Wessex Archaeology
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Wessex Archaeology Kennemerland, Out Skerries, Shetland Isles Designated Site Assessment Archaeological Report Ref: 53111.03ll April 2006 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES IN RELATION TO THE PROTECTION OF WRECKS ACT (1973) KENNEMERLAND, OUT SKERRIES, SHETLAND ISLES DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT Prepared by: Wessex Archaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park Salisbury Wiltshire SP4 6EB Prepared for: Historic Scotland Longmore House Salisbury Place Edinburgh EH9 1SH April 2006 Ref: 53111.03ll © Wessex Archaeology Limited 2006 Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No.287786 Kennemerland: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03ll KENNEMERLAND, OUT SKERRIES, SHETLAND ISLES DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT REF.: 53111.03LL Summary Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Historic Scotland to undertake a Designated Site Assessment of the wreck of the Kennemerland: a designated wreck located off the islands of the Out Skerries, Shetland Isles. The work was undertaken as part of the Contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The Kennemerland was a ship of the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (the Dutch East India Company or VOC). It was wrecked off Out Skerries in December 1664 while en route to Batavia. Britain and the United Provinces of the Free Netherlands were on the verge of war at this time and VOC ships were taking the longer achter om route through the North Sea to avoid the risk of interception in the English Channel. The Kennemerland was attempting this passage when, running ahead of a southerly gale, she struck Stoura Stack at the entrance to Out Skerries natural harbour and broke in half. The wreck's forepart foundered in the deep water adjacent to Stoura Stack and the remaining stern portion was swept into the harbour and washed up on Bruray Island before being swept back out to sea on the following tide. The wreck was discovered in 1971 by members of the Aston University Sub Aqua Club and has subsequently been subject to several seasons of excavation. Diving operations in the Out Skerries were scheduled to take place between 19th and 26th of August 2005. In the event diving on the Kennemerland site was not possible during this period due to wind conditions averaging Force 6 and on occasion rising to Gale Force 11. As diving was impossible during WA's visit, non-diving tasks were undertaken: a photographic archive was compiled looking over the site in various conditions and three anchors thought to possibly be related to the wreck were found on the island of Bruray and photographed and drawn by WA members. During the post-excavation process a limited archive assessment was conducted. This involved compiling a brief history of the vessel and a summary history of the archaeological investigations on the site. i Kennemerland: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03ll KENNEMERLAND, OUT SKERRIES, SHETLAND ISLES DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT REF.: 53111.03LL Acknowledgements This investigation was commissioned by Historic Scotland as part of the Contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The assistance of the following people is gratefully acknowledged: Pete Pritchard of Pritchard Diving Services; Callum Irivne, skipper of the MV Hegrie; Chris Dobbs for information provided about prior work on the site; Mrs Anna Henderson and the people of Out Skerries for their support and warm welcome. Fieldwork in Out Skerries was undertaken from the vessel MV Hegrie. The personnel that took part were WA archaeologists Margaret Christie, Frank Mallon, Hanna Steyne and Pete Pritchard. This report was compiled by Niall Callan and Margaret Christie. Kitty Brandon prepared the illustrations and the project was managed for Wessex Archaeology by Steve Webster. Data Licences The material derived from the UKHO is subject to licence 820/020220/11 and the conditions on End-Users and Third Parties contained therein. The following chart requests have been added to Schedule 1 Annex A: Digital use of Admiralty Chart 3284 (2002). A copy of the report will be sent to UKHO. ii Kennemerland: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03ll KENNEMERLAND, OUT SKERRIES, SHETLAND ISLES DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT REF.: 53111.03LL Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES............................................................................................ 1 3. EXISTING SITE DATA ................................................................................................ 2 3.1. Site Position ..................................................................................................................... 2 3.2. Available Data................................................................................................................. 2 4. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 2 4.1. Diving ............................................................................................................................... 2 4.2. Tasks Undertaken........................................................................................................... 2 4.3. Desk-based Assessment .................................................................................................. 3 5. RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 3 5.1. The Kennemerland .......................................................................................................... 3 5.2. Summary Archaeological History ................................................................................. 3 6. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 5 7. REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 5 Figures Figure 1 Kennemerland site location Plates Plate 1 Kennemerland site Plate 2 Installing the GPS system Front Cover Waves over the site Back cover The site in calmer conditions iii Norman’s Bay Wreck: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03nn KENNEMERLAND, OUT SKERRIES, SHETLAND ISLES DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT Ref.: 53111.03ll 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1.1. This document constitutes a Designated Site Assessment: Archaeological Report for a programme of archaeological work undertaken as part of the Contract for Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The document has been prepared by Wessex Archaeology (WA) for Historic Scotland (HS). It constitutes an assessment of the Kennemerland: a designated wreck site located off the islands of the Out Skerries, Shetland Isles. 1.1.2. The work was conducted in accordance with a brief provided by HS. Operations on several sites in the Shetland Isles took place during one session between 19th and 26th of August 2005. During this time diving on the Kennemerland site was not possible due to wind conditions averaging Force 6 and on occasion rising to Gale Force 11. As diving was impossible during WA's visit, non-diving tasks were undertaken: a photographic archive was compiled looking over the site in various conditions and three anchors which may have been related to the wreck were found on the island of Bruray and photographed and drawn by WA members. 2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2.1.1. The overall aim for the site as defined in the brief was for recording to Level 3a. This level is defined in the following table: Sub- Level Type Objective Character Scope Description level The first stage of a A record that full record of the enables an A detailed site. This would In situ archaeologist who record of include a full 3 has not seen the site 3a Diagnostic selected measured sketch of to comprehend its elements the site and a components, layout of the site. database (or and sequences. equivalent) entry for all surface artefacts. 2.1.2. This was further defined, specifying the following objectives: • Relocation of the material indicated on the site plan; • Geo-referencing the site plan and any material or features located; • Establishing the extent of the site and the relationship between cultural material and the designated area of the seabed. 1 Norman’s Bay Wreck: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03nn 3. EXISTING SITE DATA 3.1. SITE POSITION 3.1.1. The position of the site as given in the Statutory Instrument (SI) is as follows: Lat. 60° 25’ 12” N Long. 00° 45’ 00” W OSGB 36 3.1.2. The SI number is 19 and from the centre point (given above) the designated area consists of a circle with a radius of 250 metres. There is no current licensee. 3.2. AVAILABLE DATA 3.2.1. Other information available prior to the assessment was as follows: • Licensee reports; • Archaeological Diving Unit (ADU) reports, 068, 96/14, 2002; • Articles; • Statutory Instrument 1978; • UKHO Data; • NMR Data. 4. METHODOLOGY 4.1. DIVING 4.1.1. During WA’s seven-day stay in the Out Skerries diving operations were not possible due to weather conditions. The site, despite being reasonably well sheltered by the islands of Housay, Bruray, Grunay, Old Man Stack and Ubda Stack, is exposed to wind coming up the narrow mouth from the south. WA’s visit was plagued by southerly, south westerly, and south