Braehour Forest Block Methodology RoCAS

Ryefield Tore Ross-shire IV6 7SB Scotland Email: [email protected] Website: www.rossandcromarch.co.uk

Mob: 07776 027306 Ph: 01463 811310

Braehour Forest Block Near Mybster, Caithness

Archaeological Walkover Survey – Summary of the Methodology and Results

National Grid Reference ND 0966 5120 (centred)

Site Code BRAE12 RoCAS Report 2012-24/BRAE12

OASIS No. rosscrom1-139465 Author Mary Peteranna Client Forestry Commission Scotland Date 12-12-12

Braehour Forest Block Archaeological Walkover Survey

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Contents Cover photos: Top left - Achlibster Cottage, Site 143a facing W; top right – Shieling mound, Site 445, facing SE; bottom – looking NNE from Site 6 across the ploughed, unplanted landscape in the northwest corner of Braehour Forest Block 1 Introduction and acknowledgements 2

2 Location and terrain 2

3 Objectives 2 4 Methodology 4.1 Desk-based Assessment 4 4.2 Archaeological Walkover Survey 4 5 Results 5.1 Desk-based Assessment 4 5.2 Archaeological Walkover Survey 7 6 References 8 Appendix 1 10 Appendix 2 22 Figures Figure 1 Location map of Braehour Forest Block 3 Figure 2 Braehour Forest Block Heritage Module Sites prior to the 2012 survey, showing Mercer’s survey area 5 Figure 3 Results of the 2012 survey showing Braehour Forest Block Heritage Module sites and new sites 6 Figure 4 Plans of 4 farmsteads recorded during the 2012 survey 8 Figure 5 Aerial image of Braehour Forest Block and the 2012 Heritage Module 9 Plates Plate 1 Shieling sites 666 and 1525 located in a located within a clearing, facing S 7 Plate 2 Farmstead site 1853 located in the forest, facing N 7


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Braehour Forest Block Archaeological Walkover Survey Methodology and Results 1 Introduction and acknowledgements

An archaeological walkover survey of Braehour Forest Block, south of Halkirk in Caithness, was conducted in November and December 2012 on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland. The majority of the Forest Block was planted around 30 or more years ago. Prior to this, part of the area had been surveyed in 1977 by Roger Mercer and students from Edinburgh University as part of a wider study of landscapes in Caithness. The fieldwork was conducted in order to locate archaeological sites previously listed in the Forestry Commission Braehour Heritage Module and to locate any new sites prior to felling of the woodland. Forty-nine of the previously recorded sites were not located and twenty-five new sites were recorded, including hut circles, farmsteads, shielings, boundary dykes, cairns, enclosures and tracks.

Fieldwork was conducted by Steven Birch, Lynn Fraser and Mary Peteranna. Mapping was reproduced under ProMap License No. LIG1044 and aerial imagery was reproduced under ESRI licensing courtesy of Microsoft Bing mapping. We wish to thank Matthew Ritchie and Graeme Findlay of FCS for their assistance.

2 Location and terrain

Braehour Forest Block is located approximately 1km southwest of the River Thurso, approximately 5km west of the A9 at Mybster in Caithness. It is situated between the B870 to southeast and the Caithness railway line to northwest (Figure 1). The landscape, situated between 70m to 120m OD, is gently undulating and is crossed by several stream courses from north to south. The ground is mostly forested with flat, open blocks under heather and tussocky grasses in the northwest corner, central west side, central east side and scattered open areas in the northeast section of the Forest Block. Numerous archaeological sites had been previously recorded during Roger Mercer’s 1977 survey (Highland HER No. EHG419). Many of these sites were not located during the Ordnance Survey of the area in 1981.


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Figure 1 Location map of Braehour Forest Block


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3 Objectives

The overall aim of this archaeological walkover survey was to locate and record eighty-eight previously recorded archaeological sites in Braehour Forest Block prior to implementing a programme of felling. This would enable informed mitigation measures to be proposed to ensure that archaeological sites would not be damaged or destroyed during felling.

A secondary objective of the walkover survey was to target other areas of the forest block to check for further, unrecorded archaeological sites.

4 Methodology 4.1 Desk-based Assessment

Prior to undertaking the fieldwork, the Braehour Heritage Module, as provided by Forestry Commission Scotland, was studied alongside all relevant records from the National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) and the Highland Council Historic Environment Record (HHER). Online aerial photographs were also checked for any relevant site information where possible, while cartographic and other written records were also assessed for information relating to the area proposed for survey.

