EHG6440 - Mitigation - Wester Drummond Hydro Schemes: 33kV Grid connection

Mitigation works were undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2015 in advance of proposed upgrades to electricity distribution lines around Wester Drummond and Garrogie in relation to Wester Drummond Hydro schemes. A walkover survey of three targeted areas had previously been carried out (see EHG6434). A site visit was made on 3 June 2015 to point out and mark off features for safeguarding. Several areas were examined in the company of the site foreman, which included walking some sections where the originally planned route had been changed. The most important features were flagged and drawn to his attention. The northwest end of Mitigation area 1 was adjusted to avoid Feature F3 and F4. Features F5 (a hut circle) and F10 (structures) were flagged off for safeguarding but lay some distance from the proposed pole locations. Feature F20 (hut circle) was also flagged off. A slight change of route from the original plan in the south of Mitigation area 2 brought the line of poles further to the east. This new line was then walked and four new features encountered. Although some pole locations were near to features, only two positions were considered likely to damage them. These were the proposed positions for poles P9 and P11, both in an area dense with clearance cairns (Feature F12). As there was no flexibility on the location of these it was recommended that a watching brief should be conducted during ground breaking works for these two poles. The watching brief was undertaken on 11 June 2015 during which the excavations for the two poles were observed. The hole for pole 9 just clipped the edge of a clearance cairn. No structures were found however and there was no sign of a buried soil. Pole 11 encountered an undefined scatter of clearance material. Otherwise, no features of archaeological significance were noted. <1> NOTE: It is not indicated in the report where poles 9 and 11 were actually located.