SCAPE

Aerial image of the excavation trenches

Prehistoric buildings exposed by coastal erosion

Gletness Excavation Report is out!
In May, SCAPE & Archaeology Shetland excavated an eroding Middle-Late Iron Age settlement & a Bronze Age burnt mound.
Short visit, big archaeology.
Download the Report: scapetrust.org/wp-content/u...

@archshet.bsky.social
#coastarch #CoastalHeritage #hessupported

Candace: The Life of a Lowestoft Sailing Drifter (1888–1919) - The SCAPE Trust In a quiet inlet of Southladie Voe, West Sandwick, Yell (Shetland), lies the remains of an old wooden wreck. Enough survives to identify her as a probable Class 1 sailing drifter, though her design di...

TR Manson bought her from Hay & Co. in Lerwick, salvaging her oak timbers to build Ladybank House in West Sandwick. A remarkable journey. She may be the only surviving Lowestoft-built fishing smack in Scotland.

The full biography is on our blog here: scapetrust.org/candace-the-...

With the name and help from local researchers, it's been possible to trace her story. Built in Lowestoft in 1888, Candace LT171 was a herring fishing smack. She came to Shetland in 1902, re-registered as LK554 to fisherman William Gear. In 1919, the Admiralty advertised her in the Shetland Times...

A mystery solved. . .
Back in May, we asked for help identifying a wreck in Sandladie Voe, West Sandwick. Amazingly, someone gave us a possible name: Candace.

#hessupported #shetlandwreck

A Walk of Discovery: North Yell, Shetland - The SCAPE Trust The stunning beach at Sands of Breckon is a magnet in North Yell for locals and visitors alike – but did you know that by taking a short walk around the headland you will discover a rich archaeologica...

(4/4) These incredible sites are under threat from coastal erosion and shifting sands. Recording and monitoring them, we gather vital information about how our coastline is changing, and protect our coastal heritage for future generations.
Read our blog here: scapetrust.org/a-walk-of-di...

Eroding beach section at Sads of Breckon

(3/4) At the north end of Sands of Breckon beach sea erosion and dune blowouts have exposed layers of sand and fine gravel in the coastal section. This reflects natural dynamics of a beach system, but due to the archaeology so close by, these dunes should be monitored for any changes.

Toft house and enclosure wall in the sand dunes

(2/4) The house at Toft was occupied in 1877 and is now partly buried in sand, with traces of walls disappearing into the dunes - evidence of how quickly sand can overwhelm a place and make it impossible to live in.

broch outer works at the edge of a cliff

Join us on the latest Walk of Discovery in North Yell, Shetland.
First up is the broch at Fillacomb point, not much to see except the faint outer traces of the bank. The coastline is exposed to the high energy of the North Atlantic Ocean battering against the rock (1/4)...

A fantastic piece of research brought together place names, written sources, and local knowledge, along with visiting sites to test the waulking process. We recommend this 2023 Shetland Amenity Trust blog about the project - it is a fascinating read: www.shetlandamenity.org/talking-toev...
(3/3)

Here are two from our Shetland survey - a shallow trough type "Devakoddi" at Gletness, Mainland and a cleft type at Cruness, Breckon, Yell. Difficult to see at first, once you get your eye in to the enclosed space and gentle waves, these understated sites are rather special! (2/3)

Tovakuddas are coastal rock pools and clefts used by Shetlanders between the 12th to 17th century to shrink or waulk 'Wadmal' - a handwoven wool cloth. The cloth was secured in these protective pools and the motion of the sea strengthened and thickened it... (1/3)
#tovakudda #hessupported

Aerial photographs from our May 2025 Yell Survey are helping us understand how this fragile landscape is changing.

Full findings coming soon in the Yell Survey Report! stay tuned...

This remarkable site at Sands of Breckon, Yell, is revealing layers of history. Coastal processes have exposed prehistoric houses and burial cairns.

@archshet.bsky.social @standrewshist.bsky.social
#HESsupported #coastarch #scotarchstrat

Bronze Age Bressay! - The SCAPE Trust Volunteers on the Shetland Island of Bressay excavated a critically endangered eroding Bronze Age burnt mound and moved it stone by stone to the Heritage Centre, saving its story for future generation...

And read about the Bressay burnt mound reconstruction too. Thanks to the landowners, supporters, and volunteers! scapetrust.org/bronze-age-b...

Meur Burnt Mound, Sanday - The SCAPE Trust Volunteers on the Orkney Island of Sanday excavated a critcally endangered eroding Bronze Age burnt mound and relocated it stone by stone to the Sanday Heritage Centre. The reconstruction tells the st...

SCAPE have helped local communities on Bressay (Shetland) and Sanday (Orkney) to recover eroding complex burnt mounds before they were lost to the sea and reconstruct them for the community and visitors to enjoy. Read about the Sanday burnt mound here scapetrust.org/meur-burnt-m...

