Trevor Cowie
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 673542 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Trevor Cowie |
| NOMBRES | Trevor |
| APELLIDO | Cowie |
| FIRMA | COWIE T |
| AFILIACIONES | National Museums Scotland |
| VERIFICADO | No |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 42 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 96 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 42 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 1977 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2023 |
| ÍNDICE H | 6 |
Small socketed axeheads from northern Britain
In 2019 a miniature bronze socketed axehead was discovered near Morebattle, Scottish Borders. As such artefacts are rare finds in northern Britain, the opportunity has been taken to draw together the range of unusually small socketed axeheads recorded from Scotland and northern England, and to discuss them in their wider British context. For the first time, scientific techniques are applied to these objects, including optical microscopy, X-ray fl…
Peelhill Farm
The hoard of bronze weapons found in 1961 at Peelhill Farm in South Lanarkshire remains one of the most remarkable discoveries of Late Bronze Age metalwork from Scotland, its importance reflected in the detailed account of the find published by John Coles and Jack Scott in 1963. In the present paper, the contents, location and significance of the discovery are reassessed in the light of more recent approaches to research on hoards. In particular,…
‘The Spearhead of the Pennon …’
In 1999, the late Professor Charles Thomas donated a Middle Bronze Age spearhead to the National Museum collection. This spearhead came with a label indicating that it was part of the pennant taken into the Battle of Flodden by Robert Chisholme in 1513. This paper investigates the likelihood that such a claimed association could have any basis in truth, as well as briefly contributing some thoughts on the discovery of already ancient objects in t…
A medieval logboat from the River Conon
Three timbers held in store at the National Museums of Scotland have been identified as the incomplete remains of a logboat that was found in the River Conon near Dingwall in 1874. Notwithstanding their poor condition, they were felt to justify dating (by both radiocarbon and dendrochronology), laser scanning (to create a ‘virtual’ reconstruction) and re-publication, subsequent to that by Mowat (1996: 22, 24, no 28 and 86, nos A21–22). Radiocarbo…
Alan Saville
Alan Saville, the archaeologist and prehistorian and a former President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, died in his adopted city of Edinburgh at the age of 69, following a long illness
Machair Bharabhais
This paper provides a preliminary analytical summary of the results of post-excavation work underway on a series of archaeological surveys and excavations on the western coast of the Isle of Lewis, on the machair of Barabhas township. During the excavations, which were carried out on and off between 1976 and 2001, we sampled settlements, ritual sites, and landscape features dating from between the Early Bronze Age and the Norse Period, including …
Croig Cave
Activity within caves provides an important element of the later prehistoric and historic settlement pattern of western Scotland. This contribution reports on a small-scale excavation within Croig Cave, on the coast of north-west Mull, that exposed a 1.95 m sequence of midden deposits and cave floors that date between c 1700 BC and AD 1400. Midden analysis indicated the processing of a diverse range of small fish and the collection of shellfish t…
Bog Bodies from Scotland
This paper draws attention to records of a number of historical discoveries of human remains from Scottish bogs that have been omitted from previous published lists of such finds. They mostly comprise a range of 'paper' bog bodies and, like many lost archaeological finds, they can tantalise as much as inform. However, taken together, the 'new' finds account for an additional 27 sites and at least 35 individuals. This represents a significant incr…
Mapping material culture
This paper describes the results of an exploratory project undertaken by National Museums Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland to enhance their respective databases through sharing information relating to their respective areas of expertise. The resulting MAGI (Museum Artefact Geographical Interface) project highlighted the huge potential for creating an online resource to re-connect objects in mus…
