Archaeology & Heritage

The final aspect of the environmental team's activities is identifying and protecting archaeological sites artefacts that could be harmed by construction. Shetland has a rich archaeological heritage which hasn’t been as widely investigated as that of neighbouring Orkney.

A neolithic settlement has been found and this provided archaeologists with a unique opportunity to dismantle the find and rebuild on the Gas Plant site.

The approach to archaeological sensitivities is to carry out surveys before work starts to identify potential archaeological sites, and to use qualified archaeologists to carry out a watching brief at every working excavator to spot any archaeological finds as they are uncovered. This means that at any particular time there can be up to six archaeologists working on the site, whatever the weather.

The Shetland County Archaeologist has been consulted during the planning and execution of the archaeological works to make sure that the project team has taken all appropriate steps to protect Shetland’s valuable heritage.