Camore Quarry Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment And
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Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report Camore Quarry Archaeological Desk-based Assessment and Walkover Survey REPORT Site Number AN24 OS Grid Reference NH77911 90039 Author Pete Higgins, with contribution from Anne Johnston Date Produced 9/11/2011 Date revised 18/11/11 Planning Reference 11/03191 1 Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report Summary Archaeology North Ltd was commissioned by W A Fairhurst & Partners of Aberdeen, acting on behalf of Mr Huisman, to undertake a survey of the archaeological resource on land to the east of Camore Wood, Dornoch, Sutherland to establish a baseline of the cultural heritage resource in order to inform decisions regarding a possible quarry at that site. A walkover survey was carried out following a desk-based assessment of existing records. No remains later than 19th century were found within the footprint of the proposed quarry. A preliminary assessment of the impact of the proposed quarry on the cultural heritage resource identified two major adverse impacts, and six moderate to major adverse impacts. Cover photograph shows part of Loch-an-treel. COPYRIGHT Copyright of this report remains with Archaeology North Ltd. However, an exclusive licence is hereby granted to the client in all matters directly relating to the project. Should the client wish copyright to be assigned to them, Archaeology North Ltd will retain the right to be identified as the author of this report. 2 Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. As part of discussions regarding a proposal to extend existing quarrying operations along an esker at Camore, Dornoch the Historic Environment Team (HET) of Highland Council advised that a desk-based assessment of the known archaeological resource of the area be conducted, followed by a walkover survey to test the results and establish presence of any hitherto unrecorded sites of archaeological potential1. 1.2. The project, so far as is possible, identified and recorded the archaeological resource on the site. It comprised a desk-based assessment of the known archaeological resource, a walkover survey of the land, and the production and dissemination of this report. 2. AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND LIMITATIONS 2.1. The aim of the project was to inform future decision-making regarding the proposed quarry, see 2.3 below. 2.2. The objectives were To identify the archaeological potential of the site. To analyse and report on the findings of the investigations in line with local and national guidelines and requirements; and in particular to make a preliminary assessment of the impact of the development. 2.3. This project is limited in scope. It has been designed to be readily assimilated into an Environmental Impact Assessment should that be required, but in no way does it replace such an exercise, nor does it constitute a formal historic landscape assessment. It aims to establish a baseline of the cultural heritage resource that could be impacted by the development, and to arrive at a preliminary assessment of the impact of the development on that resource. It does not set out the relevant regulatory and legal framework, nor use a formal cultural value or visual impact assessment method. 2.4. The project was conducted in accordance with the Institute for Archaeologists Code of Conduct (2010), and Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessment (2008). 3. SITE LOCATION, DESCRIPTION, AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION 3.1. The site lies between Camore Wood and the Evelix Road, west of Dornoch, Sutherland, see figure 1, at NGR NH77911 90039 (centroid). It is bounded by Camore Wood to the southwest, open fields to the north and south, and the Evelix Road to the northeast. 1 PAAS-11/03191/PREAPP 3 Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report 3.2. The main feature of the site is an esker running in a series of ridges from northeast to southwest, enclosing an area of low, boggy ground around Loch-an-treel. Vegetation cover is variable, including young conifers and birch, with a few more mature specimens; dense gorse; heather; bracken; and open grassland. Figure 1 Site location. Please do not scale from this image. North to top. 4 Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report 3.3. The esker extends well beyond the boundaries of the site and local information states it is being actively quarried to the northeast, southwest and northwest, see figure 2. 3.4. The British Geological Survey shows the superficial geology of the esker as Ice Contact Deposits; most of the rest of the site is shown as Devensian Raised Marine deposits. Both deposits consist of gravel, sand and silt. The underlying geology of the whole area is sandstone of the Raddery formation. Quarry The site Quarry Quarry Figure 2 Google Earth image of site, 16/04/2010, showing neighbouring quarries 5 Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report 4. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 4.1. