On 14th May members of Lanark and District Archaeological Society met to hear a lecture by Dr Ian Morrison on Scottish Shipwrecks. Ian began by explaining how his interest in the subject was due to his grandfather's role as an officer on a gunship at the turn of the century. He had acquired a keen interest in the sea and maritime matters that had stayed with him throughout his academic career. Ian explain that man's use of boats was much more widespread and started earlier than most people imaging. However, many of these vessels were light, sturdy creation of skin and bone of which no tracks remain today. As sturdier craft, especially those made of oak, have lasted through the years this has created the erroneous impression that most ancient craft were large and unwieldy.
Ian explained how this miscomprehension also applied to the Vikings. He showed how some of their craft were very light and small and that even the sturdy longships were made of a flexible construction. It was not until the late Middle Ages that substantial hulks began to traverse the seaways. Ian finished his lecture recounting the life and notable naval career of Sir Andrew Wood, the Admiral of Scotland. In the early sixteenth century Sir Andrew was responsible for two victories against the English, which marked a highpoint of Scottish naval achievement. Sir Andrew was also instrumental in the construction of the Great Michael, a Scottish warship that was the equal of the Mary Rose and whose construction led to the depletion of the Scottish forests. Ian finished his lecture by explaining how the Great Michael came to an inglorious end rotting away in a French shipyard.