4.2 Archaeological Walkover Survey The forest block was surveyed in sections, starting in the southeast on 30 November 2012. The fieldwork, which took place over 6 days, concluded on 11 December 2012. Print-outs of aerial images and indices of sites within each area were utilised during the survey to identify site locations and assess the existing records. The Braehour Forest Module sites were tracked using Archer field PC using ArcPad GIS software on a handheld Windows Mobile-based rover, rated to sub-metre accuracy. New and existing archaeological sites were recorded individually using ArcPad, written notes and high-resolution digital photography where possible. Sketch survey drawings were produced where necessary. Details relating to the individual recovered sites can be found in the Gazetteer of Archaeological Sites in Appendix 1.

Survey and recording methods from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical

Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) were employed and all work was conducted in strict adherence to the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) Code of Conduct.

5 Results 5.1 Desk-based Assessment

The northwest, southwest and southeast sections of Braehour Forest Block were surveyed by Roger Mercer and students from Edinburgh University in 1977 (Figure 2). Following this, the Ordnance Survey of 1982 recorded the archaeological sites in the area, many of which appeared to have been destroyed by the Forestry planting scheme which took place in the interim period. The northeast section of the Forest Block did not appear to have been surveyed in detail in the past. Most of the sites recorded were shielings, mounds, small farmsteads and an area of cairns and hut circles on the north side of Achlibster Hill.


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Figure 2 Braehour Forest Block Heritage Module Sites prior to the 2012 survey, showing Mercer’s survey area


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Figure 3 Results of the 2012 survey showing Braehour Forest Block Heritage Module sites and new sites


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5.2 Archaeological Walkover Survey 5.2.1 Previously Recorded Sites

Braehour Forest Block had been deeply ploughed and substantially furrowed prior to planting of the woodland. The northwest corner of the survey area appeared to have been prepared for planting, with deep furrows and ditches visible across the open ground, but never planted. The central west area, comprising very flat, wet and boggy terrain, appears to have been left untouched probably due to the poor condition of the ground. The central east section of open ground had been extensively harvested for peat prior to the planting scheme, and probably also provided poor ground conditions for planting. The prehistoric landscape of hut circles on the north side of Achlibster Hill also appears to have been left untouched by forestry operations, probably due to the known importance of the sites. A substantial number of sites recorded during the 1977 Edinburgh University survey were not located during the present survey, most of these being small mounds or turf-built shielings. The forestry operations had completely ploughed through the ground and there was no possibility of small structures surviving this type of work. The 1982 Ordnance Survey attests that most of the structures had been destroyed during planting. Sites that did survive within the plantation are those located adjacent to stream courses, where ploughing did not reach the edges, or within forest rides (Plate 1). One site that did partially survive in the forest was a substantial stone-built farmstead, Site 858, due to the substantial nature of the building (Plate 2).

Plate 1 Shieling sites 666 and 1525 located in a Plate 2 Farmstead site 1853 located within the forest, clearing, facing S facing N

The present survey did not locate forty-nine sites, all of which have been removed from the Forestry Commission Heritage Module database (Figure 3). These sites comprise shielings, mounds and unidentified sites. The unidentified sites appear, in many cases to have been duplicates, particularly those shown around the Achlibster Hill hut circles. Two findspot sites, 382 and 1478, were also deleted from the database. The grid references for previously recorded sites were mostly located 10-20m from their recorded locations, which probably explains the reason for the duplicate sites. In two instances, sites were actually located outwith the forest block. The majority of an extensive shieling settlement, site 1853, was located on the northwest side of the fenceline, on the northwest side of the burn. One site probably associated with this settlement, Site 560, was


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recorded, but the sites outside of the survey area were not visited, although they were visually identified during the fieldwork. A second site, 1786, was the ruins of a stone-built structure near Olgrinbeg on the west side of the road outside of the forest block. It was not surveyed. All previously known farmstead sites were recorded in detail (Figure 4)

5.2.2 New Sites

Twenty-five new sites, 1-25, were recorded during the survey and were added to the Heritage Module database (Figure 5). These comprise hut circles, boundary dykes, mounds (some possible shielings), enclosures, a stone-built building, a cairn, tracks and areas of peat cutting. The new hut circles were located amongst the previously known hut circles north of Achlibster Hill. Several small mounds were also recorded amongst the hut circles, some of which were allocated previous heritage module numbers. Other sites, which had been known but not previously surveyed in detail, were recorded under the pre-existing database site numbers. Details of the sites are listed in the Gazetteer, Appendix 1.

Figure 4 Plans of 4 farmsteads recorded during the 2012 survey

6 References

Mercer R J. 1980 Archaeological Field Survey in Northern Scotland, 1976-1979. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh.


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Figure 5 Aerial image of Braehour Forest Block and the 2012 Heritage Module sites


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APPENDIX 1 BRAEHOUR FOREST BLOCK – GAZETTEER OF SITES

Site No. Site type Site name Description Align-

ment Condition Period Ht OD (m)

Easting Northing Photo No. HHER No.

1 Peat cutting BRAEHOUR A large area of peat cutting is located within a clearing in the forestry plantation. The ground is crossed by banks left to access the area.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 120 311262 949991 -

2 Track BRAEHOUR A raised, grass-covered track or dyke 0.3m high measures 3m wide with a ditch to both sides.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 310968 952304 48

3 Bank BRAEHOUR

A grass-, moss- and reed-covered semicircular bank is located at the edge of a ride. The banks are spread 2.5-3.5m wide and stands up to 0.5m high. Truncated to the E.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 100 311636 949903 4

4a Bank BRAEHOUR

Located on the SE side of the stream is an arc of possible turf bank built up on the stream side to 0.6m high. There is a level platform to the side of the bank measuring 8m in diameter and a small mound to E of the structure.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 95 309217 950919 21 MHG839

4b Mound BRAEHOUR A tussocky grass-covered mound measuring 2.5-3m in diameter and stands up to 0.4m high.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 309239 950924 -

5 Track BRAEHOUR A disused track to access the possible peat quarry. E-W Very

degraded Post

Medieval 90 308330 952198 -

6 Peat quarry? BRAEHOUR

An extensive area appears to have been quarried, although really cleared of peat; stacks of peat remain in the area, which may have been used by the Forestry Commission during plantation works.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 95 308191 952169 25

7 Hut circle ACHLIBSTER

Under grasses, heather and moss are the mostly degraded remains of a hut circle measuring 14m NW-SE by 12m over turf banks spread to 3m wide and standing up to 0.4m high.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 310058 952637 39


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Under grasses and rushes are the mostly degraded remains of a hut circle measuring 12m NW-SE by 11m over turf banks spread 2-3m wide and standing up to 0.4m high. The interior diameter is 6m across.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 310024 952660 -

9 Peat cutting ACHLIBSTER An area of extensive peat cutting was located within open ground between forestry plantations.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 95 309999 952755 -

10 Mound BRAEHOUR

An amorphous turf-covered mound measuring 10m in diameter and standing up to 0.4m high. There is a possible arc of bank on SE side. A possible cairn or hut circle site.

- Very degraded

Unknown 95 310531 952060 -

11 Mound, poss hut circle BRAEHOUR

Under rushes, heather and grass is a prominent mound which may be a mostly degraded hut circle. It stands 0.5m high in open ground, with part of a turf bank 2.5m wide on the SE to SW side; measured 12-14m in diameter.

- Very degraded

Prehistoric 90 310577 952053 -

12 Enclosure BRAEHOUR

Located in a ride under grass, rushes and moss is a turf-covered stone bank, possible forming a small (prehistoric?) enclosure. It measures 1m NE-SW by 14m and stands up to 0.4m high with banks spread 2-2.5m wide.

- Very degraded

Prehistoric 90 310587 952191 44

13 Enclosure BRAEHOUR A subrectangular enclosure comprising turf-covered stone banks standing up to 0.5m high and spread 1.5-2m wide.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 310637 952169 -

14 Cairn BRAEHOUR

Located on a rushes- and grass-covered rise is a large and low spread of stone mostly covered by vegetation. It stands up to 1m high at ENE side and measures 15m N-S by 8m. Possibly the remains of a prehistoric cairn or field clearance.

