Introduction

This afternoon, I am reporting on a find of national importance, namely an Iron Age man buried about 2000 years ago.

More Information

The body was found in a stone-lined cist at Marshill in Alloa, about 40 miles NW of Edinburgh.

Image of ancient burial cist (not from Alloa).

Whilst the man’s body has decomposed, the sword and ornaments have survived.The items were discovered in 2003 and subsequently subject to significant conservation work,

Image at top of the post shows how the burial items were placed on the body.These include:

• Iron sword in a leather scabbard placed across chest.
• Spear laid alongside the body..
• Ornaments including bronze cloak pin, glass bead pendant and bronze and iron rings from waist belt.
• Two bronze toe rings suggest he wore sandals which were a sign of high status.

The man was aged between 17 and 25 years.He may have been a warrior.Alternatively, the grave goods may have reflected how the community wanted them to be seen in the afterlife.

It is likely that the burial pre-dated arrival of the Gaelic speaking Scots from Ireland.At this time what is now Scotland was occupied by people who spoke a language linked to modern-day Welsh.

Below is a close-up of the burial goods.

More information

For more information on the country’s history and Scotland in general please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.