Home / Science / Rare Decorated Clay Daub Unearthed in Scotland
Rare Decorated Clay Daub Unearthed in Scotland
20 Feb
Summary
- Iron Age roundhouses and smelting furnaces were discovered.
- A 6th-century burial site with a log coffin was found.
- Rare decorated clay daub, unique to Scotland, was unearthed.
Ancient human remains and evidence of a settlement dating back to the 6th century A.D. were unexpectedly discovered in the Scottish Highlands by workers installing a sewer line. Archaeologists identified two Iron Age roundhouses, potentially as old as 3,000 years, alongside stone tools and two smelting furnaces. These furnaces likely produced significant heat and fumes, suggesting they were housed in separate structures outside the main roundhouses.
Among the significant finds was a 6th-century burial, with one individual interred in a log coffin. Although most skeletal remains did not survive due to acidic soil, soil stains and cranial fragments were recovered. Experts noted the absence of grave goods, typical for burials of this period in Scotland.
The roundhouses were found in excellent condition, contributing to new evidence of a settlement in the Moray Firth Basin area, indicating a populated prehistoric region with widespread metalworking activities. Artifacts included stone tools for grinding grain and small fragments of copper-alloy and iron, which are undergoing further analysis.
A particularly surprising discovery was decorated clay daub, or mud plaster, found within a roundhouse. This daub featured chevron patterns, a decoration considered incredibly rare and potentially the first instance found within Scotland. This discovery offers unique insights into early medieval respect for ancestors and ancient building techniques.
