Relatively few wreck sites have survived in Scottish waters prior to the early 19th century, and well-preserved examples that have been investigated systematically by archaeologies are particularly rare across the UK. Survey work on the wreck off Mingary Castle has identified survival of a wide range of artefact types and as this site remains substantially undisturbed, it retains an inherent potential to make a very significant addition to our understanding of the past. In particular, this site is likely to preserve important information about the design and use of vessels during the 17th century. Our understanding of the significance of the wreck is further enhanced by its proximity with Mingary Castle, the object of Argyll's attack in connection with important events in Scottish history, in particular conflicts between the anti-Campbell Highland clans and the Covenanters during the 1640s. It is also notable that the wreck off Mingary Castle is close to two other 17th-century historic wrecks (Dartmouth and the Durart Point wreck), also lost in connection with attacks on a coastal castle. The survival of these sites adds significantly to our understanding of the coastal landscape bordering the historically significant sea-route through the Sound of Mull, and the growing vulnerability of coastal castles to attack by seaborne artillery during the 17th century.
The wreck off Mingary Castle is located within an area that is very popular for recreation and tourism (in particular sport diving). Designation can help to promote the heritage value of the site, foster its understanding and enjoyment, and encourage responsible behaviour by divers and others.
Intrinsic characteristics
Around 1999, divers identified remains indicating the presence of a post-medieval period shipwreck close in Mingary Castle. The site was subject to archaeological inspection in 2000 and archaeological survey work in 2002, and 2006-7. These investigations confirmed visible material covering an area of seabed 20m N-S by 15m E-W. Small fragments of abraded wood have been observed to survive in shallow sediment deposits; four cast iron guns of different sizes, lie end to end in an east-west direction across the slope of a reef, with a fifth discovered later lying approximately 7m to the north-northwest. These remain on the seabed. Smaller artefacts recovered have included armaments (iron cannonballs and bar shot) and a lead vent apron, concretions resulting from corroded iron objects, domestic items including a Rhenish stoneware jar, galley cauldron, and a lead Merchant's weight. These are in the collections of the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh. Further small artefacts including a galley brick and fragments of lead sheeting identified during survey work in 2006-7 remain on the seabed and remaining potential for buried archaeology may exist within deposits of fine grained sand that accumulate to depths of 20cm in gullies between the large boulders on the seabed, as well as in more widespread sand deposits in deeper water offshore. The identity of the wreck is as yet unconfirmed but the merchant's weight is date-stamped 1638 and the Rhenish jar is of a style dating to the period 1640-1700. As such, a terminus post-quem of 1640 for the wreck is suggested. This dating evidence ties in with first-hand accounts from documentary sources of a wrecking incident of a Dutch vessel that ocurred in 1644, during a siege of Mingary Castle. Assuming this identity is correct, further investigations into this site have the potential to add significantly to our knowledge of this event, as well as to the origins, design and function of the ship concerned. Little is yet known about this although armament experts have suggested that the small numbers of guns of different sizes might suggest that the vessel concerned was an armed merchant ship.
Contextual characteristics
The wreck is located 700m from Mingary Castle, an imposing coastal castle of considerable strategic importance from the viewpoint of sea-borne communication during the 13th-18th centuries, controlling the entrance from the Minch to the sheltered seaways of the Sound of Mull and Loch Sunart. If an associaion with the loss of a Dutch vessel in 1644 during an attack on Mingary Castle is correct, this appears to have been an isolated incident. Given the circumstances of the loss, this wreck should be however be considered alongside two other 17th-century historic wreck sites that have survived in the nearby waters of the Sound of Mull: a wreck off Duart Point, Island of Mull (probably the Swan, lost 1653); and Dartmouth, Eilean Rubha an Ridire (lost 1690). In each case, these wrecks also ocurred in relation to planned assaults on coastal castles located along this strategically signficant coastal sea-way. The remains of the Mingary wreck, taken toegher with this wider group, illustrates how, with the advent of seaborne artillery, coastal castles in the Sound of Mull became vulnerable to attack by sea.
Associative characteristics
The wreck close to Mingary Castle seems most likely to be associated with events in the area during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms of the mid-17th century. In early July 1644, Alasdair Mac Colla, also known as Major-General Alastair MacDonald, had landed in Scotland, having been dispatched by the Earl of Antrim with 1500 men in support of Charles I. Mac Colla captured a Covananter ship on July 3, and among the prisoners was the Convenanter minister John Weir, who kept a diary of his time in captivity at Mingary. From this we know that Mac Colla landed in Scotland on July 7 and on 14 July took control of Mingary Castle from Convenanter forces, moving the prisoners inside the next day. On 29 July, Mac Colla set off with most of the army to campaign within Argyll lands, in revenge for previous actions taken by the Campbells against the MacDonalds in the Highlands, before joining with James Graham, 5th Earl of Montrose, when he raised the Royalist standard in August. At the same time, Archibald Campbell, 8th Earl of Argyll, had begun advancing on Mingary to attempt to retake his castle. Aryll arrived by sea on 7 August 'with 5 ships and mani boats' and immediately began the sige by bombarding the castle. At the same time as Mingary Castle was first captured and during the early days of the siege, ships of both sides were active in the waters around it. Weir records that a Dutch vessel was captured on 20 July, possibly by Captain Swanley, the Parliamentarian captain of the Leopard, a 3rd Rate with 38 guns and 160 crew. Weir also records that a second Dutch vessel, along with the ship belonging to Captain Turner, appears to have been captured by Argyll's force on 12 August. On 15 August, Weir notes that 'the Dutch ship was cast away upon the rocks at Mingary'. It is unclear which of the Dutch vessels this was, but it seems likely that this is the wreck at Mingary Castle.