out skerries, shetland isles

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES IN RELATION TO THE PROTECTION OF WRECKSACT (1973)

KENNEMERLAND, OUT SKERRIES, SHETLAND ISLES

DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT

Prepared by:

Wessex ArchaeologyPortway HouseOld Sarum Park

SalisburyWiltshireSP4 6EB

Prepared for:

Historic ScotlandLongmore HouseSalisbury Place

EdinburghEH9 1SH

April 2006

Ref: 53111.03ll

© Wessex Archaeology Limited 2006Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No.287786

Kennemerland: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03ll

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DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTREF.: 53111.03LL

Summary

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Historic Scotland to undertake a Designated SiteAssessment of the wreck of the Kennemerland: a designated wreck located off the islands ofthe Out Skerries, Shetland Isles. The work was undertaken as part of the Contract forArchaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973).

The Kennemerland was a ship of the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (the Dutch EastIndia Company or VOC). It was wrecked off Out Skerries in December 1664 while en routeto Batavia. Britain and the United Provinces of the Free Netherlands were on the verge of warat this time and VOC ships were taking the longer achter om route through the North Sea toavoid the risk of interception in the English Channel. The Kennemerland was attempting thispassage when, running ahead of a southerly gale, she struck Stoura Stack at the entrance toOut Skerries natural harbour and broke in half. The wreck's forepart foundered in the deepwater adjacent to Stoura Stack and the remaining stern portion was swept into the harbour andwashed up on Bruray Island before being swept back out to sea on the following tide. Thewreck was discovered in 1971 by members of the Aston University Sub Aqua Club and hassubsequently been subject to several seasons of excavation.

Diving operations in the Out Skerries were scheduled to take place between 19th and 26th ofAugust 2005. In the event diving on the Kennemerland site was not possible during thisperiod due to wind conditions averaging Force 6 and on occasion rising to Gale Force 11. Asdiving was impossible during WA's visit, non-diving tasks were undertaken: a photographicarchive was compiled looking over the site in various conditions and three anchors thought topossibly be related to the wreck were found on the island of Bruray and photographed anddrawn by WA members. During the post-excavation process a limited archive assessment wasconducted. This involved compiling a brief history of the vessel and a summary history of thearchaeological investigations on the site.


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Acknowledgements

This investigation was commissioned by Historic Scotland as part of the Contract forArchaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). The assistance ofthe following people is gratefully acknowledged: Pete Pritchard of Pritchard Diving Services;Callum Irivne, skipper of the MV Hegrie; Chris Dobbs for information provided about priorwork on the site; Mrs Anna Henderson and the people of Out Skerries for their support andwarm welcome.

Fieldwork in Out Skerries was undertaken from the vessel MV Hegrie. The personnel thattook part were WA archaeologists Margaret Christie, Frank Mallon, Hanna Steyne and PetePritchard. This report was compiled by Niall Callan and Margaret Christie. Kitty Brandonprepared the illustrations and the project was managed for Wessex Archaeology by SteveWebster.

Data Licences

The material derived from the UKHO is subject to licence 820/020220/11 and the conditionson End-Users and Third Parties contained therein. The following chart requests have beenadded to Schedule 1 Annex A: Digital use of Admiralty Chart 3284 (2002). A copy of thereport will be sent to UKHO.


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Contents

1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES............................................................................................ 1

3. EXISTING SITE DATA ................................................................................................ 23.1. Site Position ..................................................................................................................... 23.2. Available Data ................................................................................................................. 24. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 24.1. Diving ............................................................................................................................... 24.2. Tasks Undertaken........................................................................................................... 24.3. Desk-based Assessment .................................................................................................. 35. RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 35.1. The Kennemerland .......................................................................................................... 35.2. Summary Archaeological History ................................................................................. 36. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 5

7. REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 5

Figures

Figure 1 Kennemerland site location

PlatesPlate 1 Kennemerland sitePlate 2 Installing the GPS system

Front CoverWaves over the site

Back coverThe site in calmer conditions

Norman’s Bay Wreck: Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology 53111.03nn

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DESIGNATED SITE ASSESSMENT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTRef.: 53111.03ll

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.1. This document constitutes a Designated Site Assessment: Archaeological Report fora programme of archaeological work undertaken as part of the Contract forArchaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). Thedocument has been prepared by Wessex Archaeology (WA) for Historic Scotland(HS). It constitutes an assessment of the Kennemerland: a designated wreck sitelocated off the islands of the Out Skerries, Shetland Isles.

