Archaeologist Karen Wicks is pictured with the pigs that found stone tools belonging to hunter-gatherers who lived 12,000 years ago on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. [Steven Mithen and Karen Wicks, University of Reading]
Posted on 10/08/2015 2:15:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Pigs foraging along a Scottish coastline have unwittingly uprooted the earliest evidence for a remote population of hunter-gatherers.
The uprooted items, stone tools that have been dated to around 12,000 years ago, are described in the latest issue of British Archaeology. The tools were discovered on the east coast of the Isle of Islay, Scotland, and include sharp points -- likely used for hunting big game -- scrapers and more.
Archaeologists Steven Mithen and Karen Wicks of the University of Reading explained to Discovery News that a gamekeeper had previously released the pigs at a local port on Islay to reduce the bracken there. While feasting away, the pigs managed to dig up the ancient tools.
"Previously, the earliest evidence (for humans at Islay) dated to 9,000 years ago, after the end of the Ice Age," Mithen said. "The new discovery puts people on Islay before the Ice Age had come to an end at 12,000 years ago."
Mithen and Wicks were already working on a project in Scotland when they were informed of the pigs’ finds. They investigated the site, Rubha Port an t-Seilich, as well as nearby areas, and found layers of many other artifacts dating to different time periods. These included remains of animal bones, antlers, spatula-like objects, crystal quartz tools, and what was once a very well used fireplace.
Based on the age of the tools and their craftsmanship, the researchers suspect they belonged to the Ahrensburgian and Hamburgian cultures. These people originated in central Europe, with most coming from what is now northern Germany.
"They emerged primarily as reindeer hunters on the Ice Age tundras, most likely targeting migrating herds," Mithen explained.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
Archaeologist Karen Wicks is pictured with the pigs that found stone tools belonging to hunter-gatherers who lived 12,000 years ago on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. [Steven Mithen and Karen Wicks, University of Reading]
I say we reward those pigs for their discovery by turning them into delicious, crispy bacon! :)
Good pig.
Well then, don’t eat him all at once.
Isle of Islay? Then they must have been muslims...............
Laphroaig’s my favorite Islay single malt. Peat filtered whisky is sublime.
No in between with Islay's: you like or you don't.
For me they taste like iodine has been added to an otherwise excellent dram.
I like, but know it’s definitely not for everybody. Then again, my favorite drink in Japan was warm sour plum Haamanii Shochu, which my friends over there said they’d never seen an American like.
Lagavulin is mighty fine.
Another fine dram. I may have to pull a cork this evening.
L
For a time, ‘Vulin was hard to get stateside.......the Japanese *discovered* it ....and much of the stock was exported there.....for huge prices.
It’s what the Chinese are doing to the lobster market in Maine.
On a cold day, wearing my SF 49 sweatshirt I walked into a pub, quite by accident it turned out to be the SF 49er South Scotland Fan Club HQ.
The back room was filled with 49er memorabilia going back to Kezar and John Brodie days.
I tried a dozen or more Scotches, settled on Oban, Talisker and Cordhu as my favorites. Never paid for a drink and stumbled back to the hotel in very high spirits indeed
Indeed. I find one is enough.
Best,
L
I've started using the chilled stones, gives it a nice chill and no dilution. Though I agree if ice is used, it is used sparingly.
Them ain’t pigs, they’s hogs.
Agree. Pigs are young swine and hogs are grown swine. Those aren’t cute little piglets. They do have some junk in the trunk. Psst, an ancient artifact a day keeps the butcher away.
Too strong of a seaweed taste for me.
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![Archaeologist Karen Wicks is pictured with the pigs that found stone tools belonging to hunter-gatherers who lived 12,000 years ago on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. [Steven Mithen and Karen Wicks, University of Reading]](http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/archaeologist_pigs-_151007.jpg)
