EHG4094 - DBA and walkover survey - Upper Smerral

An archaeological desk-based assessment and walkover survey was carried out by Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services in 2012 on behalf of Green Cat Renewables in advance of the installation of three E44 wind turbines at Upper Smerral, near Latheron in Caithness. The work was undertaken to assess the nature and extent of any archaeology likely to be affected within the proposed development area for the wind turbines and access road in order to inform recommendations for the protection and management of any sites identified. One new archaeological site, which was thought unlikely to be directly impacted by the development, was recorded. The desk-based assessment identified a substantial number of post-medieval and prehistoric monuments and settlement sites, including scheduled monuments, in the surrounding landscape. A study of these sites, conducted in order to assess the indirect impacts on the cultural heritage in the landscape, concluded that there was no significant concern about the proposed new turbines. <1> <2>