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<< News >> Ancient drowned forest discovery

Submitted by coldrum on Friday, 01 August 2008  Page Views: 7114

Natural PlacesCountry: Scotland County: Perth and Kinross Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature

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Underwater archaeologists in Perthshire have made the incredible discovery of a drowned forest, thought to date from the neolithic period some 5000 years ago. Stunned divers spotted the ancient wooded area as they worked in Loch Tay.

The eerie find is sure to excite scientists of all disciplines as it could represent the earliest surviving remains of Scotland’s native woodland.

Preliminary surveys in the 14 mile long loch—carried out by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology (STUA) have identified well preserved fallen oak and elm trees as well as a series of oak upright trunks embedded in layers of gravel and silt.

Many of the fallen trees have survived in odd shapes, creating a spooky landscape protruding from the loch bed.

Timber samples taken by the STUA dive team yesterday produced radiocarbon dates of 3200BC and 2500BC.

The forest may be under two feet of water, but that has not dampened the archaeologists’ enthusiasm.

“Other neolithic forest remains have been located in Scotland eroding out of peat bogs, but there is no sign of peat having been present at the site in Loch Tay,” said a spokesman.

“The inundated woodland is believed to represent the old natural shoreline, now some 10 to 15 metres from the current waterfront.”

Preliminary investigation has uncovered hazelnuts, twigs and moss mixed with other organic material.

Samples of the timbers themselves can help tree-ring studies which, together with analysis of the sediments, plant remains, and pollen, can assist with climate change studies.

The STUA is best known for its crannog research throughout Scotland and the creation of the award-winning Scottish Crannog Centre at Kenmore.

STUA chairman and research fellow at Edinburgh University Dr Nicholas Dixon was delighted to learn of the new discovery.

“Now we hope this discovery will allow us to get the research funding required to launch a multi-disciplinary study into loch level and environmental changes over the last 5000 years,” he said last night.

Source: The Courier

Note: An update to this item from 2005, Exploration of underwater forest, see latest comment.
Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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"Ancient drowned forest discovery" | Login/Create an Account | 4 News and Comments
  
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Re: Exploration of underwater forest by Andy B on Friday, 01 August 2008
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Loch Tay is here:
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=12305
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Exploration of underwater forest by Andy B on Friday, 01 August 2008
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Underwater archaeologists are taking to Loch Tay to try to uncover more about a submerged prehistoric woodland.

The stumps of about 50 trees were discovered in 2005 - some of them are thought to be about 6,000 years old.

The experts are now aiming to find their root system and establish the depth to which the trees are buried.

Meanwhile, a campaign has been launched to help restore the reconstructed crannog, an ancient loch dwelling, which attracts thousands of visitors.

The Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology will spend the next two weeks inspecting the drowned forest.

They will be focusing on two trees - one dating from 4,270 BC to 4,040 BC and the other dating from 2,350 BC to 2,120 BC.

As well as looking for the tree roots, they will be taking samples of the sediment and organic materials to establish if there were any landslips taking place between the Mesolithic and the Bronze Ages.
A tree stump
One of the tree stumps could date back to 4,270 BC

Barrie Andrian, who is an underwater archaeologist, told the BBC Scotland news website they could also uncover other secrets.

She said: "Last year, when we took a sample of organic material - because that's one of the beauties of underwater archaeology, all the things are preserved very well underwater generally - we found a sample that had evidence of charcoal, bone and cereal grains.

The experts are unsure whether it washed in from another crannog, from the shore, or by another means.

'Human impact'

She added: "Potentially we could be finding evidence of human impact on the environment from several thousand years ago.

"But in general terms, in underwater archaeology we're looking for remains of people travelling up and down the loch, things they've dropped, how they've used the loch and settlement alongside or in the water, because crannogs were built out in the water.

"So if we're going to find out more information about crannogs and the people who built them and lived in them we need to excavate underwater."
The Loch Tay Crannog
The wood of the crannog has been eroded and needs refurbished

Ms Andrian is also the director of the Scottish Crannog Centre, near Aberfeldy, which is visited by an estimated 25,000 people every year.

The centre is urgently in need of money to refurbish the reconstructed Iron Age home on the loch.

Ms Andrian said: "When we started building in 1994, and it was a total experiment, we were using authentic materials, so no pile drivers, no water proofing, no weather proofing, no creosote, no nothing, just the way it would've been done in the past.

"We used the same species as the ancient people did - that's mainly alder, we would've liked to use more oak because there was oak in the original houses as well, but obviously oak is very expensive.

"What we've discovered since then is that alder doesn't last very long in the water - that's because the most exposed parts of the timbers are where the loch level rises and falls between winter and summer and it's causing erosion in that area."

Staff will now look into ways of naturally protecting the structure and Polish specialists have even visited to give their advice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7507564.stm
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Re: Sunken Forest by Anonymous on Friday, 01 September 2006
found some interesting boulders whilst canoing loch maree, some as big as houses, would like to dive the place next year,we had permission to wild camp on one of the islands/no fires of course, due to the underlying peat,fantastic place to do some real exploring(still a kid at heart)some huge fish, Are there any decent pike in there, dont mind a bit of catch& release piking,//if you manage to getto the islands even snorkelling is awesome the gin clear waters had a lovely peaty tinge but exceptionally clear non the less, fantastic,,best yet,
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Re: Sunken Forest by Spindrift on Sunday, 18 September 2005
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Amazing find - I've seen countless remains of the old forest in the peat when out in the hills but I never thought there would be anything left underwater. Should have done more freshwater diving !

Cheers - Dave.
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