the role of historic scotland

Throughout history, Scotland’s coasts and seas have provided a source of food and energy, a means of defence from invasion, and a springboard for trade between neighbouring communities and across oceans.

The wrecks of numerous ships and aircraft can be found on the seabed of Scotland. Although out of sight to most of us, these sites tell a significant story about our island nation. They do not exist in isolation but as part of a network that may extend some way inland or far out to sea. In the case of shipwrecks, this might encompass the yards where they were built, the ports they served and the routes they crossed.

The role of Historic Scotland

Conserving Our Underwater Heritage states that Historic Scotland is committed to developing a protection regime that is effective in securing the long-term future of the most important underwater sites, including securing them against inadvertent or deliberate damage.

Scotland’s historic wreck sites can be afforded statutory designation under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 or as scheduled monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Find out more about the fifteen sites that currently have a statutory designation by laws administered by Historic Scotland here.