1.1.2. The work was conducted in accordance with a brief provided by HS. Operations onseveral sites in the Shetland Isles took place during one session between 19th and 26th

of August 2005. During this time diving on the Kennemerland site was not possibledue to wind conditions averaging Force 6 and on occasion rising to Gale Force 11.As diving was impossible during WA's visit, non-diving tasks were undertaken: aphotographic archive was compiled looking over the site in various conditions andthree anchors which may have been related to the wreck were found on the island ofBruray and photographed and drawn by WA members.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2.1.1. The overall aim for the site as defined in the brief was for recording to Level 3a. Thislevel is defined in the following table:

Level Type Objective Sub-level Character Scope Description

3

In situ

A record thatenables anarchaeologist whohas not seen the siteto comprehend itscomponents, layoutand sequences.

3a Diagnostic

A detailedrecord ofselectedelementsof the site.

The first stage of afull record of thesite. This wouldinclude a fullmeasured sketch ofthe site and adatabase (orequivalent) entry forall surface artefacts.

2.1.2. This was further defined, specifying the following objectives:

• Relocation of the material indicated on the site plan;• Geo-referencing the site plan and any material or features located;• Establishing the extent of the site and the relationship between cultural

material and the designated area of the seabed.


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3. EXISTING SITE DATA

3.1. SITE POSITION

3.1.1. The position of the site as given in the Statutory Instrument (SI) is as follows:

Lat. 60° 25’ 12” NLong. 00° 45’ 00” W

OSGB 36

3.1.2. The SI number is 19 and from the centre point (given above) the designated areaconsists of a circle with a radius of 250 metres. There is no current licensee.

3.2. AVAILABLE DATA

3.2.1. Other information available prior to the assessment was as follows:

• Licensee reports;• Archaeological Diving Unit (ADU) reports, 068, 96/14, 2002;• Articles;• Statutory Instrument 1978;• UKHO Data;• NMR Data.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1. DIVING

4.1.1. During WA’s seven-day stay in the Out Skerries diving operations were not possibledue to weather conditions. The site, despite being reasonably well sheltered by theislands of Housay, Bruray, Grunay, Old Man Stack and Ubda Stack, is exposed towind coming up the narrow mouth from the south. WA’s visit was plagued bysoutherly, south westerly, and south easterly winds averaging a speed of Force 6 andat times reaching Gale Force 11. This incidentally would have been similar to theconditions the Kennemerland would have experienced when she sank. Theconditions made mooring over the site that week impossible.

4.2. TASKS UNDERTAKEN

4.2.1. Not being able to moor over the site made diving operations unfeasible. Thus thefollowing non-diving tasks were carried out:

• While attempting to moor over the site WA members visually surveyed theseabed in hope of seeing some of the reported remaining cannon. Although thesite is very shallow (<5m) and the water exceptionally clear, thick kelp(Laminaria digitata) obscured the seabed almost completely.

• A photographic record was compiled looking over the site in various weatherconditions.

• Three abandoned anchors thought by some to be related to one of theprotected wreck sites were located on the island of Bruray. These were drawn


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and photographed by WA personnel. Subsequent information provided byChris Dobbs ruled out a link between these anchors and the protected wrecksites.

4.3. DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT

4.3.1. During the post-excavation process a limited archive assessment was conducted. Thisinvolved compiling a brief history of the vessel and a summary history of thearchaeological investigations on the site. These sections were not based on a fullassessment of all the documentary sources that may exist, but were rather just asummary of the information in those documents that were readily available to WA.

