Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together Muie Grazings 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 Muie Grazings: Archaeological Survey October 2010 Muie Grazings: Archaeological Survey Report No. HAS101006 Project Code HAS-MUI10 Client SAC Planning Ref N/A NGR NC 6517 0750 OASIS Date/ revision 29/10/2020 Mary Peteranna Authors and John Wood Summary A rapid walk-over survey was carried out ahead of a tree-planting scheme at Muie Grazings, Sutherland. Of the six proposed planting areas surveyed, five were clear of archaeology but one was found to contain prehistoric field clearance cairns, substantial banks, and a marker stone. 2 Muie Grazings: Archaeological Survey October 2010 Contents Aims and objectives .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Site Location ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Policy Background ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Historical and Archaeological Background .......................................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Results .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Discussion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................................................... 14 Archive Location ................................................................................................................................................................ 14 References .......................................................................................................................................................................... 15 APPENDIX 1: Gazetteer of Archaeological Sites ............................................................................................................ 16 APPENDIX 2: Index of Photographs ................................................................................................................................ 19 Illustrations Cover image: Looking ENE across the heather-covered landscape, from Survey Area 3 (Photo 6) Figure 1 Site location ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2 Proposed Planting Scheme ................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 3 Extract from Roy’s Map 1747-55 .......................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 4 Extract from 1st edition OS 6 inch map (National Grid and Planting / Survey Areas overlaid) ........................... 8 Figure 5 Location of survey areas (green) and HHER sites (red) ........................................................................................ 9 Figure 7 Archaeological Sites within Survey Area 2 ......................................................................................................... 14 Figure 8 proposed safeguarding areas within Area 2 (red) ................................................................................................ 15 Plate 1 Two of the field clearance cairns within Site 1 (Photo 9) ....................................................................................... 10 Plate 2 Burnt Mound (Site 6) ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Plate 3 Upright stone (Site 11) ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Plate 4 View NW across site 13 to upright stone (11). ...................................................................................................... 13 Aims and objectives To minimise any possible delay or cost to the forestry scheme by anticipating archaeological requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently. To determine as far as possible the character, extent, condition, date and significance of any archaeologically significant remains; and to preserve these where possible and record where necessary in line with national and local policies and standards. Acknowledgements Fieldwork was carried out by Mary Peteranna and Steve Birch. We wish to thank Gillian McKnight 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. 3 Muie Grazings: Archaeological Survey October 2010 Site Location The six survey areas for planting are located in SE Sutherland, between the villages of Lairg and Rogart. The sites, each one situated approximately 0.25 to 0.35km from each other, are centred on east of Loch Craggie. The survey location was accessed from Muie, 3.5km to the southeast, via a gravel track alongside Loch Muie, after which the natural routes in the landscape were followed. All of the terrain covered comprised hilly heather moorland. Low lying areas outside the proposed planting areas have been subject to modern drainage (see cover photograph). Figure 1 Site location 4 Muie Grazings: Archaeological Survey October 2010 Introduction An archaeological walkover survey was conducted on 20 October 2010 in advance of a new woodland creation scheme under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Figure 2 Proposed Planting Scheme Courtesy of client Policy Background The Scottish Government’s Scotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP) is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, worth some £1.5 billion, designed to develop rural Scotland from 2007 to 2013. Individuals and groups may seek support to help deliver the Government's strategic objectives in rural Scotland. It covers all aspects of rural land management, including forestry1 It is the responsibility of land managers in receipt of grant under the scheme need to ensure as far as possible that archaeological sites and historic buildings (the historic environment) should not be damaged by changes in land management. This survey was commissioned to provide baseline information on any cultural heritage features that might be impacted by the planting scheme. 1 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP 5 Muie Grazings: Archaeological Survey October 2010 Historical and Archaeological Background The sites are located in the historical parish of Rogart in southeast Sutherland, east of the parish of Lairg. The 18th century description of the Parish of Rogart in Old Statistical Account states, “there are traces of encampments, with many tumuli, and the remains of Pictish buildings almost everywhere2.” The landscape of Rogart, as well as the landscape of Lairg to the east, still contains a large number of prehistoric sites. In particular, there are numerous areas containing the remains of hut circles and field systems dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The area formed part of the Sutherland Estates, and was subject to clearances for sheep farming in the 19th c.. Methodology Desk-based assessment A desk-based assessment was conducted prior to commencement of the survey 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), Highland Council Archives and Historic Scotland’s records of scheduled monuments and listed buildings. Online aerial photographs were checked for any relevant site information and historical maps were referenced from the National Library of Scotland Map Library online and at the Highland Archives in Inverness on 27 October 2010. Prior to the walkover survey, the First and Second Edition Ordnance Survey maps were checked online at National Library of Scotland, aerial photographs were checked online at Bing Maps3and Where’s the Path?4. Walkover