Secrets Of Mysterious Bronze Age Hoard Found In Rosemarkie, Scotland Revealed

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - The Bronze Age hoard found in Rosemarkie, Highland, Scotland, is a significant archaeological find that offers valuable insights into prehistoric life. It was discovered during excavations preceding a residential development project by Pat Munro Homes.

Pre-excavation photograph of the unearthed hoard before excavation in GUARD Archaeology’s Finds Lab.  Credit: GUARD 

The hoard's importance is heightened by its context within a Bronze Age settlement, comprising at least six roundhouses and a cist grave. This setting provides a rare opportunity to study the hoard in relation to its original environment.

Recent laboratory investigations have revealed intriguing details about the hoard's contents. The analysis, conducted by GUARD Archaeologists and Conservator Will Murray from the Scottish Conservation Studio, has uncovered rare organic plant remains intertwined with bronze artifacts. The hoard, dating to around 1000 B.C., contains nine bronze items, including neck rings, penannular bracelets, and a cup-ended penannular bracelet.

X ray image of hoard taken prior to excavation in GUARD Archaeology’s Finds Lab. Credit: GUARD 

The plant remains are of particular interest. They include fibrous cords tied and knotted around some of the bronze objects. This organic material provides additional context for understanding Bronze Age practices and technologies.

The ongoing analysis of these archaeological remains is expected to provide significant insights into the lives, beliefs, and customs of Bronze Age highlanders. Combined with findings from another Bronze Age hoard excavated by GUARD Archaeologists in Carnoustie on Scotland's east coast, this research may reveal broader patterns in Bronze Age culture across Scotland.

“The recovery of the artifacts was successfully carried out under the controlled conditions necessary to preserve these highly significant objects, particularly the very delicate organic cords that tether some of the objects together,” Rachel Buckley, who led the laboratory excavation said in a press release.

Left: Detail photograph of organic material within cup-ended penannular bracelet cup end. Right: Detail photograph showing organic plant binding intertwined with the artifacts. Credit: GUARD 

“Where bracelets were held together with organic material, these were recovered as a group to allow further detailed study. While there are other examples of hoards where it has been postulated that items were bound together due to their positioning, the vegetation in the Rosemarkie hoard has survived for approximately 3000 years, proving that these artifacts were held together.”

Copper's anti-microbial properties in bronze likely contributed to preserving the organics, as copper corrosion products adhered to them. In the coming months, GUARD Archaeology's team will analyze evidence to understand why the hoard was buried at this location.

Rosemarkie housing development and the site of the archaeological discovery. Credit: GUARD

“That the hoard was buried under a single homogenous fill within a shallow pit with little extra room for anything other than what was found within indicates that this was no accidental loss,” said Iraia Arabaolaza, who is managing GUARD Archaeology’s analyses.

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“It would seem that the shallow pit was dug to the required length and depth to accommodate the items, before then being quickly backfilled. It may be that it was intended as temporary storage with the intention of recovering the hoard at some stage. The evidence from the surrounding settlement may reveal whether it was not just the hoard that was abandoned but the settlement as well.”

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer