Kilbraur Wind Farm

NC 7850 0750 Several phases of work were undertaken at the site of the Kilbraur wind farm, Strath Brora. This work was commissioned by Kilbraur Wind Energy Ltd and followed a specification by the Highland Council Planning and Development Service (Archaeology Unit). The fieldwork was undertaken between December 2006 and September 2007 and comprised (i) an archaeological evaluation on the site of the proposed onsite borrow pit, (ii) an area excavation on the site of the on-site borrow pit, (iii) a field survey of the adjacent prehistoric remains, (iv) an evaluation of a rectilinear stony mound in the SW of an extension to the borrow pit and (v) a watching brief over all groundworks associated with the wind farm.

The area excavation was undertaken on the proposed on-site borrow pit in January 2007 following an evaluation in December 2006 that had identified the remains of two stone cairns. During the excavation a further round cairn and curvilinear stone heap were identified below the peat. All stone features were fully

excavated and recorded. At the same time as the area excavation, a detailed instrument survey was undertaken on sites close to the borrow pit that were not to be affected by the ground works. This involved the survey of the prehistoric settlement remains immediately to the W of the borrow pit area (Site 3) and the settlement and field systems immediately to the E (Site 4/5).

A further evaluation was undertaken in May 2007 on a rectangular stone mound in the SE of an extension to the borrow pit. Excavation proved this to be a field clearance cairn. The watching brief aspect monitored all groundworks for the wind farm. This phase of the project located 20 clearance cairns and a linear stone bank, of which all except one cairn were in the borrow pit area. Of these features 17 were excavated with the rest being unaffected by the wind farm excavations. All the cairns excavated were shown to be to be simple field clearance cairns, associated with the settlement and field systems to the east of the borrow pit Site 4/5).

Archive to be deposited with RCAHMS. Reports to be deposited with Highland SMR and RCAHMS.

Funder: Kilbraur Wind Energy Ltd

Jamie Humble - Headland Archaeology Ltd

NC 790 075 A programme of archaeological works was

carried out 15 July–26 October 2010 in advance of and during

construction of the extension to Kilbraur Wind Farm. This

consisted of a marking-out survey to establish protective

buffer zones around known sites, a walkover survey of an

area of recently felled forest to identify any archaeological

features and a watching brief on groundworks for three

turbines and their associated access tracks. The marking-out

survey ensured there was no damage to known sites. No

significant archaeological remains or deposits were recorded

during the survey or watching brief.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Falck Renewables