UNDERWATER archaeologists in Perthshire are set to embark on a massively ambitious project to build a pair of huge logboats, similar to those created locally during the Bronze Age.

The region’s Big Tree Country monicker is well-earned and several majestic specimens from Dunkeld are to be used by staff from the Scottish Crannog Centre near Kenmore.

Barrie Andrian and Nicholas Dixon—both underwater archaeologists —are directors at the centre.

They are extremely enthusiastic about the project but—with plans to use authentic Bronze Age hand tools—are aware it is a massive undertaking.

“We have now taken delivery of four huge trees to build the logboats,” said Ms Andrian.

“They will be based on the remains of two Bronze Age examples in Tayside that would have been more than 10 metres in length.”

The ambitious project may never have got off the ground as finding trees large enough proved to be an early stumbling block.

“We contacted Forestry Commission Scotland last year in a bid to source suitable trees,” Ms Andrian continued.

“While there are still some fine oaks growing in Scotland, finding those of suitable straightness and girth was proving extremely difficult.”

The team began to consider other species that might work and at least provide the right length and breadth for the experiments.

Potential trees were then identified in the grounds of Dunkeld Hilton House Hotel where major landscaping improvements are in progress.

Following storms which uprooted several trees a programme of ultrasonic testing was carried out to determine the structural integrity of a number of the largest trees in the estate, particularly Sitka spruce and Douglas Fir.

“Several of these showed an unacceptable level of rot in the trunk and the trees had to be felled in the interests of public safety,” Ms Andrian said.

James McDougall, of Forestry Commission Scotland, said, “We are delighted to back this project...it is fascinating to know that even hundreds of years ago Perthshire was renowned for its big trees which supported many communities and the economies of the day.”

The two boats providing templates for the new project are the 11 metre long split remains of a logboat found near the Scottish Crannog Centre in Loch Tay, dated at around 1500BC, and the Carpow logboat, dated to about 1000BC and raised from the estuary near Newburgh.

Ms Andrian is hoping the construction techniques employed during the project will be as faithful as possible.

“Collaborating with a wide range of interested parties and Big Tree Country partners, we will be experimenting with a range of tools and techniques before using replica Bronze Age tools to produce as close a reproduction as possible,” she said.