2004 Underwater Survey Season
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| The underwater archaeology project permits us to understand elements of the archaeology surviving beneath Loch Tay. Phase 2 of the Shore and Underwater Survey took place in March 2004. The shorewalking that began in 2003 was concluded and about 300 features have now been recorded. Phase 2 saw the planning of some of the shore features but concentrated on the snorkel survey of the shallows along the shore and sampling of the crannogs in the area. | |
| Snorkelling was carried out by volunteers. Some had diving experience
but others were new to snorkelling and to wearing dry suits, which were
essential to keep them warm. In two weeks they snorkelled the whole shoreline
covering about 15 kilometres and examined the loch bed from the edge out
to the point where visibility made it impossible to observe features clearly.
A number of timber alignments and piles were seen underwater and they may be the remains of early buildings once on shore. Four particularly large timbers may be the remains of log boats. Possible cup-marked rocks and a stone mound were also noted in the shallows. |
Nick Dixon briefing his team before the dive |
"2004 Ben Lawers Dive Team |
Areas of the loch bed too deep for snorkel survey were examined by divers. Only certain areas were surveyed as the potential area is massive and much of it will be looked at during the planned remote sensing survey. The areas adjacent to the crannogs were specifically targeted as were the crannogs themselves. Where possible, a timber sample was taken from an upright pile and a sample was taken of the associated organic matrix in which it was embedded. |
| The results from the crannog samples were very exciting
and have added considerably to our understanding of the people who occupied
Loch Tay in the past. Morenish Crannog in the west of the survey area
and Tombreck Crannog towards the east produced almost identical radiocarbon
dates at 10±50AD (GU-12125) and 0±50BC/AD (GU-12126). The environmental
samples showed that the Morenish Crannog dwellers were farmers growing
six-row barley, spelt wheat and flax on the nearby shore. The Tombreck
Crannog folk left burnt bone and charcoal on their site but no evidence
of farming. Milton Morenish Crannog in the middle of the area was particularly exciting with a radiocarbon date of 580±50BC (GU-12123) making it contemporary with Oakbank Crannog nearer the east end of Loch Tay. Cloudberries, only found at Oakbank previously, also came from Milton Morenish and seeds of barley, spelt and emmer wheat and flax show that they were sophisticated farmers. Another exciting date of 430±50 AD came from Eilean Breaban, a substantial island known to have been inhabited as late as the 17th century AD. This is the first Dark Age crannog in Loch Tay and may have been occupied throughout the Pictish Period. |
The dive team planning a crannog |
Diver removing a sample from the crannog
| Nick Dixon The Scottish Crannog Centre [External Link] |
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