Prehistoric landsurface exposed at LW
ShoreUPDATE 16/10/2016:
A thin layer (c. 6-10cm thick) of dark brown compressed woody peat overlying blue/grey clay is intermittently exposed betwen the high and low water marks(extending beneath the latter) along a c. 400m stretch of the south shore of the Tay estuary, just east of Flisk Point. The peat exposures appear to be bounded by the remnants of stone field boundaries extending into the beach and intertidal zone. This is due to there being relatively less shingle overburden within this area. The true extent of the peat is probably much more extensive.
The peat is full of hazel nuts, bark, twigs, and trunks and in situ roots of trees.
Modern wood fragments and branches from adjacent woodland are also incorporated into the surface of the peat especially at the back of the beach.
This deposit looks like a submerged forest. The date is not known, but it could be related to Holocene relative sea level fall in the Tay Estuary following de-glaciation.
Location
331715.00
722795.00
27700
56.3924675
-3.1077027
Submitted photographs
Image
Date
Caption
User
16/10/2016
Portion of branch - possibly recently incorporated into peat surface
joannahambly
16/10/2016
Bark in peat
joannahambly
16/10/2016
Hazel nuts and vegetation in peat
joannahambly
16/10/2016
Closer view of wood, vegetation and hazel nut fragments in peat
joannahambly
16/10/2016
General view of nature of intermittent peat bed exposure beneath the shingle beach, looking E
joannahambly
16/10/2016
Location of peat exposure between stone alignments, looking east
joannahambly
Submitted updates
Update id
Date
User
2774
16/10/2016
joannahambly
Tidal state
Low
Site located?
Yes
Proximity to coast edge
Intertidal
Coastally eroding?
active sea erosion
Visibility above ground
Limited visibility (partial remains)
Access
accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge
don't know
Description
Prehistoric landsurface exposed at LW
ShoreUPDATE 16/10/2016:
A thin layer (c. 6-10cm thick) of dark brown compressed woody peat overlying blue/grey clay is intermittently exposed betwen the high and low water marks(extending beneath the latter) along a c. 400m stretch of the south shore of the Tay estuary, just east of Flisk Point. The peat exposures appear to be bounded by the remnants of stone field boundaries extending into the beach and intertidal zone. This is due to there being relatively less shingle overburden within this area. The true extent of the peat is probably much more extensive.
The peat is full of hazel nuts, bark, twigs, and trunks and in situ roots of trees.
Modern wood fragments and branches from adjacent woodland are also incorporated into the surface of the peat especially at the back of the beach.
This deposit looks like a submerged forest. The date is not known, but it could be related to Holocene relative sea level fall in the Tay Estuary following de-glaciation.
Re-assign Priority 2 on the basis that it is probably a very extensive deposit, and more work needs to be done to ascertain it's potential. But it is not at urgent risk of loss.
Has this peat been studied and dated?
If not a programme of sampling and radiocarbon dating to characterise archaeological and palaeoenvironment potential should be carried out.