Allt Dubh Hydro ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

Appendix 5.1 Archaeological Survey Report Archaeology Services Ltd

Eden Environment Ltd www.edenenvironment.com

1.1.1. Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together

Allt Dubh Hydro Achnasaul, Highland

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 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 Achilles

Allt Dubh Hydro, Achnasaul, Loch Arkaig: December 2012

Allt Dubh Hydro Achnasaul, Loch Arkaig Highland

Archaeological Survey

Report No. HAS121201

Site Code HAS-LAD12 Eden Client Environment Intake: Grid Refs NN16185 91072 (approx) Powerhouse: NN15288 89442 Date/ revision 06/12/2012

Author John Wood

Summary

Archaeological desk-based and walk-over surveys were carried out to inform plans for construction of a hydro-electric scheme on the Allt Dubh, Achnasaul (Achadh nan Sabhal), Loch Arkaig. The proposed penstock line follows an old shieling track leading to the headwaters of the Allt Dubh, but no significant archaeological features were identified, and there are no recommendations for further work.

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Contents

Introduction ...... 4 Site Location and Background ...... 5 Legislation and Policy ...... 6 Methodology ...... 8 Results ...... 9 Discussion ...... 10 Recommendations ...... 10 Conclusions ...... 10 Sources ...... 11

Table of Photographs ...... 11

Illustrations

Cover: View south along track from north-east of intake site Plate 1 Powerhouse site...... 10

Figure 1 Project location ...... 4 Figure 2 Scheme layout ...... 5 Figure 3 Extract from William Roy Military Survey (1747-54) ...... 7 Figure 4 Ordnance Survey 6 inch map, surveyed 1872 ...... 9 Figure 5 Photo locations ...... 12

Acknowledgements

The survey was undertaken by John Wood MA, MIFA, MAHI. Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. Historic maps are courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. A plan showing the proposed penstock line, intake and turbine house locations has been kindly supplied by the client.

Copyright 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.

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Figure 1 Project location OS mapping reproduced under licence. Not reproduced to scale

Introduction

Archaeological desk-based and walk-over surveys were undertaken to identify and record the nature and extent of cultural heritage features that might be affected by the construction of a run of river hydro-electric scheme. The work was carried out according to the Institute for Archaeologists’ published standards and guidance. 18

18 IfA Code of Conduct (2010), Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessment (2008), and Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief (2008).

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The surveyor is confident that this report reflects the extent of the known cultural heritage resource, so far as this can be determined by a walkover survey and desk-based assessment. It remains possible that buried or concealed remains which could not be identified in this project may exist in the study area.

Figure 2 Scheme layout Courtesy of Eden Environment Ltd. Not reproduced to scale

Site Location and Background

The proposed development will require the construction of an intake, a penstock, a powerhouse and outlet to Loch Arkaig. (Figure 2).

The proposed penstock line runs from the intake at approximate OS grid reference NN 16185 91072 at about 300m above sea level, southwards to the powerhouse site at approximate OS grid reference NN 15288 89442, at about 63m above sea level. The outflow then runs back to the Allt Dubh, about 20m or so from the powerhouse. In all the scheme is about 2km long.

The upper parts of the line are open moorland with scattered trees on the lower slopes. The Allt Dubh has cut a narrow, steep sided valley, increasingly wooded as it descends. The line mostly follows the route of an old track which seems to have served shielings at the headwaters of the Allt Dubh. These were not visited.

The proposed powerhouse site is in a hollow on the eastern side of the river, adjoining a former road bridge, now superseded. The track from the hill has been diverted here to avoid Achnasaul house and garden.

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Legislation and Policy

The common principles underlying international conventions, national legislation and local authority planning policies are that cultural heritage assets should be identified in advance of development and safeguarded where practicable; if disturbance is unavoidable appropriate recording of features and recovery of portable artefacts should take place.

