EHG5921 - DBA and walkover survey - RCI Armadale PS DMA, Water Main Rehab, Bettyhill

An archaeological desk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out by West Coast Archaeological Services in 2022 on behalf of Scottish Water in advance of a new water main rehab project, focused on Bettyhill in Sutherland. The work was undertaken to assess the nature and extent of any archaeological sites likely to be affected within the areas outlined for the proposed open-cut trench for the water main in order to inform recommendations for the protection and management of any sites recovered. The desk-based assessment, investigation of aerial imagery, and walkover survey covering the development areas identified a significant number of archaeological sites within a corridor mirroring the alignment of the open-cut trench for the water main. The walkover survey recovered 22 sites with a total of 27 individual structures (not including the various elements of stone dykes forming larger field systems) included mainly post-medieval structures including buildings, enclosures, stone field dykes, field clearance, a stone drainage culvert, and a possible stone-lined well/culvert. New prehistoric sites include potential burial cairns and clearance cairns associated with a field system. The proposed water main upgrade will also pass through a landscape in Strath Naver that is populated by a significant number of prehistoric and post-medieval sites that have previously been recorded. Mitigation measures were proposed to safeguard the sites during the development works. <1>