A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Researching the Intertidal and Marine Archaeology in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland

ABSTRACT

The Outer Hebrides Coastal Community Marine Archaeology Pilot Project (OHCCMAPP) was developed to test practical approaches to intertidal and marine archaeological site investigation by incorporating coastal, geoarchaeological, and aerial and underwater archaeological specialists with a strong focus on community engagement and public outreach. The OHCCMAPP's thematic objectives were not temporally constrained, but sought information on submerged prehistoric landscapes, marine resource exploitation, and maritime transportation related to the Outer Hebrides Maritime Historic Environment. The project was designed to start broadly with the entire archipelago under consideration, before study areas were narrowed down to medium-scale, and eventually, following an evidence-based approach, investigations undertaken at the site level. Consideration was given to working within optimal tidal conditions to ensure a maximum area of coverage in the intertidal zones. A phased approach was taken over two field seasons, with desk-based assessments of landscapes and previously recorded material forming the foundations from which to build original field surveys in under-represented areas, mainly centered around the coasts of sea lochs (fjords) around the Outer Hebrides. This article presents a simplified methodology and results of the 2011–2012 field campaigns with associated discussion and a more detailed case study site.

Keywords:

• fish traps and yairs
• intertidal archaeology
• marine resource exploitation
• Outer Hebrides
• Scotland
• sea-level rise

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The support of various members of the communities of Grimsay, Locheynort, Stornoway, Manish, and Lochboisdale greatly aided the project team in the field. Marine Harvest at Lochboisdale is thanked for logistical support and transport to and from Hairteabhagh. J. J. McDonald and Alexander McDonald are thanked for sharing their knowledge of the marine environment and transport to and from Stulaigh and Locheynort. Mairi Stewart is thanked for supporting the team at Grimsay. Dr. Rob Lenfert is thanked for his time and expertise during the underwater surveys. Philip Robertson, John Raven, and Rod McCullough at Historic Scotland are thanked for their advice and input to the project and for supporting the radiocarbon dating and the project in general. Anne McSween of Historic Scotland provided the identification of the Neolithic ceramic material and is thanked for her expertise. Nick Dixon of the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology is thanked for his helpful information about the palaeoenvironmental material near Tob Lundale. Thanks also to Uist Archaeology for friendly advice in the pub. Various staff members contributed to the field and reporting efforts of the OHCCMAPP from within the project partner organizations, in particular: John McCarthy, Simon Davidson (WA Coastal & Marine), George Geddes, and Kevin Grant (RCAHMS) and Kevin Murphy (CNE-Siar) all significantly contributed to the project. Dave Cowley is specifically thanked for his substantial contribution in the air and his helpful comments during the editorial process. The authors would like to thank the three anonymous peer reviewers for their considerable effort and constructive critique. Finally, to all those who reported finds, sites, and stories the OHCCMAPP team is very grateful for your time and interest.

FUNDING

The authors would like to thank Historic Scotland for funding the OHCCMAPP.

Notes

¹Traditional stone fish traps or yairs are known as cara or caraigh in the Outer Hebrides (the Gaelic term for these structures). http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/53989/4;jsessionid=34C688F2E3549E6431ABD422EB1A31DE.

²http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/.

³There is an on-going debate about the dates of the earliest Neolithic in NW Scotland; see http://www.scottishheritagehub.com/sites/default/files/u12/ScARF%20Neolithic%20June%202012%20v2%20.pdf.

⁴http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/128643/details/unknown+traigh+bhan+fuday+sound+of+barra/.

⁵http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/126023.

⁶See RCAHMS survey plan of area: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/318868/ and image SC1320075.

⁷http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/315846.

⁸http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/318431.

⁹http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/318895.

¹⁰ Tr1-4/50 (SUERC-42567/GU28481): 9643 ± 27 bp (9229–9119 cal BC (52%); 9007–8915 cal BC (36%)). Tr1-4/55 (SUERC-42568/GU28482): 10135 ± 28 bp (9896–9745 cal BC (55.5%); 10027–9908 cal BC (32.6%)), calibrated using OxCal 4.1.7 using the IntCal 09 curve.