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Divers Discover Flooded Ancient Forest

Underwater archaeologists working in Loch Tay, Perthshire have discovered the remains of a drowned forest just confirmed as dating from the Neolithic period, some 5,000 years ago. Preliminary surveys in the 14 mile long loch carried out by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology have identified well preserved fallen oak and elm trees as well as a series of oak upright trunks embedded in layers of gravel and silt.

Many of the fallen trees have survived in odd shapes creating an erie landscape protruding from the lochbed. Timber samples taken by the Trust’s dive team have just produced radiocarbon dates of 3200BC and 2500BC. 

This is an exciting discovery for scientists of all disciplines as these trees represent possibly the earliest surviving remains of part of Scotland’s natural native woodland, albeit under 2 metres of water. Other neolithic forest remains have been located in Scotland eroding out of peat bogs, but there is no sign of peat having been present at the site in Loch Tay. The inundated woodland is believed to represent the old natural shoreline, now some 10 to 15 metres from the current waterfront.

An appropriate find for what is known as Perthshire’s ‘Big Tree Country’, more work needs to be carried out to determine the extent of the woodland, and to examine what might prove to be the best preserved natural woodland floor in the country. Preliminary investigation has already uncovered hazelnuts, twigs and moss mixed with other organic material. Samples of the timbers themselves can help tree-ring studies which, together with analysis of the sediments, plant remains, and pollen, can assist with climate change studies. This data will provide vital clues as to the period and cause of inundation, and create an accurate reconstruction of the environment and changes over time since the Neolithic period.

The Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology (STUA) is best known for its long term crannog research throughout Scotland and the creation of the award-winning Scottish Crannog Centre at Kenmore at the east end of Loch Tay. Chair of the Trust and Research Fellow at Edinburgh University, Dr Nicholas Dixon said “This is a very exciting and unique find. Loch Tay has 18 crannogs, most of which are submerged or only just exposed above the water surface. While the earliest dates to about 500BC, we know the loch was much lower in the past. Now we hope this discovery will allow us to get the research funding required to launch a multi-disciplinary study into loch level and environmental changes over the last 5,000 years.”

The Trust’s survey work formed part of the 5-year Ben Lawers Area Landscape History Project, run under the auspices of the National Trust for Scotland and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland. The results of the project are being written up by all of the partners, and will be ultimately presented in a series of multi-media publications and exhibitions. Meanwhile, a range of preliminary reports,  including coverage of the drowned forest, will be discussed at the National Trust’s conference about Ben Lawers at the Scottish Natural Heritage centre at Battleby on the 17 September.

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