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Stone Age Treasures Endangered by Erosion
29 Mar
Summary
- Stone Age evidence in Scotland faces loss due to erosion.
- An urgent rescue mission is planned to preserve artifacts.
- The site in the Cairngorms reveals ancient hunter-gatherer life.
Precious evidence of Scotland's earliest inhabitants, hunter-gatherers from over 10,000 years ago, is under threat. A critical archaeological site at Chest of Dee in the Cairngorms, which has already revealed insights into Mesolithic life, faces destruction from flooding and erosion. The National Trust for Scotland is launching an urgent rescue mission to safeguard these irreplaceable artifacts.
Excavations at Chest of Dee have uncovered flint tools and evidence of fire-pits, painting a vivid picture of life between 9,000BC and 4,000BC. This research indicates that the area, now a treeless wilderness, was once a woodland environment. Hunter-gatherers likely traversed mountain passes, following animal herds and camping among trees, utilizing natural resources for tools and sustenance.
The escalating erosion, exacerbated by climate change leading to extreme weather, necessitates immediate action. The National Trust for Scotland is seeking skilled experts to map, excavate, and record the site's contents. This initiative aims to preserve rare cultural heritage from the period of Scotland's earliest human activity before it disappears into the River Dee.