Research Priorities for Archaeometallurgy in Scotland
In 2003 the authors were invited to provide a Scottish dimension for a wider document surveying research agendas for archaeometallurgy in Britain (Bayley and Ponting forthcoming). In the event, the contribution was split into various sections of the overall report. However, we felt that an intact and updated version might be of value to the Scottish archaeological community, as this is a research area of considerable untapped potential. We should…
Lecture summaries 2003–2004
Six lecture summaries:Ritual and relics in Early Bronze Age BritainThe Recumbent Stone Circles of north-east Scotland: recent fieldwork by RCAHMS‘The collection was, indeed, a curious one’: Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford and the National Museums of ScotlandAn architectural approach to ‘standing archaeology’Faience in Bronze Age Britain and Ireland: scotching a mythShetland, Steatite and Trade in the Norse North Atlantic: 800–1400
An Early Bronze Age 'dagger grave' from Rameldry Farm, near Kingskettle, Fife
In February 2000, ploughing disturbed the capstone of a cist, located on the side of a prominent knowe at Rameldry Farm, near Kingskettle in central Fife. Excavation by Headland Archaeology Ltd on behalf of Historic Scotland revealed a short cist which contained the crouched inhumation of a man aged 40–50, who had suffered from arthritis, some tooth loss and possibly Paget’s Disease. He had been buried wearing a garment adorned with six V-perfora…
A copper flat axehead from Wester Cartmore Farm, Lochgelly, Fife
Records the find of a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age artefact from a boggy glacial depression with disturbed organic deposits. Discusses the possibility that it may have votive significance but considers it unlikely based on an examination of palynological evidence
Neolithic and later prehistoric structures, and early medieval metal-working, at Blairhall Burn, Amisfield, Dumfriesshire
Discusses excavations which revealed evidence for multiple phases of activity including two burnt mounds, two round-houses, part of a probable ring-groove structure which may be a platform house and a metal-working area, with the main foci on the Late Neolithic, Bronze Age and early medieval periods. There are specialist contributions on: ceramics from all periods in the `Pottery report' by Trevor Cowie (70--5); `Coarse stone artefacts' by Caroli…
Survey and excavation at Kilearnan Hill, Sutherland, 1982-3
Reports on work carried out in advance of forestry development which revealed Bronze Age hut circles, cairns and burnt mounds
Excavation of pits containing decorated Neolithic pottery and early lithic material of possible Mesolithic date at Spurryhillock, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
This report describes a number of pits and a linear feature close to the scheduled cropmark site at Farrochie. The remains of a shallow curvilinear ditch and eight pits were recovered in one area which produced evidence for possible Mesolithic and Neolithic activity. In another trench a number of truncated pits with no associated artefacts were recorded. There are notes on: `The chipped stone' by B Finlayson (20); `Palaeoenvironmental results' by…
Excavation of Neolithic enclosures at Cowie Road, Bannockburn, Stirling, 1984-85
Excavations undertaken in 1984 and 1985 on cropmark sites identified as pit and post alignments revealed a bow-ended pit-defined enclosure dated to late-fifth to mid-fourth millennium BC, a post-defined enclosure dated to the mid-fourth to early-third millennium BC, and possible domestic activity. The pits of the enclosure showed up to three phases of use with deposits containing Carinated Bowl-type pottery in the later phases. Medieval or post m…
Middle Bronze Age dirks and rapiers from Scotland
Several Middle Bronze Age dirks and rapiers from Scotland are fully published for the first time; these include relatively recent discoveries from Loch Glashan, Argyll, and Skares, Ayrshire, Perthshire, and Poolewe
A cist burial adjacent to the Bronze Age cairn at Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis
A Bronze Age cist inhumation lying c 5m from a multi-phase cairn on Cnip headland was excavated in 1992, following its exposure as a result of erosion of the machair.The flexed skeleton of a mature adult male, which was accompanied by an undiagnostic plain pottery vessel, showed significant facial trauma.A radiocarbon determination indicates that the burial took place in the middle of the second millennium BC, at broadly the same time as an inurn…
