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MHG659349 - Wrecked boats - Eriboll (E)

Summary

Two wrecked wooden boats.

Type and Period (1)

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Full Description

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

On a grassy area behind the sand and shingle beach at Eriboll are two wrecked wooden boats. The first is a clinker-built rowing boat, 6 m from prow to stern, 2.4 m beam. The remains of thwarts for rowing, and rotted oars inside, are extant, along with an iron fitting for a mast. It has a shallow draught and is deep-bellied, with a maximum height 1.4 m from keel, overlapping strakes, and internal ribs. It is very badly weathered. The second boat "Maid of Morven II" is still serviceable, but in poor condition. There is a further small rowing vessel, upturned behind the modern boathouse. It is very fragmentary, and is 4.25 m Iong. There is also an anchor at the back of the beach, 1.6 m long, 1.10 m across at the base. It is very badly laminated. About 4 m of the fragmentary iron chain is attached. There are three more small rowing boats, in various states of preservation, against the dry-stone dyke to the NW. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Note: all the wrecks have disappeard by 2020. (TB 1/6/26)

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 4340 5748 (54m by 42m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC45NW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DURNESS

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