- Very degraded

Unknown 85 310687 952188 -


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15 Dyke BRAEHOUR

A grass-covered turf/stone dyke forming a field enclosure with banks spread 3-4m wide and standing up to 1.2m high. Large slabs are visible in places and there is a ditch to the SE side.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 311042 952166 -

16 Dyke BRAEHOUR A stone/turf dyke with banks spread up to 2m wide and standing up to 0.5m high. - Degraded Post

Medieval 85 311161 952260 -

17 Dyke BRAEHOUR A stone/turf dyke with banks spread up to 2m wide and standing up to 0.5m high. - Very

degraded Post

Medieval 85 311191 952397 -

18 Peat cutting BRAEHOUR An extensive area of peat cutting to the SE, S and SW of the farmstead - Very

degraded Post

Medieval 80 311292 951955 -

19 Track BRAEHOUR

Under grass, heather rushes and trees is a possible disused trackway leading from the road. It measures 2.5m wide and is slightly sunken into the ground surface.

WNW-ESE

Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 310540 953103 -

20 Dyke BURN OF OLGRINBEG

A turf dyke aligned ENE-WSW with banks are spread up to 1m wide and standing up to 0.5m high under grass, rushes and moss probably formed part of a field boundary.

ENE-WSW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 80 310516 953323 -

21 Dyke BRAEHOUR A turf dyke located within a forest ride is aligned N-S. The banks are spread up to 1.8m wide and stand up to 0.6m high.

N-S Very degraded

Post Medieval 80 310478 953239 67

22 Building BRAEHOUR

Located in a forest ride are the very degraded moss- and grass-covered footings of a rectangular stone-built structure measuring 7m N-S by 4.5m over wall spread to 1m wide and standing up to 0.4m high. There is a possible entrance 0.5m wide in E wall.

N-S Very degraded

Post Medieval 80 310472 953223 66

23 Dyke BRAEHOUR

Under grass and rushes is a turf/stone dyke running NE-SW through a ride in the forestry plantation. The banks are spread 2-3m wide and stand up to 1m high. There is a ditch on the N side of the dyke

NE-SW Degraded Post

Medieval 85 310854 952745 -


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24 Dyke BUAL-LOID A grass- and rushes-covered turf/stone dyke with ditch - Very

degraded Post

Medieval 85 310802 952556 -

25 Dyke BRAEHOUR A stone/turf dyke with banks spread up to 2m wide and standing up to 0.5m high. - Very

degraded Post

Medieval 85 311359 952426 -

55 Shieling BRAEHOUR

Located under dense grass, bracken and rushes is a possible shieling on the N side of a burn. It measures 5m N-S by 4m and stands up to 0.6m high on a slight platform.

N-S Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 308577 952617 28

85 Dyke BRAEHOUR

A grass-covered turf/stone dyke with banks spread 2m wide and standing up to 0.8m high. It possible continues in trees to NW. There is a ditch to the S side.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 311046 952054 -


Located under rushes and grass are the remains of a hut circle comprising a sub-oval turf bank up to 0.3m high and spread to 2m wide. It measures 10m N-S by 9m and there is no visible entrance.

N-S Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 310142 952684 - MHG1367

143a Farmstead ACHLIBSTER COTTAGE

A ruinous farmstead built of Caithness slab with a stone slabbed roof. It measures 12m E-W by 5m externally and stands to roof height. Roof is partially collapsed. Internal partitions comprise large thin Caithness slabs which have been plastered over.

- Ruinous Post Medieval 85 311282 952054 49-57 MHG1358

143b Stone setting ACHLIBSTER Located to SW of farmstead are 3 set, Caithness slabs measuring 1.5m long by 0.5m. Its function is unknown.

- Very degraded

Unknown 80 311284 952044 58

230 Mound BRAEHOUR

A low, grass-covered mound under rushes and grassy tussocks measures 5m in diameter and stands up to 0.2m high. There is no visible structure to the mound and its function is unknown.

- Very degraded

Unknown 85 309777 952459 34


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272 Structure BRAEHOUR

Located on slightly raised ground in a low, marshy area are the very degraded remains of a stone structure w/ attached enclosure walls covered in rushes and grass. The subrectangular structure measures 11m NE-SW by 5m w/ walls up to 0.6m high.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 311244 952652 -

273 Mound BAD NA H-ACHLAISE

Located on SW side of burn is grass- and rushes-covered mound that is slightly higher than the surrounding ground. It measures 6m in diameter and stands up to 0.3m high. Possible shieling site, may be natural.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 309537 951283 MHG837

318 Mounds BRAEHOUR

Located in a ride is a series of low grass-covered mounds under moss and rushes. The mounds stand to 0.25m high in an area measuring 6m N-S by 10m E-W. A small pile of stone 1m in diameter sits within the trees to NW.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 111 309700 949815 1