A Viking Age cemetery at Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis
Six burials of ninth--tenth-century date recorded between 1991 and 1994, plus one tenth-century burial recorded in 1979, lead to the suggestion that the headland was a Viking cemetery area. There is an appendix `Surface collection of artefacts' by Tim Neighbour & Andrew Dunwell (747--9)
Excavation of a Neolithic enclosure and an Iron Age settlement at Douglasmuir, Angus
The complete excavation of a post-defined Neolithic enclosure took place in 1979 and 1980 in advance of the construction of a gas compressor station for the British Gas Corporation. The enclosure appeared to have been constructed in two parts. There was little evidence for any associated activity except for a pit in the north half. Three charcoal samples from the post-holes produced radiocarbon dates in the range 3930-3390 cal BC. A small sample …
Excavation of pits containing grooved ware at Hillend, Clydesdale district, Strathclyde Region
Limited excavations were carried out in advance of pipeline construction in the area between two adjacent cropmark enclosures at Hillend, near Roberton, Clydesdale District, Strathclyde Region. The principal features comprised three pits which produced an assemblage of Grooved Ware, strengthening the possibility that one of the enclosures may have been a henge monument and inviting speculation as to the date and relationship of the other enclosur…
A survey of the Neolithic pottery of eastern and central Scotland
Pottery from at least sixteen sites in eastern and central Scotland can be attributed more or less certainly to the Earlier Neolithic. Although the quality of much of the evidence precludes detailed classification, at least some of the groups, characterised by the presence of carinated bowls, may be presumed to date from an early stage of the Neolithic. Other types, including a range of heavy unshouldered bowls, were certainly current by the mid-…
Excavations in the ceremonial complex of the fourth to 2nd millennium BC at Balfarg/Balbirnie, Glenrothes, Fife
The portions of the Balfarg/Balbirnie ceremonial complex excavated between 1983 and 1985 are described and related to the portions dug previously: Balbirnie stone circle (76/3594) and Balfarg henge (83/10516).The prehistoric ceremonial use of the area seems to have lasted from early in the third millennium until late in the second millennium BC (in terms of uncalibrated radiocarbon dates). The sequence began with pit-digging and pottery depositio…
Bronze Age burials at Gairneybank, Kinross-shire
Rescue excavation in 1970 recorded three cist burials, one associated with a bowl and a flat riveted knife-dagger and another with an accompanying Food Vessel. Two other finds, a Beaker and a Food Vessel, have been rescued from the same area and clearly represent further burial deposits in a small cemetery of early second millennium bc date.A list of radiocarbon dates associated with Food Vessel burials from east-central Scotland by Alison Sherid…
Machrie Moor, Arran
Excavations at stone circles 1 and 11 on Machrie Moor revealed previous use of the land on which they were situated, with features dating back to the earlier Neolithic. The exact positions occupied by both circles were found to have been preceded by timber monuments, comprising several elements in the case of circle 1. Evidence for fenced land divisions and ard ploughing between the timber and stone phases was also recovered. Both stone circles c…
Sites of the third millennium BC to the first millennium AD at North Mains, Strathallan, Perthshire
Three sites were excavated: a class II henge, a massive round barrow and a pair of ring-ditches. Five periods of activity were noted on the henge site: I - pre henge-bank activity, including one burial; II - the class II henge, a ditch with an external bank enclosing a timber ring (late third millennium BC); III - burial and ritual/domestic activity, the former associated with food vessels, cinerary urns and a beaker, the latter with beaker mater…
Excavations in the ceremonial complex of the fourth to 2nd millennium BC at Balfarg/Balbirnie, Glenrothes, Fife
The portions of the Balfarg/Balbirnie ceremonial complex excavated between 1983 and 1985 are described and related to the portions dug previously: Balbirnie stone circle (76/3594) and Balfarg henge (83/10516).The prehistoric ceremonial use of the area seems to have lasted from early in the third millennium until late in the second millennium BC (in terms of uncalibrated radiocarbon dates). The sequence began with pit-digging and pottery depositio…
