EHG3578 - Trial trenching, Baillie Hill, near Thurso

An evaluation by trial trenching was conducted to investigate the potential archaeological impact of a proposed windfarm at Baillie Hill, near Thurso, Caithness. Sixteen of the twenty one turbine locations were evaluated by means of a 5m square box trench. Access issues prevented the evaluation of turbines 4, 5, 10, 18 and 21. In addition the proposed areas of hardstanding were evaluated by 2m wide linear trenches. Five linear trenches were also opened over the location of a proposed borrow pit. In all cases the soil profile generally comprised shallow topsoil (c.0.25m deep) overlying clay subsoil. The evaluation did not uncover any archaeological material, with neither significant features nor unstratified artefacts observed. <1>