Located under rushes and grass are the remains of a hut circle comprising most of a sub-circular turf bank up to 0.5m high and spread to 2.5m wide. It measures 13m NW-SE by 11m and there is a possible entrance to SE.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 310154 952702 -

445 Shieling ALLT LOCH MEADIE

Located on the E side of the burn is a substantial grass- and rushes-covered mound measuring 7.5m NW-SE by 5.5m and stands up to 1m high. There is no visible entrance and only a circular depression 3m NE-SW by 1.5m wide is visible at the centre.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 110 308682 949439 11-13

460 Possible pen BRAEHOUR

Located on the N side of burn under heather, grass and moss is a semi-circular low bank attached to a slight break of slope. It measures 8m E-W by 6m with part of a bank visible spread to 0.8m wide and 0.3m high.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 308865 952680 -


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560 Farmstead or shieling

ACHADH A' CHRACAIRNIE

SHEILING

Located on SE side of stream under grass and rushes is a mound standing up to 2m high. It measures 11m NW-SE internally and 5.5m wide. There may be two partition walls and an entrance in the SW wall. Possibly overlies an earlier (hut circle?) structure.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 105 307348 951087 16

576 Mound BRAEHOUR

A grass-covered amorphous mound under rushes is located on the edge of ride 60m N of track and adjacent to a stream to W. It measures 6.5m N-S by 5m and stands up to 0.8m high. Truncated by a ditch to E, which has thrown up a low bank.

- Very degraded


588 Dyke LATHACH LEOSAG

Located under rushes, heather and grass is a turf/stone dyke with banks spread 1.5-2m wide and standing up to 0.6m high.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 75 309861 953072 -

618 Platform BAD

RAPHAIN BEAG

Located on the E side of the stream is a low grass- and rushes-covered platform measuring 10m in diameter and surrounded by wet ground. Possibly natural or remains of shieling site.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 309407 951035 -


A grass-covered oval shieling mound measuring 7m E-W by 6m and standing up to 0.8m high. There is no visible entrance. A possible very degraded turf dyke runs off the SSE side.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 120 310085 949804 2

796 Mound BRAEHOUR

Under grass and rushes is a subcircular mound measuring 5m E-W by 4m and standing up to 0.3m high. It may be a shieling mound, although there are no structural remains visible.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 309810 952499 -


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858a Dyke BAD NA CAORACH

A stone-built dyke under grass, moss and rushes crosses a ride but is destroyed in the plantation to each side. It comprises large stone and is spread 2.3m wide standing to 0.5m high.

ENE-WSW

Very degraded


858b Farmstead BAD NA CAORACH

Located within dense forestry plantation are the remains of a stone-built farmstead standing 0.8-1m high with walls 0.6m wide. There are 3 compartments: N and central units measure 3m N-S by 2.5m, S unit measures 4m N-S by 2.5m. Entrance in the E wall.

N-S Very degraded

Post Medieval 100 311666 949811 6-9 MHG1299

858c Possible dyke BAD NA CAORACH

A spread of stone lies to the SW of the dyke. It may be the remains of a dyke or structure but has been truncated by Forestry Ploughing. It is spread across an area approximately 25m NW-SE by 12m.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Unknown 90 311664 949863

902 Shieling ALLT LOCH MEADIE

Two grass-covered amorphous-shaped mounds with depressions in the centre are located on the E side of the burn. NE mound measures 7m N-S by 5m and stands up to 0.6m high; W mound measures 5m NW-SE by 4m and stands up to 0.6m high.

NE-SW

Very degraded


931 Mound ALLT LOCH MEADIE

Located on the E side of the burn is a low, grass-covered tussocky mound measuring 6m NW-SE by 5m and stands up to 0.5m high. There is no visible entrance and no banks are visible. It may have been a double-cell shieling site.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 110 308662 949443 11-13


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1218 Hut circle CARN LIATH

Under grasses and rushes is the remains of a hut circle set within a flat landscape. It measures 16m NW-SE by 14m over banks spread to 4m wide and standing 1.2-1.8m high. Entrance to SE; tussocky grass masks much of the structure.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 309994 952572 36-7 MHG1363


Located on the S side of the burn is a large grass-covered, sub-oval mound measuring 15m E-W by 8m and up to 2.2m high. It is covered in tussocks w/ some indication of banks, spread 0.8-1m wide and up to 0.6m high, on the E and SE sides.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 80 308615 952612 22