Excavation of Neolithic enclosures at Cowie Road, Bannockburn, Stirling, 1984-85
Excavations undertaken in 1984 and 1985 on cropmark sites identified as pit and post alignments revealed a bow-ended pit-defined enclosure dated to late-fifth to mid-fourth millennium BC, a post-defined enclosure dated to the mid-fourth to early-third millennium BC, and possible domestic activity. The pits of the enclosure showed up to three phases of use with deposits containing Carinated Bowl-type pottery in the later phases. Medieval or post m…
Excavation of a Neolithic enclosure and an Iron Age settlement at Douglasmuir, Angus
The complete excavation of a post-defined Neolithic enclosure took place in 1979 and 1980 in advance of the construction of a gas compressor station for the British Gas Corporation. The enclosure appeared to have been constructed in two parts. There was little evidence for any associated activity except for a pit in the north half. Three charcoal samples from the post-holes produced radiocarbon dates in the range 3930-3390 cal BC. A small sample …
Excavations at Three Early Bronze Age Burial Monuments in Scotland
The excavations of the cemetery groups at Balneaves, Loanleven and Park of Tongland facilitate an examination of many aspects of Bronze Age burial practices in Scotland. They are notable as much for the differences in burial ritual they imply as for the very narrow chronological period in which they were used. The three sites produced a total of seventeen 14 C dates, two of which are aberrant, with means of the remaining fifteen falling within a …
A Viking Age cemetery at Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis
Six burials of ninth--tenth-century date recorded between 1991 and 1994, plus one tenth-century burial recorded in 1979, lead to the suggestion that the headland was a Viking cemetery area. There is an appendix `Surface collection of artefacts' by Tim Neighbour & Andrew Dunwell (747--9)
A survey of the Neolithic pottery of eastern and central Scotland
Pottery from at least sixteen sites in eastern and central Scotland can be attributed more or less certainly to the Earlier Neolithic. Although the quality of much of the evidence precludes detailed classification, at least some of the groups, characterised by the presence of carinated bowls, may be presumed to date from an early stage of the Neolithic. Other types, including a range of heavy unshouldered bowls, were certainly current by the mid-…
An Early Bronze Age 'dagger grave' from Rameldry Farm, near Kingskettle, Fife
In February 2000, ploughing disturbed the capstone of a cist, located on the side of a prominent knowe at Rameldry Farm, near Kingskettle in central Fife. Excavation by Headland Archaeology Ltd on behalf of Historic Scotland revealed a short cist which contained the crouched inhumation of a man aged 40–50, who had suffered from arthritis, some tooth loss and possibly Paget’s Disease. He had been buried wearing a garment adorned with six V-perfora…
Bronze Age burials at Gairneybank, Kinross-shire
Rescue excavation in 1970 recorded three cist burials, one associated with a bowl and a flat riveted knife-dagger and another with an accompanying Food Vessel. Two other finds, a Beaker and a Food Vessel, have been rescued from the same area and clearly represent further burial deposits in a small cemetery of early second millennium bc date.A list of radiocarbon dates associated with Food Vessel burials from east-central Scotland by Alison Sherid…
Croig Cave
Activity within caves provides an important element of the later prehistoric and historic settlement pattern of western Scotland. This contribution reports on a small-scale excavation within Croig Cave, on the coast of north-west Mull, that exposed a 1.95 m sequence of midden deposits and cave floors that date between c 1700 BC and AD 1400. Midden analysis indicated the processing of a diverse range of small fish and the collection of shellfish t…
A Viking burial from Kneep, Uig, Isle of Lewis
A rich female grave found in 1979 contained two gilt-bronze oval brooches, forty-four glass beads, a bone comb, an iron knife, whetstone, bone needle case and needles, iron sickle, bronze ringed pin, bronze buckle and strap-end, iron rivet and textile fragments. Brooches and pin suggest a late 10th century date. AR
Bog Bodies from Scotland