5. RESULTS

5.1. THE KENNEMERLAND

5.1.1. The Kennemerland was purchased in 1661 by the Amsterdam Chamber, one of thesix regional chambers of the VOC, for a price of 33,000 guilders. The records of theAmsterdam Chamber give its measurements as 155ft in length, 35ft in width, 17ft6in deep with cargo rafters to a height of 7ft. These measurements are recorded inDutch feet, equivalent to 11in (British). It was armed with 24 cast iron guns, sixbronze guns and two minions. This was the usual armament for a ship of its size asstipulated in 1630 by the Heeren XXVII, the central board of the VOC.

5.1.2. In December 1664 the Kennemerland and its companion ship the Rijnland left theTexel for Batavia loaded between them with 240,000 guilders, general cargo and 200crew. At this time a state of hostility existed between Britain and the UnitedProvinces of the Free Netherlands which would lead to a declaration of war inFebruary of 1665. VOC ships were therefore taking the longer ‘achter om’ routethrough the North Sea to avoid the risk of interception in the English Channel.

5.1.3. The Kennemerland was running ahead of a southerly gale when she struck StouraStack at the entrance to the Out Skerries natural harbour and broke in half. Thewreck's forepart foundered in the deep water adjacent to Stoura Stack and theremaining stern portion was swept into the harbour and washed up on Bruray Island,before being swept back out to sea on the following tide. This wrecking process issupported by the pattern of distribution of finds recovered from the excavations onthe wreck.

5.2. SUMMARY ARCHAEOLOGICAL HISTORY

5.2.1. Early 18th century: The wreck was dived by William Irvine, a noted Shetland,(though Orkney born) ‘wrack man’. He dived the Kennemerland and De Liefde sitesin his ‘diving engine’.

5.2.2. 1971: Divers from Aston University Sub Aqua Club rediscovered the site in 1971. Apreliminary survey was undertaken and some finds recovered. These included fiveanchors, four cast iron cannon, three Bellarmine flagons and a quantity ofOverijsselsde Steen bricks.


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5.2.3. 1973: A second season of investigation of the site by Aston and ManchesterUniversity Sub Aqua Clubs with Richard Price and Keith Muckelroy was undertakenin 1973. The objectives of this investigation were to gather information about thetypical cargo of a VOC ship and to gather information about the manner in which theship broke up. Six areas (termed A to F) were excavated in the South Mouth of thewreck site. W.A. Forster and K.B. Higgs produced an article on this work for IJNA.

5.2.4. 1974: A third season of investigation occurred in 1974. The excavation of area F wascompleted. R. Price and K. Muckelroy produce an interim report for IJNA.

5.2.5. 1976: A fourth season of investigation of the site occurred in 1975. The work begunon area C in 1973 was expanded upon and a seventh site, area G was begun. Thelifting of 114 lead ingots was undertaken. K. Muckelroy produced a paper for WorldArchaeology on this work.

5.2.6. 1977: K. Muckelroy and R. Price produced an article for IJNA.

5.2.7. 1978: Designation of site under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973). License tosurvey and excavate granted to Richard Price and Keith Muckelroy. An underwatermetal detector was used in an attempt to delimit the full extent of the site.Experimentation with the production of photographic stereo mosaics was undertakenby Dr. Ian Morrison.

5.2.8. 1979: K. Muckelroy and R. Price produced an article for IJNA.

5.2.9. 1980: K. Muckelroy, R. Price and L. Willies produced an article for IJNA. After thetragic death of K. Muckelroy during this year, no work was undertaken on the sitefor a further three years.

5.2.10. 1984: The sixth season of investigation of the site took place in 1984. An excavationlicence was issued to Chris Dobbs. Excavation continued at the point where the 1978excavation stopped.

5.2.11. 1987: The seventh season of investigation of the site occurred in 1987. Anexcavation licence was issued to Chris Dobbs for this work.

5.2.12. 1988: The eighth season of investigation of the site occurred in 1988. A surveylicence was issued to Chris Dobbs, and the site was visited by the ADU.

5.2.13. 1991: C. Dobbs and R. Price produced a report for IJNA.

5.2.14. 1992: In 1992 Shetland Islands Council investigated South Mouth with a view towidening the channel and placing appropriate navigational beacons. After liaisingwith Historic Scotland, a beacon is placed within the designated area withoutimpacting the site.