The European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (revised), known as the Valletta Convention, ratified by the UK government in 2000, contains provisions for the identification and protection of archaeological heritage both under water and on land, preferably in situ , but with provisions for appropriate recording and recovery if disturbance is unavoidable. The same principles run through national legislation and national and local policies. European Directives on environmental impact assessment, which include the cultural heritage, have been incorporated into UK legislation including the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2011.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 allows for any ‘monument which in the opinion of the Secretary of State is of public interest by reason of the historic, architectural, traditional, artistic or archaeological interest attaching to it’ and deemed to be of ‘national importance’ to be scheduled under the Act. This has the effect of requiring the consent of the Scottish Ministers (Scheduled Monument Consent), for any works which would have the effect of demolishing, destroying, damaging, removing, repairing, altering, adding to, flooding or covering up the monument. Failure to obtain this consent before carrying out such work is a criminal offence. In 2009 Historic Scotland published revised criteria for the determination of ‘national importance’ in Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP)

Cultural heritage features not scheduled under the 1979 Act are covered by the Town and Country Planning legislation. The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 and amendments governs the listing and protection of buildings and areas of special architectural or historic interest. Other planning legislation 19 requires planning authorities, prior to granting planning permission, to consult Historic Scotland on any development proposals that may affect the site or setting of a Scheduled Monument, an A-Listed building or an Inventoried Garden or Designed Landscape.

The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 confirm that the historic environment (whether covered by statutory protection or not) is a material consideration in the planning process. This enables local authorities to impose conditions when granting planning permission requiring developers to identify and mitigate impacts on the cultural heritage.

The Scottish Government’s Scottish Planning Policy (SPP2010) , issued in February 2010, indicates how the historic environment should be handled under the development plan and development control systems. The ‘historic environment’ includes

19 Article 15 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order Statutory Instrument 1992 and amendments to it in Section 5 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 1994, and The Town and Country Planning (Notification of Applications) (Scotland) Direction 2007

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ancient monuments, archaeological sites and landscape, historic buildings, townscapes, parks, gardens and designed landscapes and other features. It comprises both statutory and non- statutory designations. The location of historic features in the landscape and the patterns of past use are part of the historic environment. (SPP2010, 113)

2. Where preservation is not possible, planning authorities should ensure that procedures are in place in order that appropriate excavation, recording, analysis, publication and archiving is undertaken before and/or during development and that the developer has made appropriate provision for this.

Historic Scotland’s policies and guidance are set out in Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) 2009. This was supplemented in 2010 by their Managing Change in the Historic Environment series, which reiterate the importance of mitigating direct impacts.

The Highland Council’s Highland-wide Local Development Plan (HwLDP) (2010, adopted 2012) encourages appropriate developments while protecting archaeology and built heritage

Professional standards during the present project were secured by adherence to the Codes of Conduct and Approved Practice and Standards of the Institute for Archaeologists i and the Highland Council’s Standards for Archaeological Work .

Figure 3 Extract from William Roy Military Survey (1747-54) Not to scale

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Allt Dubh Hydro, Achnasaul, Loch Arkaig: December 2012

Methodology

Study Area

The study area covered the sites for the intake and powerhouse, and the penstock line. A corridor approximately 50m wide along this line was checked for possible archaeological features.

Desk-based assessment

The following resources were reviewed:

• National Monuments Record for Scotland (NMRS) • Highland Council Historic Environment Record (HHER) • National Library of Scotland (NLS) online historic maps • OS 1:10560 and 1:10,000 scale map sequence • Historic Scotland records:- Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Gardens and Designed Landscapes; Battlefields Register • Modern aerial photography (getmapping.com) • Statistical Accounts for Scotland • Scotlands Places website

Fieldwork

A walk-over survey was undertaken on 4 December 2012, in cold but dry weather. There was light snow cover over the whole area, and some areas were icy and wet beneath. Visibility was generally good: fog started to come in shortly before returning to the car, but not before all areas had been checked. Confidence in the quality of results is reasonably high.

The line of the proposed penstock route was walked as closely as possible and the area checked for visible archaeological features as well as areas where, although no archaeology is visible on the surface, there is potential for buried archaeological remains. Identification was based professional experience and judgement based on similar cases elsewhere.