This paper draws attention to records of a number of historical discoveries of human remains from Scottish bogs that have been omitted from previous published lists of such finds. They mostly comprise a range of 'paper' bog bodies and, like many lost archaeological finds, they can tantalise as much as inform. However, taken together, the 'new' finds account for an additional 27 sites and at least 35 individuals. This represents a significant incr…
A copper flat axehead from Wester Cartmore Farm, Lochgelly, Fife
Records the find of a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age artefact from a boggy glacial depression with disturbed organic deposits. Discusses the possibility that it may have votive significance but considers it unlikely based on an examination of palynological evidence
Neolithic and later prehistoric structures, and early medieval metal-working, at Blairhall Burn, Amisfield, Dumfriesshire
Discusses excavations which revealed evidence for multiple phases of activity including two burnt mounds, two round-houses, part of a probable ring-groove structure which may be a platform house and a metal-working area, with the main foci on the Late Neolithic, Bronze Age and early medieval periods. There are specialist contributions on: ceramics from all periods in the `Pottery report' by Trevor Cowie (70--5); `Coarse stone artefacts' by Caroli…
Excavation of pits containing decorated Neolithic pottery and early lithic material of possible Mesolithic date at Spurryhillock, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
This report describes a number of pits and a linear feature close to the scheduled cropmark site at Farrochie. The remains of a shallow curvilinear ditch and eight pits were recovered in one area which produced evidence for possible Mesolithic and Neolithic activity. In another trench a number of truncated pits with no associated artefacts were recorded. There are notes on: `The chipped stone' by B Finlayson (20); `Palaeoenvironmental results' by…
Middle Bronze Age dirks and rapiers from Scotland
Several Middle Bronze Age dirks and rapiers from Scotland are fully published for the first time; these include relatively recent discoveries from Loch Glashan, Argyll, and Skares, Ayrshire, Perthshire, and Poolewe
A cist burial adjacent to the Bronze Age cairn at Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis
A Bronze Age cist inhumation lying c 5m from a multi-phase cairn on Cnip headland was excavated in 1992, following its exposure as a result of erosion of the machair.The flexed skeleton of a mature adult male, which was accompanied by an undiagnostic plain pottery vessel, showed significant facial trauma.A radiocarbon determination indicates that the burial took place in the middle of the second millennium BC, at broadly the same time as an inurn…
The investigation of some plough truncated features at Kinloch Farm, Collessie in Fife
The inner ditch was some 3-8 m wide and cut 25 cm into the undisturbed fluvio-glacial subsoil. The infill of this ditch was a grey brown sandy silt. At the bottom of the ditch a layer, up to 10 cm deep, of rather darker brown clay silt with relatively little sand was detected. The stone content of the ditch fill in general was about 5% but increased to 15-20% in this lower stratum. Charcoal flecks were visible throughout the ditch fill from top t…
Excavations at the Catstane, Midlothian 1977
NT 148743. Excavation around the Catstane confirmed disturbance at its foot and revealed long cist burials arranged to respect a space 7-8m diameter round the stone. Results of excavating 52 graves to E and SE of the stone failed to correlate with the 19th century excavation report, and bone preservation was poor. A 5th century start for the cemetery is suggested. A R
A food vessel urn from Mawmill, Kinross
Bronze Age Food Vessel Urns in Northern Britain
An enlarged food vessel urn burial and associated artefacts from Kiltry Knock, Alvah, Banff and Buchan
NJ 665565. An enlarged food vessel urn containing a multiple cremation deposit (one adult female, one child and one infant) had been inverted on to a stone pavement in a small pit. Grave goods included a stone pendant, a pottery ball decorated with incised concentric circles, and a plano-convex flint knife. A R
Excavation of the Cross Base at Keills Chapel, Knapdale, Argyll
The Keills Cross, dating to the late 8th or 9th centuries, has recently been moved inside the chapel for protection and its socket has been examined. The design of this and of the cross base suggests that the cross may originally have been set up on another site
Excavations at Kintraw, Argyll, 1979
