sandstone quarry immediately west of this. All indications from this rapid desk based assessment are that the proposed mast site lies on land which has been improved by drainage and ploughing, and under cultivation for at least 120 years, probably much longer. Although there is the possibility that prior to improvements the land was occupied and utilised over a long period, it is likely that all traces of this previous land use will have been removed during 19th century field improvements. Location no. 2. No archaeological sites are located on the high ground in the immediate vicinity of the proposed mast site. The following archaeological sites are recorded in the wider area: • Hill of Nigg: building at NH 832 720, SMR no. NH87SW0047. This building, located immediately south of the Allt nan Damh, 500m SW of the proposed mast site, lies in the middle of a complex of fields occupying both banks of the stream 4 as recorded on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1880, and is named as Aultandoun. • Hill of Nigg: farmstead at NH 8425 7185, SMR no. NH87SW0018. This group of roofless buildings, recorded on the 1st edition OS map and the present OS 1:2500 map, occupies the hill slope above the sea shore, approximately 750m from the proposed mast site and is associated with an area of enclosed and improved fields covering the SE facing slope down to the shore. The 1st edition Ordnance Survey map indicates the area surrounding the proposed mast site as rough hill ground. While the farmsteads and fields to the south in the more sheltered valley of the Allt nan Damh and to the east above the shore indicate that there has been settlement and enclosure on the more favoured areas of the hill, probably at a time of maximum population in the early 19th century, this did not extend to the high, exposed ground. This land was probably utilised for grazing. The 1880 map indicates a scatter of coniferous trees (similar to the present landscape) probably indicative of the remnants of attempts to establish tree plantations begun as early as the 1760s. The vegetation on this high ground was dominated by heather and whin until re-seeding in the 1970s (pers. comm. landowner) The conclusion of this rapid desk-based assessment is that it appears unlikely that any features associated with early settlement and land use would be located on such an exposed site. There remains the possibility of early modern or modern land boundaries. These should be visible on the surface and would be located during the visual inspection of the site prior to the commencement of construction. Location no. 2 Access Track Two regionally important archaeological sites are located at the bottom of the hill near to the existing track which is to be utilised as the mast access track: Easter Rarichie fort and dun and Wester Rarichie dun, both Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Although they will not be directly affected by the development, there is the possibility that associated features of settlement and land use might be located adjacent to the track and would be affected by any work on improving or widening the track. Any such work should be carried out after consultation with an archaeologist. 3.2 Visual Inspection A visual inspection of the general area of the mast site located no potential archaeological features. The area consists of improved grassland adjacent to some residual light woodland, probably the remains of former plantings of scots pines. (Photograph no. 1) 3.3 Watching Brief The archaeological watching brief was carried out on November 21st 2003. Weather conditions were dry, sunny and clear. Five trenches were excavated by a mechanical digger using a straight edged bucket. Four of these were to provide anchor points for the stays for the mast, located on the cardinal points 25m from the mast base. The fifth trench was to provide an anchor for the winch; this was located 15m south of the 5 mast base. The mast base itself involved no ground breaking but rests on a wood platform 4.0 Results Trench no. 1, 25m north of mast base: Below a surface vegetation of close-cropped turf was a topsoil layer of approximately 15cm. This topsoil was dark brown. Below this was a thin layer of orange-brown subsoil, no more than 3cm deep, overlying shattered bedrock. This trench was excavated to the full depth of 1.5m to allow the insertion ofan anchor. (Photograph no. 2) Trench no. 2, 25m west of mast base: Below the turf, a 10cm layer of brown topsoil overlay solid bedrock, with no intervening subsoil layer. Excavation was abandoned following removal of the topsoil, in favour of drilling an anchor point into the exposed rock. (Photograph no. 3) Trench no 3, 25m south of mast base: The 10cm layer of topsoil was sandy and of a lighter brown colour than in trenches 1 and 2. This overlay the solid rock with no intermediate subsoil, and excavation was again abandoned following the removal of the topsoil to expose a face of solid rock suitable for drilling.