1237 Burnt mound ACHLIBSTER

Under grasses and heather is a U-shaped, oval bank aligned NE-SW, which has been interpreted as a burnt mound. It measures 12m long by 8m over banks spread 3-4m and standing up to 0.7m high. The opening to E measures 2.5m wide.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 310078 952757 40 MHG160

1303 Hut circle CARN LIATH

Located 20m E of a large hut circle under grass and rushes is the low banks of a second hut circle measuring 10m NW-SE by 8.5m over banks spread to 1.8m wide and standing up to 0.4m high. It is mostly degraded although there is a possible entrance to SE.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 310022 952561 37

1387 Mound BRAEHOUR

A turf- and grass-covered mound is located to the W of two hut circles. It measures 6m in diameter and stands up to 1m high. There is no structure visible on the mound.

- Very degraded

Unknown 85 309898 952582 38


A grass-covered subrectangular shieling mound measuring 4m NE-SW in diameter and standing up to 0.6m high. There is no visible entrance; some sections of banks are visible spread up to 1.2m wide.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 120 310071 949807 2


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1535a Dyke BRAEHOUR

A stone/turf dyke appears in parts as low mounds of Caithness slab. The bank is spread between 2.8-4m wide and stands to 1.2m high.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 90 310747 952232 43

1535b Dyke BRAEHOUR A stone/turf dyke spread up to 1m wide and standing up to 0.3m high.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 90 310792 952285 45

1535c Clearance cairn/building BRAEHOUR

An amorphous spread of stone, some dumped in heaps which may be clearance material overlying a possible building. It measures 12m N-S by 10m and to 0.6m high.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 90 310766 952279 46

1535d Farmstead BRAEHOUR

A turf-covered stone-built longhouse measures 48m long over walls 0.8m wide and standing up to 0.5-1.4m high. There are no visible entrances.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 310787 952291 - MHG1838

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1535e Dyke BRAEHOUR A stone/turf dyke spread up to 1m wide and standing up to 0.3m high.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 310864 952357 -

1547 Possible farmstead

BURN OF OLGRINBEG

Grass- and rushes-covered stone-built footings of a possible earlier farmstead. It measures 11m NE-SW by 2.5m internally w/ walls spread 0.8-1.4m wide and standing up to 0.5m high. An annex at the NE end measures 3m NE-SW by 1.8m.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 80 310471 953336 27

1628 Hut circle BRAEHOUR

Located under grass and rushes are the remains of a hut circle comprising a subcircular turf bank spread 1.5-2m wide and standing up to 0.4m high. The structure measures 12m NE-SW by 10m. Possible entrance to NE.

NE-SW

Very degraded

Unknown 85 309765 952485 35


Located on a low, prominent knoll under grasses, rushes and moss is the remains of a hut circle. The low circular structure measures 11.5m E-W by 11m across with banks spread 1.5-1.8m wide and up to 0.3m high. There is no visible entrance.

E-W Very degraded

Prehistoric 90 309729 952362 33


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1804 Mound ALLT LOCH MEADIE

Located on the W side of the burn is a grass-covered mound measuring 5m NW-SE by 4.5m and stands up to 0.5m high. There is no visible entrance and no banks are visible. It may have been a shieling site.

NE-SW

Very degraded



Part of a low mound was visible within the dense forestry plantation, which may be the remains of a shieling that has been ploughed through. It measures 8m NW-SE by 5m and standing up to 0.7m high. Some scattered stone was visible in the area.

NW-SE

Very degraded

Post Medieval 120 310124 949754 3-4

1839a Cairn ACHLIBSTER HILL

Located in a ride is a turf-covered mound measuring 8m in diameter and standing up to 0.5m high.

- Very degraded

Prehistoric 90 310323 952048 42

1839b Cairn ACHLIBSTER HILL

A low, turf-covered mound may be a cairn. It measures 4m in diameter and stands up to 0.3m high.

- Very degraded

Unknown 95 310319 952033 -

1875 Farmstead BURN OF OLGRINBEG

Located on SE side of burn on the edge of a terrace is a stone-built longhouse w/ some mortared joints and three partitions; walls are 0.5-2.5m high, 0.6-0.7m wide. It measures 26m long NE-SW by 3m wide; the central unit has been re-used as a sheep pen.