The standing stone at Kintraw fell in March 1979 and, before being re-erected, its socket was investigated. This proved to be relatively shallow compared with the height of the stone but firm packing and careful balancing had evidently ensured its stability
Excavations at the Catstane, Midlothian 1977
NT 148743. Excavation around the Catstane confirmed disturbance at its foot and revealed long cist burials arranged to respect a space 7-8m diameter round the stone. Results of excavating 52 graves to E and SE of the stone failed to correlate with the 19th century excavation report, and bone preservation was poor. A 5th century start for the cemetery is suggested. A R
Food vessel urn fragments from Dinnet, Kincardine and Deeside
The investigation of some plough truncated features at Kinloch Farm, Collessie in Fife
The inner ditch was some 3-8 m wide and cut 25 cm into the undisturbed fluvio-glacial subsoil. The infill of this ditch was a grey brown sandy silt. At the bottom of the ditch a layer, up to 10 cm deep, of rather darker brown clay silt with relatively little sand was detected. The stone content of the ditch fill in general was about 5% but increased to 15-20% in this lower stratum. Charcoal flecks were visible throughout the ditch fill from top t…
Sites of the third millennium BC to the first millennium AD at North Mains, Strathallan, Perthshire
Three sites were excavated: a class II henge, a massive round barrow and a pair of ring-ditches. Five periods of activity were noted on the henge site: I - pre henge-bank activity, including one burial; II - the class II henge, a ditch with an external bank enclosing a timber ring (late third millennium BC); III - burial and ritual/domestic activity, the former associated with food vessels, cinerary urns and a beaker, the latter with beaker mater…
The excavation of a cist-group at Upper Largie quarry, Kilmartin, central Argyll 1982-1983
A rescue excavation at a quarry site uncovered the remains of a cist-cemetery including three cists and several cist-features containing fragments of urns and cremation remains. Three radiocarbon dates were obtained from charcoal from a cist (1645bc) and from a cist-feature containing cremated human remains and urn shards (1020bc and 1050bc)
A dun on Eilean Righ, Loch Craignish, Argyll
While carrying out fieldwork in Mid Argyll in preparation for Volume 6 of the Inventory of Argyll, members of the staff of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland were informed by the owners of Eilean Righ of the results of an excavation carried out within a dun on the island (NCR NM 80390219). The finds from the excavation were subsequently presented to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (now Royal Mu…
Some recent finds of Bronze-Age metalwork from Perthshire
Several bronze axes; a flanged chisel or hammer; a leaf-shaped sword; an important BA hoard from Clockmaden Farm, Collace (early Ewart Park phase, 9th-8th century BC); all in Perth Museum. F B
A group of bronze socketed axes from Eildon Mid Hill, near Melrose, Roxburghshire
In 1982, a group of seven socketed axes was found on the lower western slopes of Eildon Mid Hill, Ettrick and Lauderdale District, Borders Region. Although recovered from redeposited soil, the axes probably represent a hoard of the Ewart Park phase of the late Bronze Age. The find reinforces what appears to be a significant local concentration of contemporary metalwork around the Eildon Hills
A stone head from Port Appin, Argyll
A recently discovered carving of a human head on a natural boulder is described and related to the range of pagan Celtic stone heads found in Britain and Ireland
A Viking burial from Kneep, Uig, Isle of Lewis
A rich female grave found in 1979 contained two gilt-bronze oval brooches, forty-four glass beads, a bone comb, an iron knife, whetstone, bone needle case and needles, iron sickle, bronze ringed pin, bronze buckle and strap-end, iron rivet and textile fragments. Brooches and pin suggest a late 10th century date. AR
Bronze Age burials at Gairneybank, Kinross-shire
Rescue excavation in 1970 recorded three cist burials, one associated with a bowl and a flat riveted knife-dagger and another with an accompanying Food Vessel. Two other finds, a Beaker and a Food Vessel, have been rescued from the same area and clearly represent further burial deposits in a small cemetery of early second millennium bc date.A list of radiocarbon dates associated with Food Vessel burials from east-central Scotland by Alison Sherid…
Excavations at Three Early Bronze Age Burial Monuments in Scotland
