Diver Inspection

Date 5 June 2009 - 11 June 2009

Event ID 608611

Category Recording

Type Diver Inspection

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/608611

HY 387 141 (centred on) This is a project looking at former relative sea level change and prehistoric settlement around Orkney. Since 2006 a programme of coring has taken place and two radiocarbon dates have been obtained which indicate that the sea only reached present levels around the archipelago c4000 years ago. This means that for much of the period of human settlement in Orkney the islands were bigger, but subject to rising sea levels.

Work from 5–11 June 2009 focused on the possibility that remains from earlier settlement (Neolithic or Mesolithic) might survive on the sea bed. Work centred on the Bay of Firth in order to follow up ethno-archaeological accounts of remains in the bay, which had been given support by the results of side scan survey carried out in 2008. More detailed geophysical survey work was also undertaken around the island of Damsay. In addition, eight potential targets were examined by divers, and five general dive-searches

undertaken.

Stone remains were recorded at five locations on the seabed. One comprises a stone pier, visible at low tide. The other four cannot be identified due to poor visibility and lack of resources. Vertical and horizontal slabs, coursed stonework, collapsed stonework, and upright features were all observed at depths that varied from 2–9m. Further work is planned.

Archive: With contributors, copies to be distributed to RCAHMS, Orkney SMR and ADS

Funder: The work in the Bay of Firth was funded by NGS/Waitt Grant. The project in general has received support from Historic Scotland, The Crown Estate, Orkney Islands Council, Scapa Flow Landscape Project

CR Wickham-Jones, S Dawson and R Bates – University of Aberdeen/University of Dundee/University of St Andrews