21 April 2010: Hawk’s Nib, Bute

RCAHMS have visited Bute to present the results of an ongoing survey of the archaeology of the island to interested locals.

Taking place over three years, once finished the survey will represent the most detailed ever undertaken of Bute.  Working with the Discover Bute Landscape Partnership Scheme (DBLPS), RCAHMS has so far recorded over 600 known and new archaeological sites.  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. With their assistance, RCAHMS survey team has identified 185 previously unrecorded sites.

Project manager Dr Alex Hale , said, “There is definitely a positive correlation between working with the local people and being able to identify sites, as the local community will, more often than not, have a better idea of where even the smallest sites are.”

One of the long term aims of the project 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.  Initial findings have already been incorporated into Canmore, with more information being added all the time.