What were burnt mounds for? We know they were not living spaces, and their function relies on a plentiful supply of fresh water to fill a large tank with hot water. Some suggestions include beer making, cloth production, leather working, communal cooking areas, wash-houses, or saunas.

A corbelled stone structure continues beneath the visible closing slabs.

An area of paving may have been a passageway or cell in the burnt mound complex, and is covered by dumps of hearth waste (peat ash, burnt clay and charcoal) suggesting the hearth area is close by.

Fire-cracked stones form the burnt mound, which surrounds the main activity area.

Our excavation at Gletness in Shetland with @archshet.bsky.social revealed the heat-shattered stones of a burnt mound, a beautiful, manly limestone paved area, and excitingly, the closing slabs at the top of subterranean corbelled structure - possibly the roof of a Bronze Age well! #hessupported

Sand layer from a possible tsunami 1500 years ago. A penny road built as a famine relief project in the 1840-50s. Eroding prehistoric settlement and a giant noost! Just a few highlights from the June survey in Yell. Huge thanks to everyone. Yell is a very special place. We had a wonderful time.

What progress over just 4 days with the amazing @archshet.bsky.social on the Gletness dig. One or more big Iron Age buildings and a Bronze Age burnt mound. Done and dusted for now. Thank you everyone!
#HESSupported #coastarch #ScotArchStrat

Gletness Day 2 with @coastarch.bsky.social

Excellent first day with @archshet.bsky.social on the Gletness dig. Thank you everyone!

#HESSupported #coastarch #ScotArchStrat

You can’t do a coastal survey in Shetland without encountering brochs. These epic monuments of the Iron Age never fail to impress and interest us. What's your favourite Shetland broch?
#hessupported #coastarch #scotarchstrat

You never know what’s round the corner. This re-used saddle quern hints of a nearby prehistoric site - and sure enough - a few paces further, an Iron Age settlement is revealed in the eroding section. We look forward to returning to Yell in June for more!
#hessupported #coastarch #scotarchstrat

Breckon Mill

Breckon Mill

Toft mill was described as a stone box built over the burn. It went out of use by the 1870s.

Toft Mill

Shetland horizontal mills - used for a 1000 years - now mostly ruinous. You will find them alone or in groups, like these examples in North Yell. An intact working example survives at the Crofthouse Museum in Dunrossness which you can visit! #hessupported #coastarch #scotarchstrat

Building of the day - a ruinous Böd – (store with accommodation associated with commercial fishing) on the shore at Lindburn, West Yell.
We'd love to know more about the history of this interesting building!
#hessupported #scotarchstrat #coastarch

Looking forward to heading up to the beautiful island of Yell, Shetland for coastal surveys with the community 20-24 May and 4-6 June. Join us as we explore this historic coast or get in touch with your knowledge of Yell’s coastal heritage and coastal change #Coastarch #Hessupported #ScotArchStrat

A Walk of Discovery: Ness of Duncansby, Caithness - The SCAPE Trust Just east of John O’ Groats at a place called Robert’s Haven, you can see fragments of drystone walls and dark coloured soils full of pottery, shell, and fish bone eroding out of the dunes. Thanks to ...

A Norse fish processing site, a rocket pole, limekilns, intertidal poetry and more – all within an hour’s walk of John O’ Groats. Read about this wonderful coastal landscape on the Walk of Discovery blog scapetrust.org/a-walk-of-di...
#hessupported #scotarchstrat #coastarch

If you encounter a monumental erratic like these ones
at Roy’s Bay, Portmahomack, check if it's named on the historic OS map. Named rocks serve as landmarks for navigation and are often associated with local stories. They blur the lines between natural & cultural heritage.
#HESSupported #CoastArch

Such a great project covering loads of important maritime and coastal heritage! This report will be really useful for our work going forward. Congratulations on getting this substantial piece of work out! 🎉👏

A massive, bleached white Sperm Whale skull rests on the rocky shore north of Portmahomack, having washed ashore years ago. A person stands behind it, highlighting its enormous size. Surrounding the skull are scattered stones and calm waters.

Volunteers at the end of a hard day. Five people stand beside a railway arch, each holding a red and white ranging rod, with brown bracken and bare trees surrounding them.

A misty picture of six people standing on a beach with several pools of water and the shore in the distance. In front, there are three seaweed-covered stones and a ranging pole marking the site of a supposed holy well.

Tarbat Ness Lighthouse, built in 1830 by Robert Stevenson, stands tall with its red and white stripes at the tip of Tarbat Ness. Powerful North Sea waves crash against the eroding red sandstone cliffs surrounding the headland. Above, a bright blue sky is dotted with fluffy white clouds.

We had a great time on the Dornoch Firth over the last few days, discovering and recording the area's rich maritime heritage and sharing knowledge with enthusiastic local volunteers. Thanks to everyone who came out and helped with the survey! #CoastArch #HESSupported #ScotArchStrat