Bones discovery in Scottish highlands may provide fresh insight of Bronze Age life
September 19th, 2009 - 3:29 pm ICT by ANILondon, September 19 (ANI): Bones discovered at an ancient burial site in the Scottish Highlands could provide fresh insight of life in the Bronze Age.
According to a report by BBC News, parts of a skull, some bones and teeth were in a cist - a rectangular stone chamber - uncovered by a digger operator in Sutherland in February this year.
Archaeologists have described the find as “extremely rare” and “valuable”.
They have recommended detailed analysis of the remains and the cist.
Wood, wicker and evidence of fur were retrieved from the burial site. It was thought the body was wrapped in animal fur.
Police and Historic Scotland were alerted to the discovery at Langwell Farm in Strath Oykel by farmer Jonathan Hampton.
The bones were taken to Dornoch Police Station, but later handed over to archaeologists.
Experts from Highland Council have been involved in investigations of the site.
Historic Scotland commissioned Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (Guard) to assess what was found.
Its report, which has also been sent to Highland Council, recommends specialist analysis of the excavated materials and radio carbon dating.
According to the document’s authors, “The Langwell Farm cist is an extremely rare and valuable find with the potential to reveal a great deal about contemporary life and burial practice.”
Bronze Age technology came to Britain from Europe about 4,000 years ago and historians see it as a crucial link between the Stone and Iron Ages. (ANI)
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Tags: age technology, ancient burial, animal fur, archaeological research, archaeologists, bronze age, burial practice, burial site, cist, digger, glasgow university, historians, historic scotland, iron ages, police station, radio carbon, rectangular stone, scottish highlands, specialist analysis, wicker
