EHG5935 - Walkover survey - proposed wind farm, Hill of Forss (Cairnmore)

A walkover survey was undertaken by CFA Archaeology in 2016 of the area of a proposed wind farm at Hill of Forss (Cairnmore) to the west of Thrumster to inform the updated cultural heritage chapter of an Environmental Statement (ES). An initial walkover field survey of the northernmost part of the site was carried out in 2014 (see EHG5934). Subsequently, the site boundary was extended and a further walkover field survey of the whole of the proposed developable area within the Inner Study Area was undertaken in 2016. The survey aimed to assess the present baseline condition of the heritage assets identified through the desk-based assessment; to identify any further features of cultural heritage interest not detected from the desk-based assessment; and, to assess the Inner Study Area for its potential to contain currently unrecorded, buried archaeological remains. Identified sites were recorded on pro-forma monument recording forms and by digital photography, and their positions (and where appropriate their extents) were logged using a Global Positioning System (GPS). Field visits were also undertaken to heritage assets in the Outer Study Area in order to assess their baseline settings. The field surveys carried out in 2014 and 2016 covered the whole of the site as it was defined at the time of the surveys. The site boundary has since been modified and an additional element of desk-based assessment (2019) was carried out covering the extent of current site. As the previous field survey covered the whole of the proposed developable area, no further field survey was carried out covering the amended area of the site, as this was included in the previous field survey. The baseline assessment draws on the results of the desk-based assessments and field surveys carried out, and sufficiently characterises the cultural heritage across the site. No development is proposed in the areas not covered by field survey. The survey revealed that some known archaeological features previously recorded in the 1980s had been assigned incorrect or inadequate grid references at the time. <1>