293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 Project Adair: Mapping Marine Heritage Sites in Orkney and the Pentland Firth Desk-based assessment Project No: 293 ORCA Orkney College East Road Kirkwall Orkney KW15 1LX Report: Edward Pollard, Mark Littlewood, Mary Saunders, Robert Forbes, Kevin Heath HS Project Manager: Philip Robertson ORCA Project Manager: Paul Sharman RCAHMS Project Consultant: George Geddes Funded by: Historic Scotland March 2012 © Historic Scotland 2012 This documents has been prepared in accordance with ORCA standard operating procedures and IFA standards Authorised for distribution by: Date: © Historic Scotland (HS) 3 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................... 9 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... 10 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................ 11 2.0 Background ........................................................................................ 11 2.1 Project Adair ........................................................................................ 11 2.2 Marine legislation in regards to cultural heritage .................................. 12 2.3 Orkney and the Pentland Firth ............................................................. 15 3.0 Aims and Objectives of the Project .................................................. 15 4.0 Methodology ....................................................................................... 17 4.1 Sourcing datasets ................................................................................ 17 4.2 Data Interrogation ................................................................................ 20 4.3 Databases ............................................................................................ 21 4.4 Polygonisation ..................................................................................... 23 5.0 Results: Assessment of the data ...................................................... 25 5.1 The Datasets deriving from marine geophysics ................................... 25 5.1.1 Crown Estate side-scan sonar ............................................................ 25 5.1.2 Crown Estate multi-beam echosounder .............................................. 25 5.1.3 SeaZone TruDepths ........................................................................... 26 5.1.4 British Geological Survey Sub-Bottom Profiles ................................... 28 5.1.5 British Geological Survey Cores and Grab Samples ........................... 28 5.1.6 Marine Scotland Multi-Beam Echosounder ......................................... 29 5.1.7 UKHO Multi-Beam Echosounder ........................................................ 29 5.2 Non geophysics related data sources .................................................. 30 5.2.1 RCAHMS Aerial Photographs ............................................................. 30 5.2.1 Historic Charts .................................................................................... 32 5.2.2 Local Knowledge ................................................................................ 33 5.2.3 Commercial Projects .......................................................................... 33 5.2.4 Research Projects .............................................................................. 34 5.2.5 Canmore ............................................................................................ 34 5.2.6 SeaZone Hydrospatial ........................................................................ 35 5.2.7 Highland HER .................................................................................... 35 5.2.8 Orkney SMR ....................................................................................... 35 5.2.9 Shipwreck-density maps ..................................................................... 36 5.2.10 Wreck websites .................................................................................. 37 5.3 Datasets not reviewed ......................................................................... 37 6.0 Results: Data review .......................................................................... 39 6.1 Crown Estate side-scan sonar ............................................................. 39 6.2 Crown Estate multi-beam echosounder ............................................... 42 6.3 British Geological Survey sub-bottom profiles ..................................... 43 © Historic Scotland (HS) 4 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 6.4 British Geological Survey cores and grab samples .............................. 45 6.5 Historic Charts ..................................................................................... 46 6.6 UKHO Multi-Beam Echosounder ......................................................... 50 6.7 SeaZone TruDepths ............................................................................ 55 6.8 Marine Scotland Multi-Beam Echosounder .......................................... 56 6.9 RCAHMS aerial photographs ............................................................... 56 6.10 Whittaker Density Map ......................................................................... 61 6.11 Local knowledge .................................................................................. 62 6.12 Commercial projects ............................................................................ 63 6.13 Research projects ................................................................................ 64 7.0 The Updated Marine Historic Environment Record of Orkney and the Pentland Firth ............................................................................ 64 7.1 Submerged terrestrial archaeological sites .......................................... 64 7.2 Submerged palaeo-landscapes ........................................................... 66 7.3 Shipwrecks and losses ........................................................................ 68 7.4 Aircraft losses ...................................................................................... 69 7.5 Landing places ..................................................................................... 69 7.6 Anchorages .......................................................................................... 70 7.7 Fishing Areas ....................................................................................... 71 7.8 Tidal causeways and ferry crossings ................................................... 71 7.9 Other marine features .......................................................................... 72 8.0 Discussion .......................................................................................... 72 8.1 Areas of sensitivity around Orkney and the Pentland Firth .................. 72 8.1.1 Sites of harbours, landing places, bridges, causeways and fords ....... 72 8.1.2 Locations of known navigational hazards, historic anchorages, sea- routes and fishing areas ..................................................................... 73 8.1.3 Areas of high sediment accumulation ................................................. 74 8.1.4 Preservation potential in high-energy environments ........................... 75 8.2 Data quality .......................................................................................... 76 8.2.1 MBES data ......................................................................................... 76 8.2.2 Side-scan sonar data.......................................................................... 77 8.2.3 SeaZone TruDepths ........................................................................... 77 8.2.4 Sub-bottom profiles and cores ............................................................ 78 8.2.5 Aerial photography ............................................................................. 78 8.3 Key data gaps ...................................................................................... 78 8.4 Updating the record ............................................................................. 79 8.5 Recommendations ............................................................................... 81 8.5.1 Submerged archaeological sites and landscapes ............................... 81 8.5.2 Investigations of the foreshore and shallow inshore areas, particularly around harbours and ports ................................................................. 82 8.5.3 Recommendations for future record enhancement projects: The datasets ............................................................................................. 83 8.5.4 Recommendations for future record enhancement projects: The databases ........................................................................................... 85 9.0 Conclusions........................................................................................ 86 9.1 Interrogation of marine datasets .......................................................... 86 9.2 Assimilation of data into databases ..................................................... 86 © Historic Scotland (HS) 5 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 9.3 Future archaeological research ........................................................... 87 9.4 Future marine heritage mapping projects ............................................ 88 10.0 Abbreviations ..................................................................................... 89 11.0 References .......................................................................................... 90 Appendices ....................................................................................................... 94 Appendix 1: Types of data ................................................................................ 94 Marine Geophysics .......................................................................................... 94 Multi-beam echo sounders ............................................................................... 94 SeaZone TruDepths ......................................................................................... 94 Magnetometer .................................................................................................. 94 Sub-bottom profiler ........................................................................................... 95 Side-scan sonar ............................................................................................... 95 Aerial Photographs ........................................................................................... 95 Marine cores and grab samples ....................................................................... 95 Grey Literature ................................................................................................. 96 Local Knowledge .............................................................................................. 96 HERs/SMRs ..................................................................................................... 96 Appendix 2: Table showing the database fields in the primary database ......... 98 Appendix 3: List of the data fields attached to each polygon in DSP .............. 100 Appendix 4: Summary of information gathered from SBP .............................. 105 Appendix 5: Core records obtained from the BGS. ......................................... 106 Appendix 6: Metadata from UKHO MBES surveys. ........................................ 107 Appendix 7: Charts examined as part of the review. ...................................... 109 Appendix 8: Recent research projects around Orkney and Caithness. .......... 111 Appendix 9: Side-scan sonar anomalies......................................................... 112 Appendix 10: UKHO record of the Minieh. ...................................................... 113 Appendix 11: Commercial reports with marine archaeological data. .............. 115 Appendix 12: Totals of sites under classifications. ......................................... 116 © Historic Scotland (HS) 6 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 Figures Figure 1: Orkney and the Pentland Firth project area. At end Figure 2: RCAHMS Canmore records, Orkney SMR and Highland HER prior to Project Adair. At end Figure 3: MBES survey areas. At end Figure 4: BGS SBP and core survey data. At end Figure 5: BGS survey data interrogated. At end Figure 6: New, amended and updated maritime records. At end Figure 7: New, amended and updated maritime records only shown by discovery method. At end Figure 8: New, amended and updated maritime records only shown by grouped classification. At end Figure 9: Anchorages and fishing areas. At end Figure 10: 17th-century anchorages. At end Figure 11: 18th-century anchorages and fishing areas. At end Figure 12: 20th-century anchorages. At end © Historic Scotland (HS) 7 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 Plates Plate 1: The primary database ................................................................................................................ 22 Plate 2: The DSP Database ................................................................................................................... 22 Plate 3: Comparison of resolution on SeaZone and UKHO at the Clestrain Hurdles. ............................ 27 Plate 4: Whittaker shipwreck-density map. ............................................................................................. 36 Plate 5: Side-scan sonar anomalies in around 18m of water.................................................................. 39 Plate 6: Side-scan sonar image showing boulders, sand and gravel, and bedrock. .............................. 40 Plate 7: Side-scan sonar data showing gullies in the bedrock off Outshore Point, West Mainland........ 41 Plate 8: Side-scan sonar image showing bedrock, sand and gravel possible boulders. ........................ 41 Plate 9: Side-scan sonar image showing possible wreckage in a gulley filled with gravel ..................... 42 Plate 10: MBES data showing an area of seabed around Whitaloo Point, Mainland ............................. 43 Plate 11: MBES image of Skaill Bay, Mainland. ..................................................................................... 43 Plate 12: Two anomalies of around 6-9m in length found from MBES data ........................................... 44 Plate 13: A SBP anomaly (PUID 180) recorded to the east of Stronsay in a depression ....................... 44 Plate 14: A SBP track showing distinctive sediment layers in a possible palaeo-channel ..................... 45 Plate 15: Variations in bathymetry along the seabed to the west of Eynhallow Sound. ......................... 