The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Did the elite stay in hill fort?
Evidence from dig suggests that Perthshire site Burial cairn found may have been important Pictish power base during path work
Compelling evidence that a Perthshire hill fort could have been the power base of the local Pictish ruling elite is growing.
Recent excavations at the King’s Seat which overlooks the River Tay at Dunkeld, the first season of a three-year project, unearthed “hugely important” evidence of Pictish metalworking.
Interesting slot features found cut into the rock have also excited the archaeologists and point to the site’s importance.
“Comparisons can be drawn between the holes drilled into the rock on King’s Seat and St Fillan’s Chair on Dundurn near Loch Earn, where a wide ledge has been sculpted from an outcrop to form a sort of rock seat,” said Cath Mciver of AOC Archaeology Ltd.
“The lead archaeologist working on Dundurn theorised that this ‘seat’ could be an inauguration seat for the rulers of Strathearn. These features at King’s Seat could have served a similar purpose.”
Metalworking waste, crucible fragments and stone moulds which indicate that precious metalworking was taking place on the site point toward the early Pictish period (c.600900 AD), though radio carbon results are awaited to confirm this.
Another important find was a cache of small rounded stones which was discovered near the large rocky outcrop on the summit which may have been collected for using as slingshots.
More than 70 volunteers and local school pupils joined Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society and professional
“The material culture recovered from King’s Seat is hugely important. ANDY HEALD
archaeologists from AOC Archaeology Ltd in the first excavations.
Archaeologist Andy Heald from AOC Archaeology Ltd is in little doubt of the site’s position as a producer of prestige metalwork.
“Considered together, the material culture recovered from King’s Seat is hugely important and clearly indicates in situ activity on the site,” he said.
“While it seems obvious to the modern archaeologist that some sort of elite would have controlled, if not occupied, hill fort sites it is still rare for such sites to produce such a wealth of evidence.”
The team will be back digging at King’s Seat in September next year.
To find out more about the project, the discoveries from this year’s dig, or volunteering go to the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust website.
rburdge@thecourier.co.uk
A bronze age burial cairn has been uncovered during work to upgrade a path in Stirling.
The cairn, which measures 30-40 metres across, is thought to have been built up to 5,000 years ago.
It would have been used for burials of generations of an important family who would have lived and farmed the area.
The structure was discovered at a high point in Stirling’s historic King’s Park, the oldest and best preserved royal park in Scotland.
It was uncovered when bracken was cleared and turf removed to create the new path close to a golf course.
More research could be conducted at the site next summer.
Stirling Council archaeologist Dr Murray Cook said the find was the oldest known structure in the city, built during a period of transition from the first farmers to the earliest metal-workers.
He said: “What emerged was a bowl-shaped cairn 30 to 40 metres in diameter, and one or two metres high, minimum.
“It would have been built 4,000-5,000 years ago by an important family, probably for generations of burials.
“It could contain cists or chambers – we will only know by digging.”
The structure overlooks another cairn from which a skeleton known as “Torbrex Tam” was found in 1879.
Radio carbon dating recently showed that “Tam” died around 2152 to 2021 BC, making him more than 4,000 years old.
The King’s Park cairn is thought to be larger and older.
Dr Cook said: “This is the largest cairn in Stirling, and certainly in the most prominent position.”