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Bronze Age Secrets Unearthed in Scottish Burial Chamber
23 Dec
Summary
- Two Bronze Age individuals were buried in a 4,000-year-old cist on the Isle of Bute.
- One individual was an adult male aged 35-50; the other was a young female.
- Newly opened facility in Edinburgh houses thousands of ancient human remains.
Archaeological discoveries on the Isle of Bute have brought to light the remains of two Bronze Age individuals, buried in a cist approximately 4,000 years ago. Initially discovered before 1863, with a skull removed, the site was forgotten until a farmer's plough revealed more remains in 2022. Subsequent excavation and analysis confirmed the presence of two individuals, buried at different times, alongside pottery and other grave goods.
Expert examination has identified the uppermost individual as an adult male, aged 35-50, while the lower individual was a female, either an adolescent or young adult. Radiocarbon and isotopic analysis suggests a diet primarily based on terrestrial food sources, with limited marine protein. The precise relationship between the two and the time elapsed between their burials remains undetermined, though the cist was likely used within their living memory.
These ancient remains, declared through the Treasure Trove Unit, are now under the care of National Museums Scotland at a new facility in Granton, Edinburgh. This facility, operational since autumn 2025 as part of the Scotland's Archaeological Human Remains Collections (SAHRC) project, offers significantly increased storage and research capabilities for thousands of human remains dating from the Mesolithic period to the 19th century, ensuring ethical curation and facilitating deeper understanding of Scotland's past.
