Christian Sites of the Atlantic Rim research project (CSAR)

Date 24 July 2011

Event ID 1158313

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1158313

NS 03660 62646, NS 04539 67269 and NS 10004 56658 On the 24 July 2011 gradiometry and resistance surveys were undertaken at the four sites of Kilchousland, Kilchatten, East St Colmac Chapel and St Colmac. This work represents the start of the Christian Sites of the Atlantic Rim research project (CSAR) which, aided by a small grant from the British Academy, aims to answer the question ‘can geophysics alone identify and date chapel sites?’ The project has initially chosen to concentrate on the ‘Celtic’ church and has begun by focusing on the Isle of Bute, as it represents a discrete geographic area and appears to have an abundance of ‘lost’ chapel sites.

The gradiometry survey was employed to identify and discount sites with a ‘domestic’ signature, on the assumption that these sites were either farmsteads or more complex monastery sites. The resistance survey aimed to determine the form and layout of sites, which it is hoped would be indicative of their age. Of the four sites surveyed the results suggest one ‘no show’, one ‘surprising turn up’, one ‘interesting results; possible need for further work’ and one ‘raises more questions than it answers’. However, it is hoped that the surveys have added to Bute's archaeological record. Certainly one completely new site has been located (St Colmac); East St Colmac would bear further investigation with the potential for cists and/or burials and a tentative chapel, and Kilchatten has been confirmed as a large prehistoric monument. In terms of the CSAR Project it could be argued that two sites provide data that confirm the efficacy of the techniques and provide dates, though of a broad spread.

Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants

Funder: Rose Geophysical Consultants, British Academy and Discover Bute Landscape Partnership

Rose Geophysical Consultants 2011