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)2, Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP)3, and Planning Advice Note 2012-24 regulate the way archaeological matters are dealt with within the planning process. 4.2. The Highland Council Structure Plan 20015 sets out the ways Highland Council implements the above policies. Those immediately relevant include Identifying and Regulating the Use of Archaeological Sites (BC1); Archaeological Heritage Areas (BC3); the Integration of Environmental and Community Interests (G5); and the Conservation and Promotion of the Highland Heritage (G6). Strategic Policy G2 states that proposed developments will be assessed by Highland Council to determine the extent they will impact on the cultural heritage resource and demonstrate sensitive siting and high quality design in keeping with the historic environment, among other considerations. Policy 4 of the Sutherland Local Plan states that development will be allowed in areas of local and regional importance if the council believes they will not have an unreasonable adverse impact on the heritage resource, and in areas of national importance if the development can be shown not to compromise that resource. Where adverse effects can be demonstrated, these must be clearly outweighed by economic or social benefits at a national level. 4.3. Archaeology North Ltd follows the Code of Conduct of the Institute For Archaeologists (IFA). Quality of work is assured both through adherence to the standards of the IFA and through internal monitoring. 5. METHODOLOGY AND ITS LIMITATIONS 5.1. Desk-based assessment. Available archival resources were reviewed and interpreted in context. The notable features found in this process are listed in gazetteer format below. The following sources were consulted: National Monuments Record for Scotland NMRS data, maps, aerial photographs Highland Council Historic Environment Record6 National Library of Scotland Historic maps (before OS mapping); OS 1st edition 2 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/03132605/0 3 http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/shep-july-2009.pdf 4 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/08/04132003/1 5http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/developmentplans/structureplan/the highlandstructureplan.htm 6 http://her.highland.gov.uk/Map.aspx?clear=true 6 Camore Quarry Desk-Based Assessment and Walkover Report Historic Scotland Scheduled Ancient Monument, Listed Buildings, Gardens and Designed Landscape data; Canmore; Pastmap 5.2. Walkover survey. An experienced archaeologist examined the evidence on the ground. Records of archaeologically interesting features were made on pro-formae, and digital photographs taken. Grid references were obtained by a hand-held GPS tool (Silva Multi-navigator), supplemented where necessary by measurements from known fixed points. The site was traversed thoroughly, and most parts were scrutinised from a distance of 25m or less. 5.3. Fieldwork took place on 4 November 2011, in clear weather. In places the vegetation cover was very dense, particularly on the slopes of the esker ridges. It is therefore possible that some archaeological features remain undetected. 6. RESULTS 6.1. Desk based assessment The desk-based assessment highlighted the recorded survival of a number of archaeological sites. Their probable date, density, proximity to one another and state of preservation indicate that the area under investigation is rich in prehistoric remains. In particular, the hut circles, cairns and other features within Camore Wood, (many of which have Scheduled Ancient Monument status), coupled with the standing stone and hut circles (some of the latter also Scheduled Ancient Monuments) south of the site demonstrate the richness of the archaeological resource. The density of these features is perhaps surprising given the nature of land use. 6.1.1. Map regression. Roy’s survey of the Highlands (1747-52) shows the nearby farmstead of Evelix, and the Lonemore road to Dornoch. Geo-referencing of Roy’s map in this area is not precise, and the position of the site is thus difficult to establish. However, the area east of Evelix is shown with symbols for cultivation. It is worth noting that Roy does not depict Loch-an-treel, although whether because of policy or absence is not known. The present Evelix Road may also be shown, although it appears to cross the Evelix river further south than the Evelix Old Bridge (MHG11743), suggesting that the road may have taken a line south of its present course, and thus may have crossed the site. The junction of the Lonemore and Evelix roads is shown on the 1783 Lonemore map7 6.1.2. The first edition OS map (surveyed 1874) shows the area of the mainly as wooded, with Loch-an-treel, many of the known hut circles, and the standing stone. An area just northeast of the lochan is marked ‘Tumuli’; these are now no longer visible. The same area is shown with a saw mill on OS maps of 1906 to 1976-8, and it may well be that the construction and use of the saw mill (see CQ1 below) obliterated the tumuli.