History comes to life at King’s Park path
Neolithic arrowhead among items found in archaeological dig
Items of fascinating archaeological interest have been uncovered during path upgrade work in Stirling’s historic King’s Park.
They include a neolithic arrowhead dated between 10,000BC to 2,000BC, Dark Age metalwork (500AD to 1000AD) and more recent military artefacts like badges, musket balls and rifle casings.
As the oldest and best preserved royal park in Scotland, Stirling Council archaeologist Murray Cook and his team of around 40 volunteers had been keeping an eye out for any interesting items discovered in tandem with work carried out by Land Services over the last five years. The artefacts were discovered through metal-detecting and observing spoil dug up during archaeological work.
Stonework, thought to be an old cairn, has also been discovered near Cambusbarron.
Mr Cook said this week: “The landscape that the King’s Park path winds through has been used by residents for more than 6000 years.
“It was always highand dry even when the carse was under the sea. To hold a 6000 year-old arrowhead or something perhaps dropped by a Viking raider is thrilling.
“You’re immediately connected to history through a tangible artefact.
“The material we have found is astonishing. I’d say we have learnt more about the archaeology of the park in the last 10 years through this work than the previous 100 years.”
He noticed the flint neolithic arrowhead in the summer of 2016 at a site near the playpark.
Mr Cook explained: “I was keeping an eye on the spoil being dug up when I spotted something glinting and recovered it.
“It had either been dropped or fired at somebody or something; it could have been used for warfare or hunting purposes. It has gone into the ground thousands of years ago and not been found until last year.”
The arrowhead is currently in Edinburgh where it is going through the legal treasure trove process. He added: “It’ll end up at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum where it will eventually go on display.”
The ornate piece of Dark Age (AD500 to AD 1000) metal work was also found in the park using a metal detector.
Mr Cook said: “We don’t really know what this is. It is a piece of bronze metal work a couple of inches across and highly decorated. It is either what we would call Pictish or Viking. We just don’t know.
“It is like an escutcheon plate – or decorative handle from an old-style chest of drawers.
“With the assessment of art historical objects the aim is to see what they most closely resemble; they are compared with things we already know about.
“It’s currently being analysed by experts at the National Museum of Scotland.”
The paths work carried out at the site follows a feasibility study comissioned by The King’s Park Path Group (comprising the King’s Park Community Council, Friends of King’s Park, Stirling Golf Club and Stirling Council). The work to improve the path surface is expected to be complete by the middle of next month.
It could have been used for warfare or hunting purposes . . .