Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Climate change 'doomed ancient Argyll site' [not about sweaters]
Times o' London ^ | November 7, 2008 | Scotland Staff

Posted on 11/10/2008 5:21:12 PM PST by SunkenCiv

An ancient Scots religious site predating the Pyramids and Stonehenge may have been abandoned because of climate change, according to archaeologists. Kilmartin Glen, in Argyll, has one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Europe.

The glen -- a place of sacred rites from 3700BC or earlier -- contains at least 350 ancient monuments, including burial cairns, rock carvings and standing stones. The most spectacular of the remains is the fortress of the Scots at Dunadd, capital of the kingdom of Dalriada.

But archaeologists have identified a period of almost 1,000 years in which no monuments were erected and the population virtually disappeared. Alison Sheridan, head of early prehistory at the National Museum of Scotland, said: "Kilmartin Glen is one of the richest archaeological areas in Scotland, with a very high concentration of ritual sites." She added that the earliest activity dated back to hunter-gatherers about 4500BC, who left behind nothing more than a few pits, charcoal and some flint. It was a sacred landscape from at least as early as 3700BC until as late as 1100BC.

Dr Sheridan said: "It was a place for ceremony, for burying people, and observing the movements of the Sun and the Moon. We are not too certain what happened between 1100BC and 200BC. A hoard of swords has been found and a few artefacts buried as gifts to the gods in the late Bronze Age between 1000 and 750BC. But there are few structures and no settlements. When you start getting settlements again around 200BC they are in little fortified settlements ... It was no longer a happy valley, and people raided each other."

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: dalriada; godsgravesglyphs; scotland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last
To: SunkenCiv

It’s a fast connection day. 8^)


21 posted on 11/10/2008 7:02:55 PM PST by steelyourfaith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

.

Good graphic potlatch!

That look like Area 21 just after a prehistoric Scotch tasting

After they perfected Scotch they never bothered to complete the first floor of the condo


22 posted on 11/10/2008 7:02:56 PM PST by devolve ( ____95%_will_get_welfare_bribes____)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: devolve
Lol, you've got me confused, not hard to do. Area 21 part of the temporal cortex, area '51' in Nevada and where were the condo's being built? Think there was going to be another layer on Stonehenge?

Found a good Jack Daniels bottle gif. Once the ladies discovered it they quit knitting the Argyll sox....


23 posted on 11/10/2008 7:16:43 PM PST by potlatch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

.

I believe they have found more extending out from Stonehenge

An old Joe Biden campaign button I’d heard

Good Jack Daniel’s .gif - looks like the corn mash is still working!


24 posted on 11/10/2008 7:29:43 PM PST by devolve ( ____95%_will_get_welfare_bribes____)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: devolve

[I believe they have found more extending out from Stonehenge]

Yes, I remember reading about that. Can’t recall the details and have heard no more. Stonehenge intrigues me, my son and parents have been there - as you know.

Yeah, the whiskey’s bubbling in that bottle, lol.


25 posted on 11/10/2008 7:34:37 PM PST by potlatch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson