While working on a new sewer project in Scotland, workers stumbled upon ancient human remains along with evidence of much older settlements. According to a press release from Scottish Water, which dates back to January 28, the burial site is believed to be from the 6th century AD and was found in the Windhills of the Scottish Highlands.
Interestingly, archaeologists also uncovered two Iron Age roundhouses, which might be as old as 3,000 years. Scottish Water reported that stone tools and two smelting furnaces were found as well. These furnaces, as explained, probably had to be placed outside the roundhouses due to the heat and smoke they generate.
Details from the excavation show that the postholes were shallower than those typically found in roundhouse settings, suggesting they might have supported temporary structures. Stephen Birch, an archaeologist from the West Coast Archaeological Service, mentioned that the artifacts and environmental remains found offer valuable insights into daily life during both the Iron Age and the 6th century.
Birch highlighted the discovery of a log coffin that contained some skull fragments alongside soil marks from the burial, though most remains were not recovered. He noted that, unlike some contemporary burial practices seen in southern England, this site lacked grave goods typically associated with that period in Scotland.
Years prior, experts had recognized the site’s archaeological potential due to numerous finds in the area. Birch pointed out that the condition of the two prehistoric roundhouses is exceptionally good and provides new evidence of habitation. They suggest that this region was densely populated long ago, evident through extensive signs of industrial activities, including metalworking.
Furthermore, environmental samples collected from the site included charred remains of plant materials, such as hazelnut shells and possibly even grains. Unfortunately, the acidity of the soil meant that very few bones survived, but some fragments did come to light.
One particularly remarkable find was the clay plaster, which adorned the roundhouses—it’s a sort of mud covering that would shield woven wooden walls. The decoration, featuring a unique chevron pattern, is noted as being quite rare. Birch mentioned that, to his knowledge, this is the first instance of such patterns seen in Scotland, if not the UK, but further study is necessary.
In addition, signs of an early Iron Age roundhouse dating to the 6th century were also reported. Birch reflected on how, even as Christianity began to take hold in the early Middle Ages, there remained a deep respect for ancestral traditions, evident in the continued reverence for pagan monuments and burial sites. He emphasized that these later burial mounds often align with earlier structures.
Finally, the remnants from the excavation, including charred plant remains, animal bones, and human teeth, might provide further insight into the diet and survival strategies of those who lived in that era. Ongoing research, including radiocarbon dating and isotope analysis, aims to create a clearer timeline of the site’s history.
