Diver Inspection

Date March 2010

Event ID 881128

Category Recording

Type Diver Inspection

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/881128

HY 387 141 (centred on) Work on Holocene sea level change

in Orkney indicates that relative sea levels only reached their

present position some 4000 years ago. This project which

was set up in 2005 aims to:

• construct a sea level curve to provide detail of former

changes in relative sea level around Orkney

• investigate the possibility that remains of past human

settlement might be preserved on the seabed

Work in March 2010 focused on remote sensing and

intertidal survey in the Bay of Firth. The validation of

potential submerged structures by diving has proved difficult

due to dense kelp growth and the problems of distinguishing

between local bedrock and collapsed structural material.

A number of shoreline structures are now being recorded

in order to understand the impact of marine erosion and

collapse. Further cores have been taken at Mill Bay, Hoy

and Dam of Hoxa, South Ronaldsay in order to broaden

information on past Holocene relative sea level changes.

Archive: With contributors, copies to be distributed to ADS, Orkney

SMR and RCAHMS

Funder: Historic Scotland, The Crown