Sands of Sound archaeology

22 June 2016 16:00

The Old Scatness site has been open during the Easter weekend for tours and to gather views on its long-term future. Photo: SAT

SURVEYS will be carried out in the coming weeks to identify whether the Old Scatness archaeology site can be extended.

Geophysics students from the University of Leeds and Shetland Amenity Trust will also explore the Sands of Sound beach in Lerwick, where a wall of potentially neolithic origin was discovered recently.

The surveys will take place from 30 June and will last for around one week.

Magnetometry, ground penetrating radar and electromagnetics will be used by two students, who will be supervised by University of Leeds geophysics lecturer Dr Adam Booth.

Coastal erosion has uncovered what may be historically significant remains at the Sands of Sound. Photo: SAT

Old Scatness, located near Sumburgh Airport, is regarded as a world-class archaeology site.

It was discovered in the 1970s during excavation work for the airport and contains a broch and a village that span 2,000 years.

There is “indirect evidence” that the site may be larger than first thought, prompting the new survey to take place.

Meanwhile, the remains of what appears to be a neolithic house were found by a member of the public on the Sounds of Sound beach in Lerwick earlier this year.

It is hoped that the university team will be able to pinpoint more exactly the boundaries of the settlement, which was unearthed due to coastal erosion.

Those interested in learning more about the two sites and speaking to the survey team are encouraged to visit them during the week.

The Shetland Amenity Trust website and Facebook page will be updated with the location of the team.

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