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[Diego]

We post here a thread started today in BritArch mailing list:

The revised application has been submitted today for a massive wind farm on the Island of Lewis (outer Hebrides, Scotland), and while the overall number of turbines has been reduced to 181, the impact on the archaeology of Lewis will be catastrophic.  This is the location of of the turbines:



The real problem is not just that the archaeology of Lewis is practically unknown, but the whole of the interior of the island is covered by raised peat bog that can be several metres thick. This was formed since the Bronze age (Callanish before it was excavated was a few stones sticking up through over a metre of bog). So there is likely to be a whole buried prehistoric landscape below the peat, but it is very difficult to detect. Numerous stone circles, burial mounds and cemeteries, settlements and houses, burnt mounds, fields and field boundaries can all be expected. This could be potentially one of the best preserved prehistoric landscapes in the world.

The threat is very real - its not just a few turbines, but massive foundations needed to anchor them to the rock. Then there are access roads, cabling etc. all of which will go through the peat to bed rock. So far the main objectors from outside the island have been the RSPB. There is very little evidence that there has been much of an outcry from archaeologists. Maybe someone is doing something behind the scenes?

[Cakes]

Clean renewable energy is an issue that most of us are probably very glad to have addressed but you are right in thinking that it is preferable for us to be free of the (potentially) significant sacrifice you are speaking of.

This situation brings to mind an idea that my friend voiced one day>> hydroelectric turbines powered by the ocean's currents.

When faced with the daunting task of stopping or changing another's plans, especially plans that have a great deal of money at stake, it seems best if we have an alternative solution to propose; a solution that insures that the original interests or investors will be well served.

Since the project is already "clean" energy oriented as well as turbine oriented; ocean powered hydroelecticity seems a good match for the massive coastline and proximity to the sea that the area has to offer.

Perhaps the powers that be can be influenced (by us?).

another thought:
since what the p.t.b. want is to excavate AND what you want is to excavate; maybe an agreement could be reached whereby the archaeologically interested of the world could fall upon the proposed sites and gather what information and treasures that they might>>and then the turbine foundations, cables and so forth would be installed.

and also I have a last inquiry for you>> I am amazed at the idea of us having no technology capable of detecting and studying underground structures, deposits, formations and such..is it true that you have heard nothing on that subject? I know I recently heard of new tech to find petroleum reservoirs. and I know that sound waves have been used to conjecture upon the contents of the earth's core.. perhaps this issue of finding the structures of which you speak may be something (else?) we would be interested in investigating.