EHG6284 - Walkover survey - proposed Scottish Isles Fibre Optic Project, Eigg-Arisaig

A walkover survey was undertaken by Coracle Archaeology in 2021 to assess potential impacts on the onshore and marine historic environment by the proposed installation of four inter-island fibre optic cables and their associated landfalls within the Inner Hebrides geographical area. The survey was conducted to identify possible heritage assets in the landfall sections of the study area. Only the landfall sections of the Eigg-mainland (Arisaig) cable were within the Highland Council boundary. The walkover survey areas were 500m wide at landfall and extended 100- 600m inland. The survey areas were assumed to include all associated infrastructure, such as new tracks, laydown areas and cable trenches. The walkover surveys were undertaken in a systematic manner, with transect width appropriate to the conditions (mostly hill land, rough pasture, dunes and sandy shore) in wet and windy weather. Any visible archaeological and heritage features or sites identified were assigned an individual ORCA site number in the same sequence as the sites identified by DBA (see EHG6283). They were located by handheld GPS and briefly recorded on proforma sheets and digital photographs and evaluated. Sites identified during the DBA and on satellite imagery were also visited if within the walkover survey area and evaluated. In the Bay of Laig Landfall survey area on Eigg two new sites were identified, with one new site recorded in the Traigh Landfall survey area at Arisaig. See EHG6283 for the desk-based assessment element of this project.