Latest news with #GuardArchaeology
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeolgists Find Largest-Ever Ceremony Hall, Weapons Hoard
Archaeologists in Scotland have discovered the largest Neolithic wood hall ever found in the country alongside a hoard of Bronze Age weaponry, including a gold spearhead, according to a report published in Guard Archaeology. The wood hall, which dates back to around 4,000 B.C., was found by construction workers underneath the future soccer field at Carnoustie High School in Angus. The main area was built using oak wood and measures 115 feet long by 30 feet wide, while a smaller 'companion hall' measuring 66 feet long by 26 feet wide was erected next door. This is a particularly unique arrangement for ancient Scotland, where buildings were often designed as singular entities and were significantly distanced from one another. "The halls were probably close to routeways where people might have congregated naturally at various seasons of the year,' said fieldwork director Alan Hunter Blair. 'The availability of hazelnuts in autumn is a strong indicator that that season was an important one for meeting, feasting, and celebrating."Inside the smaller hall, archaeologists discovered a stove which was filled with charred hazelnuts and cereal grains, indicating that the facility was used as a communal dining and food preparation space. The larger space, meanwhile, contained evidence suggesting it was used as a ceremonial space for the farmers. Found artifacts included an axe crafted from garnet-albite-schist as well as agate, quartz, and chalcedony, which are believed to have been provided by the community. "This monumental timber hall, completely alien to the culture and landscape of the preceding Mesolithic era, was erected by one of the very first groups of farmers to colonize Scotland, in a clearing within the remains of natural woodland,' explained study co-author Beverly Ballin Smith. 'It was fully formed, architecturally sophisticated, large, complex, and required skills of design, planning, execution, and carpentry."Archaeolgists Find Largest-Ever Ceremony Hall, Weapons Hoard first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Ancient Stone Age farming hall discovered under Scottish school
Archaeologists have found the remains of an ancient hall at a school in eastern uncovered evidence of the structure on the grounds where two new football pitches were due to be believe that the timber-built building measured 35 metres long by 9 metres wide and was a place where some of Scotland's first farmers gathered for estimate that the hall dates back to the Neolithic period, which was around 4,500-6,000 years ago. What did experts find? Glasgow-based Guard Archaeology said it was the largest hall from that era to ever be found in discovered two structures on the site of the football pitches - a smaller hall was also found, measuring 20 metres by 8 metres, next to the larger it, archaeologists found a hearth with the remains of cereal grains and hazel said these were signs that "feasting and celebrating" took place in the building. Stone tools were also unearthed at the site, which researchers said offered "tantalising traces" of the hall's role in the local community's beliefs and the tools were items made from rocks found in other parts of Scotland, including fragments of Arran pitchstone and smoky quartz from the suggests that the building attracted visitors from far Ballin Smith, one of the co-authors of a new report on the find, explained how important the discovery was."It was fully formed, architecturally sophisticated, large, complex and required skills of design, planning, execution and carpentry," she said.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Neolithic farming halls older than Stonehenge discovered beneath school
An early Neolithic timber hall has been found beneath a school in Scotland, with archaeologists believing it could have been a ceremonial venue for Scotland's first farming communities. The remains of the 'internationally significant' hall, older than Stonehenge, were found beneath what will become two school football pitches for Carnoustie High School in Angus. The site, which was first explored in 2017, is being investigated by the Guard Archaeology. It is believed to be the largest hall found in Scotland. The archaeological group said the discovery of the hall and a smaller companion building was 'exceptional' and included artefacts from around Scotland, including Arran and the Highlands, as well as hazelnut shells and charred cereal grains. Among the artefacts discovered was a gold-decorated Celtic spearhead and a sword, as well as an extremely well-preserved late Bronze Age wood-and-leather scabbard. It is believed to be among the best-preserved in Britain. A report by Guard Archaeology suggested the halls likely attracted farmers from across a wide area for feasts and celebrations. It was especially rare to have two buildings together. Alan Hunter Blair, who directed the fieldwork, said: 'The Carnoustie excavation produced exceptional results, the traces of the largest early Neolithic timber hall ever discovered in Scotland, dating from near 4,000BC. 'This was a permanent structure 35m long and 9m wide, built of oak with opposed doorways near one end of the building. Its large roof was supported by paired massive timber posts.' Beverley Ballin Smith, the co-author of the report, said: 'This monumental timber hall, completely alien to the culture and landscape of the preceding Mesolithic era, was erected by one of the very first groups of farmers to colonise Scotland, in a clearing within the remains of natural woodland. 'It was fully formed, architecturally sophisticated, large, complex and required skills of design, planning, execution and carpentry.' The archaeology group said the smaller hall was 20 metres long and more than eight metres wide. Ballin Smith said: 'The Carnoustie halls, elevated and prominent in the landscape, were probably close to routeways where people might have congregated naturally at various seasons of the year. 'The availability of hazelnuts in autumn is a strong indicator that that season was an important one for meeting, feasting and celebrating. 'Carnoustie might have been a focal point, [the halls'] significance great enough to attract people from a much wider area. 'Some artefacts came from distant places and represent deliberate deposition, such as fragments of Arran pitchstone, an axe of garnet-albite-schist and a piece of smoky quartz from the Highlands. 'Other materials were found more locally, such as agate, quartz and chalcedony.' Kathryn Lindsay, the chief executive of Angus council, said: 'When [we] approved the development of two outdoor football pitches at Balmachie Road, no one imagined the process would reveal one of the most internationally significant archaeological discoveries in Scotland.' The council funded the archaeological work, which was required as a condition of planning consent.
