Date:

Archaeologists have uncovered the earliest evidence of the presence of humans in Scotland

An assemblage of over 5,000 flint artefacts was recovered in 2005-9 by Biggar Archaeology Group in fields at Howburn, near Biggar in South Lanarkshire, and subsequent studies have dated their use to 14,000 years ago.

Prior to the find, the oldest evidence of human occupation in Scotland could be dated to around 13,000 years ago at a now-destroyed cave site in Argyll.

- Advertisement -

Dating to the very earliest part of the late-glacial period, Howburn is likely to represent the first settlers in Scotland. The flint tools are strikingly close in design to similar finds in northern Germany and southern Denmark from the same period, a link which has helped experts to date them.

The new findings were revealed today (9th April) by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in her speech at the Institute for Archaeologists’ annual conference, which is this year taking place in Glasgow. The definitive findings will be published next year in a report funded by Historic Scotland.

During her speech, the Cabinet Secretary announced over £1.4 million of funding for more than 60 projects in 2014/15 through Historic Scotland’s annual Archaeology Programme, and launched the first Scottish Historic Environment Data (SHED) Strategy, which aims to create a collaborative national public information resource for the historic environment.

Some of the flint artefacts recovered at Howburn - copyright Alan Saville
Some of the flint artefacts recovered at Howburn – copyright Alan Saville

The hunters who left behind the flint remains at Howburn came into Scotland in pursuit of game, probably herds of wild horses and reindeer, at a time when the climate improved following the previous severe glacial conditions. Glacial conditions returned again around 13,000 years ago and Scotland was once again depopulated, probably for another 1000 years, after which new groups with different types of flint tools make their appearance.

Fiona Hyslop said: “Our heritage helps us to connect our past, present and future. It reveals stories about where we’ve come from and who we are, and helps us to reflect on who we could be. The discovery of the earliest physical evidence of human occupation in Scotland is hugely exciting, in part because it offers us a very tangible link to the past and a physical reminder of the people who came before us.”

- Advertisement -

The nature of the physical connections made between the peoples in Scotland, Germany and southern Denmark is not yet understood. However the similarity in the design of the tools from the two regions offers tantalising glimpses of connections across what would have been dry land, now drowned by the North Sea.

Alan Saville, President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Senior Curator, Earliest Prehistory at the National Museums of Scotland and a specialist in the study of flaked flint and stone tools said:

“These tools represent a real connection with archaeological finds in north-west Germany, southern Denmark and north-west Holland, a connection not seen elsewhere in Britain at this time. This discovery is both intriguing and revolutionises our ideas about where humans came from in this very early period. In southern Britain, early links are with northern France and Belgium. Howburn is just one chance discovery and further such discoveries will no doubt emerge.”

Header Image : One of the artefacts recovered at Howburn. Image shows three views of the same flint point. Copyright Tam Ward

Contributing Source : Historic Scotland

- Advertisement -

Stay Updated: Follow us on iOS, Android, Google News, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and our newsletter

spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

11th-century silver hoard unearthed in Saxony-Anhalt

During a forest restoration project near Lübs in the Jerichower Land district of Saxony-Anhalt, a team of archaeologists have unearthed a large hoard of nearly 300 silver coins dating to the 11th century AD.

Prehistoric jewellery made from dog teeth discovered in Saxony-Anhalt

Recent excavations in Saxony-Anhalt have provided new insights into prehistoric burial customs, particularly the use of animal teeth as personal adornment and jewellery.

Major study transforms understanding of Roman Augusta Raurica

In advance of construction works in the "Schürmatt" district of Kaiseraugst, archaeologists have unearthed significant Roman remains in the former settlement of Augusta Raurica.

Traces of colossal statues among rediscovered Apollo Sanctuary

A sanctuary first excavated in 1885 by the German archaeologist Max Ohnefalsch-Richter has been rediscovered after details of the original find site were subsequently lost.

Hoarding provides new insights into Somló Hill people

A recent study published in the journal Antiquity has provided new insights into the people that inhabited Somló Hill in Western Hungary.

1,800-year-old cemetery for Roman cavalry horses discovered in Stuttgart suburb

Archaeologists from the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) have discovered a large cemetery for Roman calvary horses during housing development works in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany.

Detectorist pair discover a nationally significant Anglo-Saxon hoard

Almost like an episode from the BBC comedy series Detectorists, a pair of metal detectorists have uncovered an Anglo-Saxon hoard in the southwest of England - a discovery described as nationally significant.

Traces of Gloucester’s Roman past revealed in new findings

Archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology have uncovered significant Roman remains during investigations at the Centre Severn development site in Barnwood, a suburb of Gloucester, England.