Possible impacts on the visual or other setting of surrounding sites and features are considered highly unlikely. No sensitive archaeological features are recorded within sight of the scheme, which will itself have a low profile in the landscape.

Assessment

Features were assessed in terms of their cultural heritage importance and the magnitude of the anticipated effect, according to a standard methodology. Details of this are available on request, but in this case, no features will be directly affected by this scheme.

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Results

There are no statutory or designated cultural heritage sites or areas directly affected by this proposal. The Highland Council Historic Environment Record (HHER) records two features nearby: a farm steading currently undergoing conversion to a house (EHG3002), and also a former sheep shearing shed, now demolished (EHG3665) both of which have been the subjects of photographic recording. Neither of these sites will be directly affected by the present development.

The place name Achnasaul (Achadh nan Sabhal, hill field of the barn) suggests the existence at some time of a more than usually important barn or storehouse, perhaps for teinds. However the name clearly refers to a wide area. William Roy’s survey (1747-54; see Figure 3 above) shows the name on the west side of the Allt Dubh, so perhaps the main focus was there. However Roy also shows a farm on the east side of the river which may correspond in its general location with the present house and steading. Some cultivated land (runrig) is shown to the south.

The 1 st edition Ordnance Survey 6 inch (1:10560) map, surveyed in 1872, shows ‘Achadh nan Sabhal’ immediately north of the farm which bears its Anglicised name. However no indications of a typical achadh or associated boundary dykes were noted at this location.

Figure 4 Ordnance Survey 6 inch map, surveyed 1872 (extract; not reproduced to scale)

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Discussion

No indications of archaeological features were noted from documentary sources, archaeological records, historic or modern maps, current aerial photographs, or fieldwork. The proposed powerhouse site has apparently been disturbed in the past, probably by activities associated with road or bridge works or farming, and the potential for archaeology here, as elsewhere along this line, is considered to be low.

Recommendations

No mitigation is proposed for this scheme. However it is always impossible to predict for certain whether buried archaeology could be found during construction, so care should be taken during all excavations.. If features or artefacts are found an archaeologist should be called in to ensure they are recorded efficiently, and with the minimum disruption to the construction timetable.

Conclusions

There appear to be no significant archaeological concerns in this case.

Plate 1 Powerhouse site.

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Sources

The Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER) including monuments proposed for scheduling accessed at http://her.highland.gov.uk/

The National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) and Historic Scotland’s databases of Listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments , accessed at http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pastmap.html

Ordnance Survey 6 inch to 1 mile (1:10560) map coverage:

Inverness-shire (Mainland), Sheet CXXVI Survey date: 1872 Publication date: 1874

Inverness-shire - Mainland Sheet CXXVI Publication date: 1903 Date revised: 1899

Inverness-shire - Mainland Sheet CXXVI Publication date: 1960 Date revised: 1959

Wm Roy, Military Survey of Scotland 1747-54, and other historic cartographic sources held at the National Library of Scotland Map Library, accessed at www. maps.nls.uk /

The Statistical Accounts of Scotland : Kilmalie, County of Inverness, Account of 1791-9 Vol.8 p407; and Kilmalie, County of Inverness, Account of 1834-45 Vol.14 p.117, accessed at http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/sas/sas.asp?action=public

Table of Photographs

Taken Photo No. Subject Location Direction Date by LAD12_001 Panorama - Powerhouse site CP1 NNW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_002 Panorama CP1 WNW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_003 Panorama CP1 WSW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_004 Panorama CP1 SW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_005 Panorama CP2 SSW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_006 Panorama CP2 SW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_007 Panorama CP2 WSW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_008 Panorama CP2 W JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_009 Panorama CP2 NW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_010 Panorama CP2 N JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_011 Panorama CP2 NE JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_012 Panorama - intake site CP3 W JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_013 Panorama CP3 WSW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_014 Panorama - intake site CP3 WSW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_015 Panorama CP3 SW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_016 Panorama - view along track CP3 SSW JW 04/12/2012 LAD12_017 Panorama CP3 S JW 04/12/2012

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Figure 5 Photo locations

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