45 Plate 16: Coal hulk and the wreck of the HMS Roedean, to the NE, in Long Hope ............................... 47 Plate 17: A brig is marked as having foundered on the Cuthe Bank in the North Sound ....................... 47 Plate 18: A torpedo range in Scapa Flow................................................................................................ 48 Plate 19: Landing places marked on Fara .............................................................................................. 49 Plate 20: The mouth of the River Thurso ................................................................................................ 49 Plate 21: The waterfront of Stromness by the Admiralty survey of 1813 ................................................ 50 Plate 22: MBES data showing wrecks .................................................................................................... 51 Plate 23: Linear anomaly, c. 5m high, identified on MBES data ............................................................. 51 Plate 24: A possible inlet or water channel perhaps from a sea level still stand .................................... 52 Plate 25: A possible palaeo-channel or gullies in bedrock outcrop in the North Sound ......................... 52 Plate 26: The wrecks of the Thames and the Minieh .............................................................................. 53 Plate 27: Profile of the seabed showing ridges caused by piecing together information ........................ 54 Plate 28: Profile of the seabed between Cava and the Barrel of Butter ................................................. 54 Plate 29: Inverlane shown in the position of Tabarka in Burra Sound .................................................... 55 Plate 30: A beach clearing for a landing place at Bay of Moclett, Papa Westray ................................... 57 Plate 31: An example of landing point at the Port of Brims, Caithness .................................................. 58 Plate 32: A possible quayside cut into the north part of the Outer Holm ................................................ 59 Plate 33: At the Rough of Rewick at Rerwick Head ................................................................................ 60 Plate 34: Scotland’s Haven, west of the Head of Crees ......................................................................... 61 Plate 35: An Iberian jar possibly dating the 16/17th century ................................................................... 63 Plate 36: Possible location of the Incentive in a gully ............................................................................. 75 Plate 37: SS Avra on a bedrock substrate in the Pentland Firth ............................................................. 76 Plate 38: Comparison of resolution from SeaZone TruDepths and UKHO ............................................. 84 © Historic Scotland (HS) 8 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 Executive Summary Historic Scotland (HS) commissioned Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment of key marine datasets for Orkney and the Pentland Firth. This work took place between October 2011 and March 2012 as part of Project Adair, a partnership between Historic Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and Orkney and Highland Councils. Marine datasets were collated, evaluated for their potential for archaeological analysis, and interrogated to enhance and amend the existing inventories. A variety of recent and traditional datasets were used including marine geophysics, historic charts, aerial photographs and local knowledge. Large spatial gaps in data coverage were identified including west of the Pentland Firth, and in shallower waters around the coast and islands. Areas of the seabed have been surveyed at resolutions that are sufficient to detect large upstanding remains such as iron shipwrecks but insufficient to identify smaller archaeological features. Other datasets have been created at a resolution detailed enough to allow the recognition of smaller anomalies but in some cases possible processing of the data removed small anomalies. A methodology was developed that enables information gathered from similar studies to be effectively assimilated within national and regional inventories and to support cultural heritage within new marine planning, protection systems and the management of offshore resources. In addition to this report, the project results include a database that will readily map to Canmore and Local Authority databases, as well as a shapefile with site-area polygons. As a result, the project has enhanced the historic environment record for the Orkney Waters and the Pentland Firth. A total of 569 ‘sites’ have been investigated as part of this project. Of these, 462 ‘sites’ had not previously been recorded in the HER records. Of the 107 sites, that had been previously recorded, only 12 of these did not have to have their position corrected by the project. Polygonisation of records resulted in GIS-based shapefiles identifying areas of archaeological potential in relation to wrecks; submerged prehistoric landscapes and sites; and anchorages and fishing areas. The presence of bedforms on the geophysical data provides evidence of the local seabed conditions. This will assist management of maritime cultural heritage as it has highlighted areas of preservation potential for submerged terrestrial as well as marine sites. Where features are located in areas of high-sedimentary cover archaeological potential may be expected, particularly where sediments remain largely undisturbed. The evidence from this project suggests that it is seldom possible to discount presence of archaeological material altogether even in a high-energy area. © Historic Scotland (HS) 9 293 Project Adair: Orkney and the Pentland Firth Mapping Marine Heritage Sites 30032012 Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the following who provided data and advice: British Geological Survey (BGS) - Eileen J Gillespie, Paul H. Henni, Mary Mowat, Alan G. Stevenson; Crown Estate - John Robertson; Environmental Research Institute (ERI) - Astrid Harendza; Highland Council - Sylvina Tilbury; Historic Scotland - Philip Robertson, Lyn Wilson; Marine Scotland - Peter Hayes; ORCA - Nick Card, Jane Downes, Paul Sharman; Orkney Dive Boat Operators' Association - Bob Anderson; Orkney Islands Council - Julie Gibson; OIC Engineering - Colin Sutherland; OIC Orkney Harbours - Jenni Kakkonen, John Orr; Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) - Susan Casey, George Geddes, Alex Hale, Leanne McCafferty and Mike Middleton; Rising Tide Project - Martin Bates, Richard Bates, Sue Dawson, Nigel Nayling, Caroline Wickham-Jones; Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme (SFLPS) - Anne Bignall, Julian Branscombe, Joyce Gray; SeaZone - Zach Abraham, Janet Chaplin, Giselle Sykes; UK Hydrographic Office - Guy Hannaford, Nelson McEachan, Matthew Millard. Further local information came from Andrew Appleby, Cyril Annal, Angus Budge, Frank Bradford, Carrie Brown, Christopher Gee, Gavin Lindsay, Tom Muir and Alistair Thorne. The project steering group consisted of George Geddes, Julie Gibson, Mark Littlewood, Edward Pollard, Philip Robertson, Paul Sharman and Sylvina Tilbury. © Historic Scotland (HS) 10