The excavations of the cemetery groups at Balneaves, Loanleven and Park of Tongland facilitate an examination of many aspects of Bronze Age burial practices in Scotland. They are notable as much for the differences in burial ritual they imply as for the very narrow chronological period in which they were used. The three sites produced a total of seventeen 14 C dates, two of which are aberrant, with means of the remaining fifteen falling within a …
Machrie Moor, Arran
Excavations at stone circles 1 and 11 on Machrie Moor revealed previous use of the land on which they were situated, with features dating back to the earlier Neolithic. The exact positions occupied by both circles were found to have been preceded by timber monuments, comprising several elements in the case of circle 1. Evidence for fenced land divisions and ard ploughing between the timber and stone phases was also recovered. Both stone circles c…
A survey of the Neolithic pottery of eastern and central Scotland
Pottery from at least sixteen sites in eastern and central Scotland can be attributed more or less certainly to the Earlier Neolithic. Although the quality of much of the evidence precludes detailed classification, at least some of the groups, characterised by the presence of carinated bowls, may be presumed to date from an early stage of the Neolithic. Other types, including a range of heavy unshouldered bowls, were certainly current by the mid-…
Excavations in the ceremonial complex of the fourth to 2nd millennium BC at Balfarg/Balbirnie, Glenrothes, Fife
The portions of the Balfarg/Balbirnie ceremonial complex excavated between 1983 and 1985 are described and related to the portions dug previously: Balbirnie stone circle (76/3594) and Balfarg henge (83/10516).The prehistoric ceremonial use of the area seems to have lasted from early in the third millennium until late in the second millennium BC (in terms of uncalibrated radiocarbon dates). The sequence began with pit-digging and pottery depositio…
Excavation of pits containing grooved ware at Hillend, Clydesdale district, Strathclyde Region
Limited excavations were carried out in advance of pipeline construction in the area between two adjacent cropmark enclosures at Hillend, near Roberton, Clydesdale District, Strathclyde Region. The principal features comprised three pits which produced an assemblage of Grooved Ware, strengthening the possibility that one of the enclosures may have been a henge monument and inviting speculation as to the date and relationship of the other enclosur…
Middle Bronze Age dirks and rapiers from Scotland
Several Middle Bronze Age dirks and rapiers from Scotland are fully published for the first time; these include relatively recent discoveries from Loch Glashan, Argyll, and Skares, Ayrshire, Perthshire, and Poolewe
A cist burial adjacent to the Bronze Age cairn at Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis
A Bronze Age cist inhumation lying c 5m from a multi-phase cairn on Cnip headland was excavated in 1992, following its exposure as a result of erosion of the machair.The flexed skeleton of a mature adult male, which was accompanied by an undiagnostic plain pottery vessel, showed significant facial trauma.A radiocarbon determination indicates that the burial took place in the middle of the second millennium BC, at broadly the same time as an inurn…
A Viking Age cemetery at Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis
Six burials of ninth--tenth-century date recorded between 1991 and 1994, plus one tenth-century burial recorded in 1979, lead to the suggestion that the headland was a Viking cemetery area. There is an appendix `Surface collection of artefacts' by Tim Neighbour & Andrew Dunwell (747--9)
Excavation of a Neolithic enclosure and an Iron Age settlement at Douglasmuir, Angus
The complete excavation of a post-defined Neolithic enclosure took place in 1979 and 1980 in advance of the construction of a gas compressor station for the British Gas Corporation. The enclosure appeared to have been constructed in two parts. There was little evidence for any associated activity except for a pit in the north half. Three charcoal samples from the post-holes produced radiocarbon dates in the range 3930-3390 cal BC. A small sample …
Archaeology (34 obras) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (33 obras) · Geography (31 obras) · History (21 obras) · Geology (18 obras) · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology (18 obras) · Art (16 obras) · Excavation (16 obras) · Geology (15 obras) · History (15 obras)