- Degraded Post Medieval 80 310473 953352 59-65 MHG1831

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1905 Farmstead BUAL-LOID

Under rushes and tussocky grass are the very degraded remains of a farmstead, very difficult to define but appears to be a longhouse w/ two possible cells at SW end. It may measure up to 70m long NE-SW by 4m wide.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 310864 952604 -


20





Under grass/rushes are the remains of a hut circle comprising sections of subcircular turf bank spread to 2m wide and up to 0.4m high. It measures 11m in diameter and has been truncated by ploughing; E to W arc best preserved. Possible entrance to ESE.

- Very degraded

Prehistoric 85 309740 952519 59

1939a Farmstead LATHACH LEOSAG

On the S side of burn under grass and rushes is a stone-built farmstead w/ three compartments and an enclosure attached at the NW end. SE unit 3m across, central unit 6m NW-SE by 3.2m, NW unit 8m NW-SE by 3.5m over walls 0.8m wide and up to 1.2m high.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 74 309737 953087 29-30

1939a Farmstead LATHACH LEOSAG

On the S side of burn under grass and rushes is a stone-built farmstead w/ three compartments and an enclosure attached at the NW end. SE unit 3m across, central unit 6m NW-SE by 3.2m, NW unit 8m NW-SE by 3.5m over walls 0.8m wide and to 1.2m high.

- Very degraded

Post Medieval 74 309735 953094 29-30

1939b Bothy LATHACH LEOSAG

Located 18m W of main farmstead is a rectangular stone-built bothy measuring 3.5m E-W by 3.2m externally with walls 0.8m wide. There is an entrance in the E wall. It is built over a possible earlier farmstead.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 74 309719 953078 31-2

1939c Farmstead LATHACH LEOSAG

Underlying site b is possible farmstead measuring 12m E-W by 7m with turf/stone walls spread up to 1.2m wide and standing up to 0.3m high.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 75 309713 953078 31-2

1939d Enclosure LATHACH LEOSAG

A turf/stone-built enclosure is visible under high grasses and rushes. The banks are spread 1.5-2m wide and stand up to 0.5m high. It measures 29m E-W by 17m, where visible, and is probably associated with the farmstead.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 74 309722 953065 -


21




1950a Shieling BRAEHOUR

A grass-covered amorphous-shaped mound is located on the E bank of the burn. It measures 7m NW-SE by 6m and stands up to 0.9m high. There are projections on the W & SE sides which may be associated with an entrance(s). Possible shieling site.

NE-SW

Very degraded


1950b Mound BRAEHOUR Located on a projection into the burn on the E side is a possible shieling sites. It comprises tussocky degraded mounds.

- Very degraded


1950c Shieling BRAEHOUR

A grass- and rushes-covered subcircular mound is located on the E bank of the burn. It measures 10m NW-SE by 8m and stands up to 0.6m high. It is possibly a multicellular shieling.

- Very degraded


1950d Possible Shieling BRAEHOUR

A grass- and rushes-covered subcircular mound is located on the E bank of the burn. It measures 5m in diameter and stands up to 0.5m high. It is a possible shieling site.

- Very degraded


1973 Bridge abutments BRAEHOUR

The ruins of abutments for a bridge along access track to W side of burn. Comprises Caithness flagstones, concrete blocks and steel culvert. Possibly used by Forestry Commission to access works staging area during ploughing of the area, never planted.

E-W Very degraded

Post Medieval 85 308379 952202 24


22

APPENDIX 2 BRAEHOUR FOREST BLOCK – 2012 INDEX OF PHOTOGRAPHS

No. Direction Facing

Site No. Notes Taken

By Date

1 NW 318 Looking down forest ride to low mound, possible shieling site MKP 30/11/2012

2 S 1525, 666 Looking from the track across two shieling sites MKP 30/11/2012

3 NE 576 Grass-covered mound, possible shieling site MKP 30/11/2012

4 SE 3 A grass-, moss- and reed-covered semicircular bank located at the edge of a ride MKP 30/11/2012

5 W 858 Grass- and moss-covered stone-built dyke, part of farmstead MKP 30/11/2012

6 NNW 858 Moss-covered stone-built farmstead within dense forestry plantation MKP 30/11/2012

7 N 858 Moss-covered stone-built farmstead within dense forestry plantation MKP 30/11/2012

8 N 858 Moss-covered stone-built farmstead within dense forestry plantation MKP 30/11/2012

9 SSW 858 Moss-covered stone-built farmstead within dense forestry plantation MKP 30/11/2012

10 NW 902 Two grass-covered amorphous-shaped mounds adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012

11 S 445, 931 Two shieling mounds adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012

12 SE 445, 931 Two shieling mounds adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012

13 SE 445, 931 Two shieling mounds adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012

14 SE 1950a Shieling mound adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012 15 NW 1950c Shieling mound adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012 16 SW 560 Mound with remains of structure, possible farmstead MKP 01/12/2012

