Scout Moor Wind Farm, Rochdale- Watching Brief

OA North was commissioned by McNicholas Construction Services to undertake a watching brief during the construction of wind farm turbines and access roads on Scout Moor (SD 8333 1797), between Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall, extending across the boundary between Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The fieldwork was undertaken during October 2006 and April 2007. This report sets out the results of the watching brief.
The evidence for prehistoric activity within the application site is very limited, and comprises mainly Mesolithic and Neolithic lithic scatters and individual find spots across the landscape concentrating around Knowl Hill (SD 8420 1680). Two burial cairns represent the Bronze Age; there is no known evidence of Iron Age or Roman activity within the environs of the study area. There is very little evidence from the early medieval period, although some settlement in the area may be inferred from place-names. Agricultural settlements comprising farmsteads and field systems, with their origins in the medieval period, have been identified. From the post-medieval period there is considerable evidence of remains relating to mineral extraction processes.
The access roads for the most part were constructed as a raft on top of the peats, and did not warrant archaeological observation. The watching brief for the wind turbine sites did not reveal any features or finds of archaeological importance.