EHG4358 - DBA and walkover survey - Druim Ba Wind Farm, near Drumnadrochit

A DBA and walkover survey were carried out by CFA Archaeology Ltd in 2009 in advance of a proposed wind farm development scheme at Druim Ba near Drumnadrochit. The field survey targeted previously known archaeological sites to establish their character, extent and state of preservation. Sites within areas of forestry were visited where possible to check survival conditions. Sites in the unafforested ground alongside the A833 on the slopes above Fanblair were also visited to check the accuracy of recent records of the condition and extent. A wider study area, extending to 15km was assessed to identify sites with statutory protection which may be impacted by the development. Owing to the current land-use of much of the proposed development site as a conifer forestry plantation it was not possible to carry out a systematic field survey of the whole site. The GPS became inoperative under the tree canopy and it was not possible to navigate or record with a high degree of accuracy in that environment. Where known sites, and sites identified from historical map sources, extended into inaccessible forestry they were not surveyed to their entire extent. In these (limited) instances their former extents were taken from the relevant historical maps or archive sources. Ten prehistoric sites were identified including a burial cairn/cist and a cup marked stone which are probably early Bronze Age in date. Four settlement sites comprising the well-preserved remains of hut circles and field systems were found in Glen Convinth over an area of approximately 1km square. Prehistoric cairn fields as well as the remains of three post-medieval farmsteads were also identified. <1> The work was used to inform a second environmental statement for a modified proposal. <2>