5.2.15. 1996: The ADU visited the site in 1996. A photographic and video survey wasundertaken, and the new navigational beacon was trilaterated onto the site plan.

5.2.16. 2002: The ADU investigate site using an ROV in 2002.

5.2.17. 2005: A WA site assessment was scheduled for 2005.


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6. CONCLUSIONS

6.1.1. In the short term the exposed features need to be relocated, recorded and geo-referenced. This could be done using a surface marker buoy whose position wouldthen be established using either a portable GPS unit on a small boat, or by trackeddiver survey.

6.1.2. The site has been drawn and has undergone several phases of excavation. These siteplans need geo-referencing to bring the archive up to present-day standards.

6.1.3. Further investigation of the site is needed to assess any recent changes. The currentmain requirement for the site is for an assessment of the archive with a view to fullypublishing the site. A desk-based assessment of the archive would be the easiestmeans of starting this process.

7. REFERENCES

AUSAC, 1974, The wreck of the Kennemerland, Aston University Sub-Aqua Club,Birmingham.

Dobbs, C.T.C. & Price, R.A., 1991, ‘The Kennemerland site. An interim report. Thesixth and seventh seasons, 1984 &1987, and the identification of the five golfclubs’, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 20.2: 111-122.

Fenwick, V. and Gale, A., 1998, Historic Shipwrecks Discovered, Protected andInvestigated, Tempus.

Forster, W.A. & Higgs, K.B., 1973, ‘The Kennemerland, 1971. An interim report’,International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and Underwater Exploration,2.2: 291-300.

Henderson, T., 1985, ‘Shipwreck and Underwater Archaeology in Shetland’, inSmith. B. (ed), Shetland Archaeology: new work in Shetland in the 1970s:175-212

Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS), 1988, The Kennemerland excavations 1987,NAS Newsletter.

Martin, C.J.M., 1987, ‘Pipes from the Dutch East Indiaman Kennemerland, 1664’,in Davey, P. (ed), The Archaeology of the clay tobacco pipe, X, Scotland; BARBritish series no. 178: 211-224.

Muckelroy, K., 1976, ‘The integration of historical and archaeological dataconcerning an historic wreck site: the Kennemerland’, World Archaeology,Volume 7 No. 3.

Price, R. & Muckelroy, K., 1974, ‘The second season of work on the Kennemerlandsite, 1973. An interim report’, International Journal of Nautical Archaeologyand Underwater Exploration, 3.2: 257-268.


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Price, R. & Muckelroy, K., 1977, ‘The third and fourth seasons 1974 and 1976. Aninterim report’, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology andUnderwater Exploration, 6.3: 187-218.

Price, R. & Muckelroy, K., 1978, ‘The Kennemerland site. The fifth season, 1978.An interim report’, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology andUnderwater Exploration, 8.4: 311-320.

Price, R., Muckelroy, K. & Willies, L., 1980, ‘The Kennemerland site. A report onthe lead ingots’, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology andUnderwater Exploration, 9.1: 7-25.

http://www.vocshipwrecks.nl/out_voyages4/kennemerland.html

http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk

Kennemerland site location

WessexArchaeology

Date: Revision Number:

Scale: Illustrator:

Path:

Figure 1

(OSGB36)

SI position60 25' 12" N 00 45' 00" W

07/04/05 0

KJB1:1,500,000,1:40,000 & 1:10,000

U:\Projects\53111\Drawing Office\.Report Figures\2005\z30_Kennemerland

Kennemerland

Designated Area(250m radius)

This product has been derived, in part, from Crown Copyright Material with the permission of the UK Hydrographic Office and theController of Her Majesty's Stationary Office (www.ukho.gov.uk) All rights reserved. (Wessex Archaeology Licence Number 820/020220/11)NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONWARNING: The UK Hydrographic Ofice has not verified the information within this product and does not accept liability for the accuracy ofreproduction or any modifications made thereafter.

Admiralty Chart 3284 (2002)

ShetlandIslands Out Skerries

out skerries, shetland isles

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