External Reference

Date August 2006

Event ID 887372

Category Documentary Reference

Type External Reference

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/887372

The area of this suggested wreck was visited by Wessex Archaeology in August 2006 under a contract for an Undesignated Site Assessment issued by Historic Scotland, and in advance of possible commercial salvage diving. Geophysical survey (using chirp sounder, echo-sounder and sidescan sonar) extended across much of the W part of Tobermory Bay. This was followed by diver verification of anomalies; bottom time totalled 109 minutes.

The location of the wreck remains unknown, the depth of burial is uncertain, and the previously-identified archaeological deposits have been extensively worked-over. The Poop Company Ltd is understood to have undertaken a geophysical survey and located the stern of the vessel. The location of this possible discovery remains unknown, and the survival of such a coherent structure is considered improbable, but cannot be totally discounted. Surviving structural remains are probably limited to keel- and floor-timbers, possibly with other elements of limited size.

Within the survey area, the seabed comprises largely a fine-grained sedimentary deposit (probably of silt and/or clay) overlying a coarse-grained compacted sedimentary deposit (possibly comprising sands and gravels). The underlying basement bedrock probably comprises tertiary lavas. The thickness of these deposits is variable, the compacted sediment and the bedrock lying between 1 and 11m and between 5 and 20m respectively below the seabed.

Six anomalies were identified, and found to include deep depressions, which presumably represent previous attempts at exploration or salvage. No archaeological evidence consistent with the loss of this vessel was identified, and probing failed to detect any archaeological deposit.

The locations of the following anomalies are cited:

5006: N56 37.36438 W6 3.71625 [NM 5086 5524]

(Possible structural element at 12.1m below the seabed: too deep for ground-truthing).

5007: N56 37.30636 W6 3.77163 [NM 5079 5513]

(Apparently a modern mooring).

5008: N56 37.33356 W6 3.83596 [NM 5079 5513]

(A large depression, oriented roughly NW-SE and measuring up to 18m broad by 4.25m deep; the length was not established).

(Detailed recommendations are made; the suggested histories of the ship and the investigation of the remains are summarised. Illustrations include location and site plans, sonar (sub-bottom profiler) records and representative seabed sections).

MS/2784.