EHG3746 - Watching brief - Lochluichart Wind Farm

An archaeological watching brief was conducted between November 2011 and May 2012 on behalf of Natural Power by Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services during groundworks on the site of Lochluichart Wind Farm, Ross-shire. Two features of archaeological interest were uncovered: a metal chimney and upright stone. The watching brief was proposed to take place across 10% of the groundworks during construction of the wind farm. A watching brief was carried out during peat stripping for the access road and part of the compound area from 17 November to 21 November 2011. The ground conditions were extremely wet which presented a challenge in terms of accessing the watching brief location and safety within the excavated area. The watching brief for the remainder of the compound and borrow pit was changed to an intermittent watching brief due to the access road and compound area being devoid of archaeology and the difficult working conditions. A site visit was made on 23 November 2011 to assess progress. No further visits were made to this area until February 2012 due to deterioration in the weather; the site compound was then plotted in using the GPS. The ground conditions and work taking place in the borrow pit precluded an inspection and GPS survey. The majority of the footprint for Turbine 29 and its crane pad were watched on 25 April 2012. This was required due to its proximity to a stalkers’ path. A slot trench dug from the nearby stalkers’ path towards the turbine and crane pad area almost immediately filled with water. As a result of the watching brief on Turbine 29’s footprint, a rapid walkover survey was conducted on 8 May 2012 in the areas of Turbines 24, 31 and 37; the location of Turbine 26 was also surveyed due to its proximity to the stalkers’ path. There was no surface archaeology visible apart from drainage ditches, which had been cut by Lochluichart Estate in the last ten years. The decision was taken to suspend the watching brief on the remainder of the turbine areas highlighted in the WSI. A site visit was made on 28 February at the request of the Principal Contractor as an unusual stone was located close to the access road route. This was a thin, flat stone standing on edge; inspection of the stone was unable to determine conclusively whether or not it was a product of anthropogenic activity. A watching brief on 29 February was conducted for approximately 25m either side of the stone as the route was stripped of peat. Nothing of significance was uncovered. There was no recommendation for further work to be carried out. <1>