The Knowe of Rowiegar, Rousay, Orkney
Description and Dating of the Human Remains and Context Relative to Neighbouring Cairns
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11008672 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Margaret Hutchison (0000-0002-0211-834X, University of Aberdeen, corresponding author), Neil Curtis (0000-0003-4437-0460, University of Aberdeen), Ray Kidd (University of Aberdeen) |
| Year | 2016 |
| Volume | 145 |
| Pages | 41-89 |
| Publication date | 2016-11-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0081-1564 • E-ISSN: 2056-743X |
| Publisher | Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.9750/psas.145.41.89 |
| OpenAlex | W2956818292 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 15 |
The Neolithic chambered cairn at Knowe of Rowiegar, Rousay, Orkney, was excavated in 1937 as part of a campaign that also saw excavations at sites such as Midhowe and the Knowe of Lairo. Not fully published at the time, and with only partial studies since, the human bone assemblage has now been largely re-united and investigated. This included an osteological study and AMS dating of selected bones from this site and other Rousay cairns in the care of University of Aberdeen Museums, as well as the use of archival sources to attempt a reconstruction of the site. It is suggested that the human remains were finally deposited as disarticulated bones and that the site was severely damaged at the time the adjacent Iron Age souterrain was constructed. The estimation of the minimum number of individuals represented in the assemblage showed a significant preponderance of crania and mandibles, suggesting the presence of at least 28 heads, along with much smaller numbers of other bones, while age and sex determinations showed a preponderance of adult males. Seven skulls showed evidence of violent trauma, while evidence from both bones and teeth indicates that there were high levels of childhood dietary deficiency. Although detailed analysis of the dates was hampered by the ‘Neolithic plateau’, a Bayesian analysis of the radiocarbon determinations suggests the use of the site during the period 3400 to 2900 cal bc. This is shown to be similar to that of other dated Orcadian Neolithic cairns and may represent different responses to two periods of severe climate deterioration
Archaeology · Assemblage (archaeology · Biology · Crania · Geography · Human bone · Osteology · Paleopathology · Radiocarbon dating · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Paleopathology and ancient diseases
Sharp shift in diet at onset of Neolithic
Processing the dead in neolithic orkney
Moments of crisis
A Long Stalled Chambered Cairn or Mausoleum (Rousay Type) near Midhowe, Rousay, Orkney
A stalled chambered cairn, the Knowe of Ramsay, at Hullion, Rousay, Orkney
The Knowe of Lairo, Rousay, Orkney
Long stalled cairn at Blackhammer, Rousay, Orkney
A Long, Stalled Cairn, the Knowe of Yarso, in Rousay, Orkney
Bayesian Analysis of Radiocarbon Dates
Procedures for Comparing and Combining Radiocarbon Age Determinations
Estimation of stature from long bones of American Whites and Negroes
The wet, the wild and the domesticated
The Wet, the Wild and the Domesticated
Bradshaw and Bayes
Ancestors and identity in the later prehistory of Atlantic Scotland
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |