Coulin Estate Lochcarron, Wester Ross Archaeological Survey
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Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together Coulin Estate Lochcarron, Wester Ross Archaeological Survey 7 Duke Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YH Tel / Fax: 01381 600491 Mobile: 07834 693378 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hi-arch.co.uk Registered in Scotland no. 262144 Registered Office: 10 Knockbreck Street, Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1BJ VAT No. GB 838 7358 80 Independently Accredited for Health and Safety, Environment and Quality Control by UVDB Verify Coulin Survey January 2011 Coulin Estate Lochcarron, Wester Ross Archaeological Survey Report No. HAS110202 Project Code HAS-COU11 Client CKD Galbraith NGR (approx NH 003 562 centre) OASIS highland4-93472 Date/ revision 07/02/2011 Author Cathy Dagg Summary A desk-based and walk-over survey was carried out ahead of a tree-planting scheme at Coulin, Lochcarron, Wester Ross. All features recorded were of post-medieval date. Recommendations are made for safeguarding these. 2 Coulin Survey January 2011 Contents Site Location ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Desk-based assessment ................................................................................................................................. 6 Method ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Results ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Walkover Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Method .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Summary of Findings .................................................................................................................................. 17 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Appendix 1: Table of Photographs ........................................................................................................... 18 Appendix 2: Historical Notes from Coulin Estate website ....................................................................... 19 Appendix 3: Extract from A. Grimble 1893: The Deer Forests of Scotland ............................................. 20 Illustrations Figure 1 Site location ................................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2 Survey areas ................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 3 Features .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Plate 1 Feature 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Plate 2 Feature 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Plate 3 Feature 3 ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Plate 4 Feature 4 ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Plate 5 Feature 5 ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Plate 6 Feature 6 ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Plate 7 Feature 8 ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Plate 8 Feature 9 ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Plate 9 Feature 11 ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Acknowledgements and Copyright Fieldwork was carried out by Cathy Dagg; this report was edited by John Wood. We wish to thank Louise Alexander of CKD Galbraith for commissioning this survey. Modern Ordnance Survey mapping is reproduced by permission of Landmark Information Group under Licence 100043217. Historic maps are courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The report’s author and Highland Archaeology Services Ltd jointly retain copyright in all reports produced, but will allow the client and other recipients to make the report available for reference and research (but not commercial) purposes, either on paper, or electronically, without charge, provided this copyright is acknowledged. 3 Coulin Survey January 2011 Site Location The survey area covers 247 hectares or thereby, centred approximately on Coulin Lodge at OS grid reference NH 003 562 It comprises five separate planting areas, which rise from about 107m above sea level at Coulin Lodge to over 300m on the northern slopes of Meallan Doire Bheithe. See Figures 1 and 2 below. Figure 1 Site location 4 Coulin Survey January 2011 Introduction An archaeological walkover survey was conducted in January 2011 in advance of a new woodland planting scheme on the Coulin Estate. Figure 2 Survey areas The aim of the survey was to provide archaeological and historical background information and a gazetteer of visible archaeological features and areas of potential archaeological interest. 5 Coulin Survey January 2011 The Forests and Archaeology Guidelines, produced by the Forestry Authority, recommend that: No new planting should occur on archaeological sites. Normally an unplanted area should extend for at least 20m beyond the outermost recognised feature of the site Where groups of archaeological features are close together they should be incorporated into a larger area of open space Fence lines should not cross the archaeological site Archaeological sites should not be used as a source for stone or other materials In addition, it is generally accepted that the best management practice for archaeological features is light grazing, to prevent the features from being obscured or damaged by vegetation growth within fenced areas even if the site is left clear of tree planting. Where the site is close to the perimeter fence, the fence line should be altered to exclude the site. Five proposed planting areas were surveyed (see Figure 2 above): Loch Bharranch, centred on NG 981 572 (Planting Area 1). The new planting areas extend west from the present plantings, south and west of Loch Bharranch, up the north flank of Sgurr Dubh South of Road End plantings, centred on NH 004 575 (Planting Area 2). The new planting area is on the south bank of A’Ghairbhe and east of Loch Clair, on a steep north- and west-facing slope Easan Dorcha extension, centred on NH 010 525 (Planting Area 3). The new planting area occupies steeply rising ground from the Easan Dorcha stream to the south-facing flank of Cnoc Daimh, and between the Easan Dorcha and the tributary stream Allt nan Dearcag. Doire Bheithe extension, centred on NH 018 525 (Planting Area 4). The new planting area occupies the west bank of the Allt Dhoire Bheithe, rising towards the east-facing flank of Meallan Doire Bheithe and includes an area on the east bank of the stream south of the present Doire Bheithe plantings Loch Clair extension, centred on NG 995 565 (Planting Area 5). The new planting areas extend west from the present plantings, up the east flank of Sgurr Dubh and up the north bank of the Allt na Luib which flows NW into the south end of Loch Clair Desk-based assessment Method A desk-based assessment was conducted in order to assess the archaeological potential of the area based on previously recorded sites and any historical documentation. A check was made of all relevant records from the Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER), National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS), and Historic Scotland’s records of scheduled monuments and listed buildings. Online aerial photographs, historical maps and other sources were checked for any relevant site information. 6 Coulin Survey January 2011 Results Although the historical notes for Coulin estate suggest that there is archaeological evidence for human occupation in the Neolithic period, evidence for this appears to be based on pollen cores, which demonstrate a marked reduction in forest cover in the Neolithic period. This may well be due to deliberate clearance by farming settlers, but there are no actual archaeological remains dating to the prehistoric period. Early History and Legend Only two minor local legends offer any insight into this remote area prior