Curious Behaviour in South Lanarkshire
Image copyright GUARD
Recent work for Tarmac by GUARD at Snabe Quarry in South Lanarkshire has revealed further evidence of prehistoric activity at the site. Evaluation work at the site in 2009, conducted ahead of an extension to the existing quarry area, uncovered a concentration of archaeological features, from one of which was retrieved fragments of a prehistoric pottery, possibly a vessel type known as a collared urn.
Image copyright GUARD
The new discoveries were made in July during controlled topsoil stripping in an area a little distance north of last year's discovery. This time a small concentration of features were uncovered; representing the remains of pits and/or post holes. One large pit, when excavated, was found to contain well in excess of 200 fragments of what appears to have been a deliberate deposit of early Neolithic pottery. Many vessels are represented by the pottery sherds recovered and these appear to be examples of what is broadly termed the carinated bowl tradition, the earliest form of pottery known to have been produced in Scotland.
Image copyright GUARD
Vessels of this type have a very distinctive form and fabric and are often characterised by having rounded bases, a marked change in their profile at shoulder level and quite open mouths. A smaller pit nearby was found to contain a fragment of a polished stone axe, another type of object characteristic of the Neolithic period and sometimes found in association with deposits of carinated bowls. Though further analysis of the finds and radiocarbon dating will be undertaken to provide accurate dates for these discoveries, the evidence recovered strongly suggests human activity at Snabe between 5500 and 6000 years ago. Why they should be burying pots and axes in pits is another matter entirely...