17 W 1853 Looking beyond forestry area to open ground and shieling site 1853 MKP 01/12/2012

18 WSW - Looking across the flat, empty landscape from ND 08012 51008 MKP 01/12/2012 19 NE - Looking across the flat, empty landscape from ND 08012 51008 MKP 01/12/2012 20 NNW - Looking across the flat, empty landscape from ND 08801 50913 MKP 01/12/2012 21 SW 4a Remains of possible shieling adjacent to burn MKP 01/12/2012

22 NE 1219 Large grass-covered sub-oval mound adjacent to burn, possible shieling MKP 02/12/2012

23 SW - Looking across the flat, empty landscape from ND 08124 51761 MKP 02/12/2012 24 NE 1973 Remains of bridge abutments for burn crossing MKP 02/12/2012

25 NNW 6 Peat stack at the centre of Site 6, possible peat quarry or work staging area MKP 02/12/2012

26 NNE - View across flat, ploughed landscape from peat stack at the centre of Site 6 MKP 02/12/2012

27 S - View across flat, ploughed landscape from peat stack at the centre of Site 6 MKP 02/12/2012

28 SSE 55 Possible shieling under heather and grasses to N side of burn MKP 02/12/2012 29 N 1939a Ruinous stone-built farmstead MKP 02/12/2012 30 NE 1939a Ruinous stone-built farmstead MKP 02/12/2012

31 NE 1939b-c Ruinous stone-built bothy over possible earlier structure MKP 02/12/2012


23

No. Direction Facing

Site No. Notes Taken

By Date

32 W 1939b-c Ruinous stone-built bothy over possible earlier structure MKP 02/12/2012

33 E 1718 Hut circle mound located in flat landscape MKP 02/12/2012 34 NE 230 Small mound located in flat landscape MKP 02/12/2012 35 NE 1628 Remains of a hut circle MKP 02/12/2012 36 NE 1218 Remains of a substantial hut circle MKP 02/12/2012

37 NW 1218, 1303 Looking across the remains of two hut circles MKP 02/12/2012

38 WSW 1387 Turf- and grass-covered mound in flat landscape MKP 02/12/2012 39 N 7 Very degraded remains of a hut circle MKP 02/12/2012 40 SSE 1237 U-shaped structure, probable burnt mound MKP 02/12/2012 41 W 9 Looking across extensive area of peat cuttings MKP 02/12/2012 42 ESE 1839a Turf-covered mound located in a forest ride LF 10/12/2012 43 ESE 1535a Stone and turf dyke LF 10/12/2012 44 WSW 12 Turf-covered stone bank, possible a prehistoric enclosure LF 10/12/2012 45 NE 1535b Stone and turf dyke LF 10/12/2012 46 N 1535c Amorphous spread of stone LF 10/12/2012 47 NNE 1535d Remains of degraded stone-built farmstead LF 10/12/2012 48 ENE 2 Raised, grass-covered track LF 10/12/2012 49 NNE 143a Ruinous house built of Caithness slabs with stone slabbed roof LF 10/12/2012 50 ENE 143a Ruinous house built of Caithness slabs with stone slabbed roof LF 10/12/2012 51 SSW 143a Ruinous house built of Caithness slabs with stone slabbed roof LF 10/12/2012 52 S 143a Ruinous house built of Caithness slabs with stone slabbed roof LF 10/12/2012 53 W 143a Ruinous house built of Caithness slabs with stone slabbed roof LF 10/12/2012 54 - 143a Interior of house, showing slab-built partition LF 10/12/2012 55 - 143a Ruined interior of house LF 10/12/2012 56 - 143a Lintel slab over fireplace in house LF 10/12/2012 57 - 143a Wood-burning stove in house LF 10/12/2012 58 WNW 143b Stone setting near house site 143a LF 10/12/2012 59 SW 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 60 SW 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 61 SW 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 62 NW 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 63 N 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 64 NNE 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 65 NNE 1875 Ruins of stone-built farmstead LF 11/12/2012 66 SW 22 Low footings of stone-built structure LF 11/12/2012 67 N 21 Stone and turf dyke LF 11/12/2012

Braehour Forest Block Methodology RoCAS

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