Survey and Excavations
Archaeology  
Surveys
conducted in 1997, 2002 and
2003 sponsored by the University of Southern Maine revealed several
archaeological sites in the Quendale Links area. The largest
site consists of two stone-walled enclosures located
almost 2 kilometers from the beach that is the source
of the sand that has covered much of the area. Each
enclosure includes a substantial structure on one corner, and
it is likely that the two sites are actually the residential and
agricultural building complexes of a single original
settlement. Test excavations conducted on both sites have
revealed very well-preserved stone architecture and
stratigraphic evidence that suggests the original settlement
was buried relatively swiftly by eolian sand
deposition.
Discoveries
of finds have been limited so far, but the artifacts are very
informative. Recovered ceramics
include North German or
South Scandinavian redwares typical of 16th-17th century sites
in Shetland, along with a few fragments of tin-glazed delftwares.
One fragment of tin-glazed earthenware appears to be
from a "Merry Man" plate of a style from 1690-1715, a date range
that corresponds well with Optically Stimulated Luminescence
(OSL) dates of 1670, 1680 and 1712 from sands covering,
respectively, a yard wall, the interior
of one site structure that is probably an agricultural building,
and the interior of a residential building. A
small sample of clay pipe stems also have bore
diameters that match regional sequences dated from the 1680-1720.
The sites are clearly remnants of the historic Broo Township,
and probably among the last abandoned
settlements.
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