Errol

NO22SE 4 c. 26 22

See also NO12SW 210.

A dug-out canoe was found in a sandbank, Habbiebank, on the property of Errol Park, and some 250 yards from the shore, on the 11th July 1895. It had a well shaped prow and its stern-board is of a separate piece of wood. The canoe is preserved in Dundee Museum. Another similar canoe (NO22SE 5) was found nearby some six years previously.

A Hutcheson 1897

This canoe is still in Dundee Museum. It is thought to be possibly Maglemosian but it is hoped to carry out some research, including carbon tests this year in an attempt to establish its date (Mr J Barwick, Assistant Director, Dundee Museum).

Visited by OS (RL) 12 June 1964.

In July 1895 fishermen whose net had suffered damage removed what was thought to be a tree-trunk from the Habbiebank, a sandbank situated in the inner estuary of the River Tay about 250 yards (230m) from the Perthshire shore and near to where another logboat (NO22SE 5) had been discovered previously. The object was recognised as a logboat and was taken to Newburgh where it was recorded before removal to Dundee.

The boat was found to measure 29'2" (8.9m) in length, 4'3" (1.3m) in beam at the stern and 3'2" (1m) in beam at a point 6' (1.8m) from the stem. The sides were about 4" (100mm) thick and up to 1'9" (0.5m) high internally above the bottom which was between 6" (150mm) and 7" (175mm) thick. The port side was almost complete but the after part of the starboard side had been lost; there were few toolmarks visible in the timber which was identified as 'oak'.

The pointed stem was seen to bear a 'rude but forcible resemblance to the head of an animal' and behind it there was noted a 'roughly semi-circular hollow' which was suggested as a possible base of a figurehead. The stern had been formed by a transom placed 10" (250mm) from the after extremity; this had measured about 3?" (90mm) in thickness but was only represented by its groove.

Within the interior of the boat, and at a point 7'4" (2.2m) forward of the transom, there was an indentation in one of the sides and across the bottom there was a 'very shallow depression'. The former was possibly intended to take a 'cross-piece of wood...tightly jammed in' and the latter a board of unknown function. A further pair of indentations in the sides was noted a further 3'7" (1.1m) forward and were taken as evidence of a seat formed of a block of wood, measuring about 6" (150mm) or 8" (200mm) square, jammed in place; no transom-groove was noted in this case. Hutcheson also suggested that these boards or blocks were possibly used to expand the boat, although the method is unusual and the low position of the point of application of force makes this unlikely.

This logboat is on display in Dundee Museum and Art Gallery under accession number DMAG 69-255; the bottom and the lower part of the starboard side were inaccessible at the date of visit. It has suffered badly from splitting and is held together by iron bands. There is no sign of warping but there are numerous deep impressions which were probably made with a metal pickaxe or similar tool during recovery operations.

As reinforced for display, the boat measures 8.64m in length and up to 1.18m in beam. The floor measures up to 0.73m in breadth and the height of the sides varies around 0.3m internally and 0.5m externally. The bottom and sides measure between 90mm and 120mm and about 80mm in thickness respectively. The boat is roughly-formed of much-knotted timber and has probably been worked from a half-sectioned log. Extensive splitting has occurred along the junction of the floor with the flared sides where the timber has been left excessively thin. There are nine holes forming two transverse lines across the floor and sides about 2.3m and 5.8m respectively from the bow. These holes generally measure about 15mm in diameter and may have been drilled to receive thickness-gauges but their circular shape suggests that they have formed part of a post-shrinkage reinforcement operation. The single hole that is located on the centreline 4.4m from the bow measures 20mm in diameter and may be similarly explained. There are also numerous small holes of unknown function distributed around the boat.

The bow has probably been pointed externally in both horizontal and vertical planes but has been foreshortened by splitting and breakage; the internal form is rounded. The stern has suffered greatly from splitting and differential shrinkage, the port side being greatly reduced in height and the starboard held in place by modern ironwork. The worn and distorted remains of the groove for the (lost) transom are clearly visible; this has measured about 170mm and 120mm in breadth at top and bottom respectively, and about 60mm in depth.

On the basis of the dimensions recorded at the time of discovery, the boat was of relatively narrow form, having a slenderness index of 6.8. The beam/draught coefficient and the displacement were within the mid-range for Scottish logboats, having values of 1.3 and about 6.7 cubic metres respectively. Assuming the boat to have been worked from a whole log, as appears probable but not certain, the log conversion percentage is about 90%. The McGrail morphology code is 44a3:113:3x3 and the form is a variant of the dissimilar-ended type.

This vessel has yielded radiocarbon dates of 485 =/- 40 ad (Q-3121) and 430 +/- 45 ad (Q-3141), which may be calibrated to about 599 and 548 cal AD respectively.

Scot Notes Queries 1896; A Hutcheson 1897; L Scott 1951; H Coutts 1971; S McGrail 1978; S McGrail 1987; R J C Mowat 1996, visited August 1987; information from Miss C Lavell.