Discovering Bute

29 September 2009

With the help of local volunteers, RCAHMS survey team has identified 185 previously unrecorded archaeological sites on Bute.

One of the most significant finds is a Bronze Age cooking site near Kilmichael farm on the north west of the island.  Further study of the site, which may have been used for large scale feasts, will help expand understanding of Bronze Age occupation on Bute.

The discoveries come as part of a partnership project to complete the most detailed ever survey of the island.  Working with the Discover Bute Landscape Partnership Scheme (DBLPS), RCAHMS has recorded over 600 known and new archaeological sites in seven weeks of survey work.  Using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units accurate to under a metre, the survey has considerably improved the precision of the information about Bute currently held within RCAHMS searchable online database Canmore. The records are also being updated to include information from historic Ordnance Survey mapping, eighteenth century estate maps and the Ordnance Survey Name Books.

Bute’s local history society and local volunteers have played a major part in the project, including helping to locate and identify archaeological sites on the island.  One of the long term aims is to provide training in archaeological recording techniques to the community, giving them the skills required to continue the work initiated by RCAHMS and DBPLS.