EHG5865 - Watching brief - proposed Limekilns Wind Farm

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2021 in advance of and during the first phase of development of a wind farm at Limekiln Estate, Reay, Caithness. Surveys carried out ahead of construction work on the site identified had 33 features (see EHG5864). The sites identified and thought to be at risk were marked off before work on site started and these markers remain in place. Construction phase I of the project included clear felling of some forest areas and the subsequent creation and upgrading of access tracks and the creation of lay down areas. Archaeological mitigation included marking out of features where necessary as well as a program of watching briefs and feature recording. Although the work was to cover three areas only one, the north access track, was undertaken. Within this area 10 previously recorded features were damaged by the work. These were mainly walls and a section through each was recorded. During the watching brief 28 previously unrecorded features were noted along the route. The majority of these were drains in a variety of types including built culverts. Six of these features were not drains and included a modern post hole and small scoops filled with burned material. Most significant of these negative features was a large spread of burned material noted at the very north end of the route, that had been covered by clean sand and possible peat formation. Some post excavation work connected to this large feature is included in a PERD section of this document. Recommendations for further watching briefs will be made in a separate project design for construction Phase II. <1>