Loch Of Strathbeg, Rattray Island
No Class (Event) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Loch Of Strathbeg, Rattray Island
Classification No Class (Event) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 238762
Site Number NK05NE 32
NGR NK 082 580
NGR Description Centred NK 082 580
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/238762
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Crimond
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Banff And Buchan
- Former County Aberdeenshire
Archaeological Evaluation
NK05NE 32 centred 082 580
NK 082 580 Rattray Island lies at the S end of Loch Strathbeg, while Sandwich Tern and Cormorant Islands lie to the N of the loch and are used by breeding wildfowl. The RSPB proposes to defend the islands from active shoreline erosion. An archaeological evaluation was required to assess the potential for the survival of archaeological remains along their shorelines. The fieldwork aimed to extract sediment cores on Rattray Island to determine if the island was artificial or not. A visual appraisal of the eroding shorelines on Cormorant and Sandwich Tern Islands was also required.
The results of percussion coring on Rattray Island in March 2002 confirmed that shell sand was the dominant sediment, attaining a maximum depth of 3m. No archaeological deposits were present within the core. A crescent-shaped arrangement of boulders located on the surface of the island is attributed to a ship's ballast dump. No archaeological remains were exposed in the eroding sections on Sandwich Tern Island. Due to an excessively wet spring, Cormorant Island was submerged and therefore no further work could be undertaken.
Report deposited in the NMRS (MS/1135/12)
Sponsor: RSPB.
M Cressey 2002.
