Bronze Age finds in Lothian

Submitted by Andy B on Sunday, 27 January 2002 Page Views: 1450

Historians have discovered what they claim is one of the most valuable archaeological finds in Lothian Region, following the unearthing of a Bronze Age burial site at Eweford, just outside Dunbar.

From East Lothian Courier, Jan 25, 2002

Some artefacts dated up to 5000 years old, including copper dagger, 3500 y old, early Bronze Age ceremonial smooth stone axe head, stone cist grave with cremated remains from Bronze Age

"We are extremely excited by this discovery - which is turning out to be one of teh most significant prehistoric excavations undertaken in the Lothians to date", John Lawson, City of E'burgh arch. and consultant to East Lothian Council.

The area was discovered during the digging of investigative trenches in advance of the dualling of the A1 road. Ancient cropmark enclosures were known to exist in the area, and were already protected.

Gavin MacGregor, the dig director, states the area is split in two distinct eras: one 2500y old, the other 5000y old.
In the latter was a line of cremation pots strechting for approx. 50 metres. "The burial urns usually contained human bone, but we also discovered unburnt animal bone, which is very unusual.and will give excellent carbon dating results."

"The early urns are very enigmatic. They are usually aligned on astronomical or skyline objects. These are arranged in an odd manner. They start in a straight line but then change direction. It's very mysterious, we are not sure why they were arranged that way."

It is thought that in each pit apost, up to 12 ft high, waserected, andmay have marked out aboundary around the grave yard that had some ceremonial or spiritual significance.

Land surrounding hte plot may have been used for mixed farming.

The more recent area is constructed around astone cairn, which is though to have been used over thousands of years, with various areas set out for rituals.
The construction is rectangular. "Again, it is very mysterious. We have never discovered the like before in Scotland."
Dagger and axe were found here.
"It is very unusual to find adagger in this sort of site. Made of copper alloy, it has a thick middle rib, rivet hoels andwould have proved to be a substantially heavy dagger. It is also significant that it has been broken."

Axe head was purely ceremonial and unusual in that they are commonly unearthed in pieces by farmers ploughing fields.

The dig continues till mid-Feb, when work on the dualling begins.

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

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