Ancient Artefacts Found in Rock Formations
Submitted by PaulM on Monday, 27 September 2004 Page Views: 4830
DiscoveriesArchaeologists have discovered ancient remains and buildings in some of the most inaccessible areas in the country, it emerged today. Members of the Severe Terrain Archaeological Campaign (Stac) have been using climbing equipment to explore sea stacks in Lewis and Shetland reports The Scotsman.Since forming in 2003, the Stac team has visited nine stacks and found buildings from the Iron Age and Bronze age, as well as pottery dating back to the Neolithic period.
The archaeologists are now planning to return to some of the stacks to excavate them before erosion causes the settlements to be swallowed up by the sea, and lost forever.
A sea stack is a pinnacle of rock which is surrounded by the sea at high tide.
Speaking today, Dr Chris Barrowman from Stac said it was likely outlaws or prisoners had once lived on some of the stacks, due to their remoteness.
“No one has been able to look at these stacks before, because they are dangerous to get on to,” said Dr Barrowman.
“We have looked at most of the stacks around Lewis and will be doing some more work on the sites where we have found remains of buildings.
“It is about recording material, but we also want to find out why people would live on such sites.”
The group, all trained climbers, use ropes and climbing equipment to help them negotiate the stacks as they map out and record the sites.
Their discoveries to date include a piece of pottery found on the Dun Asbroc sea stack near Lewis.
Stac is funded by the Western Isles Council, Historic Scotland, the Society of Antiquaries and the Russel Trust.
It was established in 2003 after an excavation of Dun Eistean, a sea stack which stands between the Butt of Lewis and Port of Ness, in 2000 and 2001.
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.