Still Time To Volunteer for Burn Of Whilk Archaeology Dig

3rd October 2013

From 20 September to 7 October 2013 AOC Archaeology Group, on behalf of one of the UK’s leading renewable energy developers, RWE npower renewables (RWE NRL), are carrying out an archaeological dig around RWE NRL’s Burn of Whilk Wind Farm in Caithness. The excavations focus on the Warehouse chambered cairns.

This project coincides with Scottish Archaeology Month and Highland Archaeology Fortnight, is part of a wider project that aims to improve understanding of the Yarrows trail and surrounding area.

Dr Andy Heald of AOC Archaeology Group is organising both the project and the volunteer programme for RWE NRL. He is keen to have as many local people as possible contact him and take part at some point during the dig.

He said: “While Caithness is a region rich in archaeological history, we still know very little about many of the identified monuments of importance. The work we are carrying out in the coming weeks should shed new light on the Neolithic and Bronze Age of the county.

“As with all such projects in Caithness, we are keen to get as many volunteers to take part as possible. Volunteers can come for any length of time and require no previous experience. As well as excavating we will teach them various techniques including survey, laser scanning and conservation principles”.

Jean Gaillard, RWE npower renewables’ Project Implementation Manager, said, “We recognise that the Burn of Whilk Wind Farm is in an area of rich archaeological heritage. The response to our community survey in March 2013 was very positive and so we would encourage the local community to join us at the dig and uncover more about the history of this land. This work will allow that history to be better presented in the future”.

The results of the work will be used to aid interpretation of the area over the next year.

For further information on the project or to volunteer to take part in the dig please contact Dr Andy Heald on 07824 562186 or email him at andy.heald[AT]aocarchaeology.com. You can also follow the project by visiting www.aocarchaeology.com.

More about the Highland Archaeology Festival 2013