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Archeologists uncover evidence of massive 6,000-year-old timber hall in Scotland
Built around 4000 BC by early farming communities, the hall measured an impressive 35 metres long and 9 metres wide. Archaeologists in Scotland have uncovered remarkable evidence of a vast and sophisticated timber hall dating back around 6,000 years, providing fresh insight into the lives and festivities of some of the country's earliest farming communities. The discovery was made during excavations at the site of new football pitches near Carnoustie High School, in Angus. Archaeologists from Glasgow -based Guard Archaeology described the building as the largest early Neolithic timber hall ever discovered in Scotland. The hall measured an impressive 35 metres (115 feet) long and 9 metres (30 feet) wide. Constructed around 4000 BC, this monumental structure was crafted from oak timber, featuring opposed doorways towards one end and walls made of wattle and daub panels supported by sturdy wooden posts. Its roof, extending protectively over the walls, was held up by massive paired timber posts, while further internal postholes and narrow channels marked out internal partitions, indicating a carefully subdivided space. "This monumental timber hall, completely alien to the culture and landscape of the preceding Mesolithic era, was erected by one of the very first groups of farmers to colonise Scotland, in a clearing within the remains of natural woodland," explained Beverley Ballin Smith, one of the report's co-authors. "It was fully formed, architecturally sophisticated, large, complex and required skills of design, planning, execution and carpentry." What makes the Carnoustie discovery truly exceptional, however, is the existence of a second, smaller hall located nearby. While still substantial in its own right at nearly 20 metres (66 feet) by 8 metres (26 feet), this companion building sets the Carnoustie site apart from other early Neolithic halls previously found in Scotland, which typically stood alone within newly cultivated farmland. Evidence recovered from the smaller hall includes a hearth with charred remains of cereal grains and hazelnut shells, clear indications of communal feasting and seasonal celebrations. Archaeologists suggest autumn, with the abundance of hazelnuts, was likely an important time for festivities at the Carnoustie site. The strategic location of these halls, positioned prominently and elevated within the landscape, also hints at their role as gathering points. Archaeologists believe they may have been situated close to ancient routeways, naturally attracting groups from across the region at different times of the year. Further reinforcing this idea, the excavation revealed carefully placed deposits of artefacts sourced from distant parts of Scotland. Among these were fragments of Arran pitchstone, a garnet-albite-schist axe, and smoky quartz from the Highlands. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Other materials such as agate, quartz, and chalcedony were gathered more locally, demonstrating the halls' far-reaching appeal and significance to communities across Scotland. In particular, stone tools deposited at the site provided "tantalising traces" of the halls' possible role in the spiritual beliefs and rituals of the local community, according to the archaeologists involved. Angus Council commissioned the excavation as part of preparations for the construction of new football pitches. The groundbreaking discovery has provided historians and archaeologists with invaluable insight into Scotland's early Neolithic period, a transformative era spanning from around 6,100 to 4,500 years ago when pioneering farmers from mainland Europe began settling the region.
Times
08-07-2025
- General
- Times
Neolithic halls unearthed at Scottish school are older than Stonehenge
T he remains of an 'internationally significant' early Neolithic timber hall found beneath what will soon be two school football pitches point to the site having been a ceremonial venue for Scotland's first farming communities, archaeologists say. The discovery of the hall — which is older than Stonehenge — and a smaller companion building is 'exceptional'. The site, at Carnoustie High School, Angus, is being investigated by Guard Archaeology. The larger hall is the biggest found in Scotland. Finds included a gold-decorated Celtic spearhead and a sword with what is possibly the best-preserved late Bronze Age wood-and-leather scabbard in Britain. A report said the halls probably drew farmers from across a wide area for feasts and celebrations. Finds included artefacts from Arran and the Highlands. Alan Hunter Blair, who directed the fieldwork, said: 'The Carnoustie excavation produced exceptional results, the traces of the largest early Neolithic timber hall ever discovered in Scotland dating from near 4,000BC.
