EHG5727 - DBA and walkover survey - proposed renewable energy development, Hollandmey

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out by Headland Archaeology in 2020 of the inner study area (ISA) of a proposed renewable energy development at Hollandmey, Caithness, in order to inform an environmental impact assessment. The purpose of the walkover was to assess the presence/absence, character, extent and condition of known assets and to identify any previously unrecorded assets. Heritage assets considered to be likely to be affected by operational effects in both the inner and outer study areas were visited on 26 and 28 October 2020. In addition to the known heritage assets recorded by the HER and identified by this assessment, the DBA for the assessment of the proposed Scoolary Wind Farm (i.e. review of historic maps and aerial photos - see EHG1224) identified 18 further assets within the ISA for the current assessment comprising buildings, sheepfolds, wells, an enclosure, quarries, a possible boundary stone, and areas of rig and furrow historical agricultural earthworks. In addition, the walkover survey for the previous assessment identified one additional heritage asset within the ISA, another former quarry, probably for a modern access track. The previous survey and the survey of the ISA for the current proposed development are likely to have identified and recorded any upstanding cultural heritage assets. It is therefore considered that there is ‘Low’ potential for further upstanding cultural heritage assets unrecorded within the ISA, however, it is acknowledged that as much of the site remains densely afforested, the walkover survey was limited to clearings and areas that were easily accessible. It is therefore possible that upstanding archaeological remains may survive within more densely planted and less accessible areas of the plantation and subsurface remains may also survive. <1>