Report: 'Desk-based Assessment and Data Structure Report for a Watching Brief at Skaill Bay, Sandwick, Orkney'

Description Report: 'Desk-based Assessment and Data Structure Report for a Watching Brief at Skaill Bay, Sandwick, Orkney'

Date 7/2008

Collection Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA)

Catalogue Number MS 7659

Category Manuscripts

Scope and Content This 21-page report describes a desk-based assessment followed by a watching brief during ground-breaking works in an area at Skaill Bay (Bay of Skaill), Sandwick, Orkney affected by bringing a subsea cable onshore. The Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) was commissioned by BT Group plc to undertake this assessment. Machine excavation of a trench 260m long was observed through a field adjacent to the N side of the World Heritage Site of Skara Brae and down to the beach to the low water mark. The trench cut through two stone field dykes and three stone field drains (19th century), and cut a wall encapsulated by blown sand. Close to the NE end of the trench stonework, shell and broken bone and a buried ground horizon, almost a metre below the current ground surface, which appeared to be prehistoric. They were protected by a geotextile and sand covering. Submerged peat was seen 0.90m down in the trench across the sand beach, deeper below the storm beach, indicating a past land rather than sea environment.

Accession Number 2015/87

External Reference Orca project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1487341