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Post by Senbecc on Feb 2, 2008 14:50:29 GMT -5
Carved stone intrigues Scottish archaeologists One of the oldest carved stones ever found in the Highlands of Scotland has given experts an intriguing mystery to solve. Archaeologists say designs on the 5000-year-old stone slab discovered inside a cairn near Beauly have only been seen before on rocks in Orkney and Ireland. Now they are researching the cultural links that could have brought this type of art to Balblair 3500 years ago when the cairn surrounding it was built. The sandstone slab was used to form one side of a burial chamber within the cairn, from which the body and other items had been stolen in the past. It was discovered after Highland Council ordered a quarry company to undertake an archaeological survey on the site at Balblair prior to extracting rock and gravel. Andrew Dutton, a senior archaeologist with Headland Archaeology, said the slab was well preserved because it had been buried for thousands of years. "It has certainly got people scratching their heads, " he admitted. "It is unique. There is a lot of rock art around here and the cup and ring symbol can be seen in the open air at several sites but the curvilinear lines on this slab are very strange. Also the cup marks have been worked through from both sides until there is a perforation that, perhaps, people could look through to see inside the kist or to let light inside." The stone is now is a store at Inverness Museum until more of its story can be unravelled. There, conservation officer Jeanette Pearson is making its surface stable to preserve the carvings on its surface. "It is very unusual, " she said. "I've never seen anything like it. It's certainly not Pictish so we are seeking specialist advice from the National Museum to help us identify it." Source: The Inverness Courier (21 October 2005) www.stonepages.com/news/archives/001561.html
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Post by Senbecc on Mar 16, 2008 20:41:25 GMT -5
Footsteps from the past: the ancient village of Skara Brae SCOTLAND'S towns and settlements are proud of their roots, but few can boast the antiquity of Skara Brae on the Orkney Islands. Originally built around 3100BC to house a small group of Neolithic farming families, the abandoned houses with their stone dressers, beds and hearths provide a remarkable glimpse of a lifestyle that has long disappeared. Of course the village developed slowly, as any village today, but Skara Brae is notable for the quality of its remains. The historic site still provides a powerful message, even for the 21st century visitor used to home comforts which the early Orcadians never knew www.archaeology.eu.com/weblog/2005_10_01_archaeologyeu_archive.html
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Post by Senbecc on May 9, 2008 3:58:39 GMT -5
30 October 2005 A dozen Iron Age roundhouses uncovered in InvernessArchaeologists are excavating in Scotland what they describe as "the most important site found in Inverness for decades". They discovered the remains of an entire village, 'industrial estate' and trading centre at an undisclosed location near the city. So far, a team of 20 diggers has discovered the remains of around a dozen huge Iron Age roundhouses at the site as well as evidence of metal and glass working. Those heading the dig believe it may have been the stronghold of a Highland ruler with trading links to the rest of Europe. "I don't know if there was a king here two thousand years ago or what, " excavation leader Mark Roberts commented. "That's why I just use the term the Big Cheese, but he was around here and he was the real thing." The discovery was made after a routine archaeological inspection of a development site earlier this year. That revealed the previously untouched remains of around a dozen Iron Age roundhouses and evidence of metal and glass working. Fraser Hunter, the National Museum Of Scotland's curator of the Iron Age and Roman periods, has been working with the excavation team. "This is the most important site dug in the Inverness area for a substantial time, " he said. "We are probably talking about the Iron Age nouveau riche rather than a king. He would have been the local power-broker around Inverness." The archaeological team has been on the site for two months and expects to take another month to complete the research into the community and its way of life. Tulloch Homes, which was ordered to carry out the dig as a condition of planning permission for the site, has funded the £250,000 cost of the meticulous excavation and recording of the site. Source: The Inverness Courier (25 October 2005) www.stonepages.com/news/archives/001565.html
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Dystopia
Philosopher
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude...
Posts: 124
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Post by Dystopia on May 9, 2008 10:21:35 GMT -5
lol, You`re fast! I read about that. Someone sent a bulletin on MySpace with similar news...I think you used the same source - The Inverness Courier. I`ve read that they dag out seven large roundhouses and almost a dozen iron kilns. This is what the archaeologist Ross Murray said about the discoveries : "It would certainly have been of national importance and known internationally,” he said. "They had a large industrialized production setup and would have been producing goods for trade with other countries." "We found boxes upon boxes of iron and bronze objects and these are all at the National Museum of Scotland being analysed. "What is already obvious was the wealth of this settlement and we have just clipped the industrial part of it. "The occupants were obviously people of some importance because some of the finds were damned impressive. I would hesitate to say the leader here was a king but he was certainly a very important local lord." Mr Murray praised Tulloch Homes for its patience while the initial excavation lasted longer and longer as more features were uncovered by ground radar. The Tulloch Group has also been given permission to develop neighbouring fields but initial surveys have revealed this area is also likely to cover part of the ancient settlement and will need to be excavated. Headland Archaeology expects to begin negotiations soon with the developer about carrying out the work needed on that site. Over the next few months experts at the National Museum will analyse samples to assess where the iron ore used in the kilns came from and study fragments of ancient wooden beams to provide an accurate date for some of the buildings in the ancient settlement. Members of the dig party at the former roundhouse.
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Post by Senbecc on May 9, 2008 17:46:21 GMT -5
Very nice addition to the thread Dystopia, thanks! Gonna have to get you over on the CrossRoads.
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Dystopia
Philosopher
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude...
Posts: 124
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Post by Dystopia on May 12, 2008 15:06:44 GMT -5
Thanx..I thought it might be useful. I went over to the CrossRoads...I wanted to check if we posted the same piece of information. I go there from time to time to read on Celtic history, mythology and legends...great stuff...It`s just that I never signed in. I thought it would be useless, since I wouldn`t have much to add..lol
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