Islay Coast - Geological and Archaeological Survey
Thursday, November 01 2007Islay has a fascinating coastline consisting of beautiful shingle and sand beaches, rocks, high cliffs, arches, stags, marshes and dune systems. And Islay has lots of it, the total coastline including the islands is around 300km, which means there is enough to explore and enjoy. A few days ago I accidently stumbled upon a very interesting part of a report which describes, in great detail, a certain stretch of Islay's coastline. After some further investigation I found a complete report, commissioned by the Scape Trust in 2002. SCAPE is a short word for Scottish Coastal Archaeology and the Problem of Erosion. The following paragraph explains the intentions and scope of this survey:
Islay's coast east of Sanaigmore Bay
In 2002 and 2003 a coastal zone assessment survey was carried out on Islay. The aims of this work were to gather specific data on the location, nature and condition of the coastal archaeological resource and to assess the nature and degree of future risk to these sites. Similar programmes of work are being carried out along other coastlines in Scotland and it is hoped that the combined results will inform a national coastal management strategy for archaeology in the future. A further aim of the work was to engage with the local community in an effort to raise awareness of the rich coastal heritage of Islay and of the threats to its survival. During the course of this survey an archaeology group was set up by interested local people. This provided a forum for the sharing of information which led to joint participation in a range of archaeological activities. The project was commissioned by the SCAPE Trust and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and Argyll and Bute District Council. The survey area comprised of some 93.75% of the coast of Islay. The 6.25% not covered includes one area where access was not granted and one remote area. Offshore islands, such as Texa Island and Nave Islands were not surveyed and neither was marine survey carried out.
As a result of this survey a huge report, more than 500 pages, was created with some extremely interesting data. To categorize all the existing sites together with the newly found archaeological sites, the coastal area of Islay was divided in 40 segments. Each of these 40 segments were individually investigated for built heritage & archaeology as well as a coastal zone assessment. The outcome is an amazing amount of data for each of the 40 sections and this can be extremely helpful to identify objects close to Islay's coast, for those interested in archaeology. Besides the historical value of this report the natural aspect is most interesting as well. In each of these 40 sections is carefully described how the coastline and hinterland looks like from a geological point of view. For example, the listing from the stretch of coastline from Bowmore (Bogh Mhor) to Gartbreck gives the following information:
Introduction to Map 37: Bogh Mhor to Gartbreck
This map section covers some 5km of coastline extending from the west side of Bowmore to Gartbreck. The coastline within this area is low-lying and contains both sandy beaches and rocky shoreline, classified variously as stable, eroding and eroding to stable. The hinterland comprises of both modern settlement at Bowmore and grazing land to the south. The A846 road leads to the coast edge in Bowmore and a minor road provides access to Gartbreck. A total of three sites were identified within this map section; two of these had been recorded previously. The village of Bowmore (IY147) was planned and laid out in 1768 by Daniel Campbell II. The village was built to house those people who had been moved off the land at Kilarrow by a programme designed to improve the surroundings of Islay House. It was laid out on a grid based on the Main Street, which runs from the church at the top of the hill, down to the shore. Most of the houses are of 19th and 20th C date, but two warehouses with outside stairs which lie at the end of the Main Street, by the pier, probably date to the late
1700's. 
The distillery was founded in the early 19th C and remains in operation. The first pier was built in 1750 and has been subsequently extended and rebuilt, notably during WWII when it was reinforced and a breakwater was added. A sea plane base existed here (IY146) during WWII but there are now no visible remains surviving.
Built Heritage & Archaeology: IY146 (NR35NW 60), NR 311 600, Bowmore, WWII sea plane base, 18-20th C
Hinterland Geology & Coastal Geomorphology: 1. Bogh Mor, NR 310 599, 1.0 Km, Rock platform, Coast edge mostly <5m, Hinterland geology not generally visible, Rocky coast edge, most of which is defended by buildings in Bowmore. Raised beach to the west of Bowmore.
Besides all this interesting information the report has another highly informative section containing information about vessels known or suspected to have been lost around the coast of Islay. There are an astounishing 341 wrecks on the list, some of them well known by most of us: Wyre Majestic Islay, Sound of Islay, Bunnahabhain, 55.52.54N 06.07.12W, 18.10.1974, Fishing vessel, Larn, B & Larn R 1998 and of course the Otranto, W Islay, S end of Machir Bay, offshore 55.45.46N 06.28.40W, 06.10.1918, Steamship, Larn, B & Larn R 1998.
The full report is available from the SCAPE Trust website. Interesting reading material for the long winternights, so enjoy!
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Gruss,
Armin
www.islayblog.com
www.armin-grewe.com/islay/
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Gruss,
Armin
www.islayblog.com
www.armin-grewe.com/islay/