Ancient boat remains found

Published on Tuesday 28 April 2009 22:59

HISTORIC Scotland is to launch an underwater survey after the discovery of ancient boat remains off the west coast.

Marine archaeologists believe the find may point to the site of a boatbuilder's yard dating back many centuries, to the time when the Lords of the Isles used sea travel to rule a huge part of Scotland's western seaboard.

Philip Robertson, a marine archaeology expert at Historic Scotland, said: "There have been some reported finds of materials associated with terrestrial settlement. It might be a boatbuilding site from the early period."

He did not disclose the exact site, but said: "It's on the west coast of Scotland and the survey is associated with medieval boatbuilding and boat use, in particular areas associated with the Lords of the Isles.

"It's a fairly shallow area, so it will be a snorkelling project. We we think we are looking at the 10th, 11th, 12th century. Some local people found some boat remains, and there may be other bits of boat and other things."