Posted on 05/21/2007 8:32:43 PM PDT by blam
Archaeological find could shed light on Orkney's past
Published: 16 May 2007
By: Communications and Media
Archaeologists have discovered what appears to be a subterranean Iron Age structure, known as a souterrain, in an Orkney field.
The find was made when the field was being seeded for barley. At first it was believed to be a Bronze Age cist burial, as others have previously been uncovered nearby, but subsequent examination has revealed it to be an Iron Age souterrain or earth-house.
Dr Allan Rutherford of Historic Scotland said: “Preliminary investigations by staff from Orkney College Archaeology Department have shown this to be a souterrain, rather than a cist burial as was initially thought. This example seems to conform to the Orkney form, with a long narrow passage and an oval chamber at the inner end. Structures like this are believed to be have been used essentially as storage cellars and were usually associated with above-ground houses, although it is now that they may have had wider uses, particularly ritual.
“What is exciting about this find is that there have only been a few souterrains excavated in Orkney in recent years. This excavation will hopefully shed further light on their function and use, as recent research suggests that such structures were more important to Iron Age communities than has been so far recognised.’
Historic Scotland is funding the project, which is expected to last around three weeks .
Local archaeologist Julie Gibson added: " When the Vikings came to Orkney they were as intrigued by these underground structures created by the original inhabitants, as we are now, and incorporated them in their folklore, as places where the Picts would go to regain their strength.
“Whereas we cannot say for sure what these structures were for, exactly, they are features of the Iron Age which occur across Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland. Finding one that has not been explored before is very exciting indeed."
Any discoveries at the site will be studied and properly recorded. The information gathered during the course of the excavation will be used as a tool in the management of similar sites of archaeological importance.
GGG Ping.
What with the weather and terrain of the Orkney's, it may be that they built underground structures to take advantage of the berm-effect - much easier to heat and to maintain that heat. It may simply be that they liked to keep from freezing to death.
But that would be too simple - first, the archaeologists and historians have to ascribe all sorts of mysterious possibilities -
Cooooooooooooolll...
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Went to the Orkneys on my first command, 90,000 ton tanker to pick up a load of North Sea crude oil. The currents leaving there were of legend. Full powered ships spun around like toys.
View of Callanish (I), Lewis, looking along the ridge and up the avenue
http://www.orkneydigs.org.uk/dhl/papers/cr/index.html
The North Sea is NEVER a place for the faint hearted.
Steven Oppenheimer’s DNA studies indicate that Viking DNA specific to the Orkneys are in Iceland. This indicates that the Orkneys were a long time ‘jumping-off’ point to Iceland.
Very interesting as my ancestors came from this area and John o’ Groats.
Google up Ocmulgee National Monument if you would like to see an ancient Indian structure that sounds identical to this souterrain. I wonder if the narrow entrance faces the Spring Equinox? Very curious.
regarding the picts, the oddest issue the that their language, aside from some placenames and a king-list, has apparently vanished. It is widely suspected to have been a P-celtic variant (there is a contrary published argument that it is finno-ugric, but no other scholarship seems to agree with that).
Even the primary place-name market (pit, pith, which appears in a number of towns in central-eastern scotland) could be the normal b-p mutation in p-celtic bet (modern welsh bedd pronounced ‘beth’ IIRC) which meant thing or place, i don’t recall now.
Maybe all of britain, up to cape wrath, was settled by P-celts prior to the roman period, and the picts were just so isolated and far north geographically that they either had notable language mutation OR for other reasons were considered separate from more southern tribes.
If they were in fact p-celts from similar stock to other pre-roman british celts, they aren’t going to leave any distinct markers I would think.
within sight of callinish there are multiple stone henges (all much smaller), at least one of which is accessible via footpath. who knows what else is buried in the layers of peat and yet undiscovered.
Farley Mowat’s “The Farfarers” is written around that premise.
I think it's been proven then.
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