Database compiled and produced by
Andrew
T. Chamberlain, and Jim
Williams Department of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield,
Northgate House, Sheffield, S1 4ET.
Most recent changes incorporated on December 5, 2000.
When referencing this article, please use the following convention:
Chamberlain, A.T. & Williams, J.P. 2000 A Gazetteer of Scottish Caves,
Fissures and Rock Shelters Containing Human Remains. Capra 2
available at - http://capra.group.shef.ac.uk/2/scotland.html
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This gazetteer contains a summary of information about caves, fissures and-rock shelters in Scotland that have contained human remains of possible or proven prehistoric date. The gazetteer is organised in alphabetical order of site name. The following categories of information are listed for each entry:
Site: The topographical name of the site, as given in the published literature. Alternative names are given in parentheses
NGR: The National Grid Reference, consisting of two letters indicating the 100 km square followed by the six-figure or eight-figure grid co-ordinates, when known
NMR: Entry in the National Monuments Record
SMR: Entry in the relevant local authority sites and monuments record
SAM: Site registered as a Scheduled Ancient Monument
SSSI: Site registered as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Excavation: The directors and duration of known excavations of the site.
Curation: The current or last known locations of all curated finds from the site.
MNIs: The estimated numbers of individuals, subdivided into adults and children. A ‘+’ sign indicates that the estimate is a minimum number, normally calculated from the most frequently represented skeletal element.
Finds: A brief summary of any artefacts or environmental material that may be of the same date as the human remains. The entry does not distinguish between items that are grave goods, those which are associated by context, and material that is unstratified.
Date: The author’s assessment of the period to which the burials are likely to belong. For each site a numerical index of reliability of the dating evidence has been assigned, as follows: (1) 14C date obtained on human remains; (2) 14C date obtained on organic material closely associated with a burial, or, undated human remains closely associated with diagnostic prehistoric artefacts; (3) burial associated with non-diagnostic prehistoric artefacts; (4) stratigraphical context of human remains indeterminate; (5) no reliable dating information available for the site.
14C: Where radiocarbon determinations are available these are given in uncalibrated years b.p. The laboratory number is also given, but the laboratory dating error has been omitted (most estimates of the error standard deviation of Holocene 14C dates lie in the range between ±30 and ±150 years).
Bibliography: A comprehensive list of the primary published literature for each site is given, but secondary references that present no additional information have been omitted.
INDEX OF SITES IN SCOTLAND
Site: Alva Glen, Alva, Clackmannanshire
NGR: NS 8848 9754
NMR: NS89NE 3
Excavation: J. Murdoch, 1913
Curation:-
Burials: 1
Finds: None
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Ardrossan Shell Mound, Ardrossan, North Ayrshire
NGR: NS 2313 4218
SMR: NS24SW 9
Excavation: J. Smith, 1894
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (HR 840-6)
Burials: 1+
Finds: Bone artefacts, stone sinker, glazed pottery, animal bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: An Corran Rock Shelter, Staffin, Skye
NGR: NG 4910 6852
NMR: NG46NE 19
Excavation: R. Miket & A. Saville, 1993
Curation:-
Burials: 2+
Finds: Mesolithic stone tools, prehistoric bone and antler tools, animal bones
Date: Neolithic (1)
14C: 3885, 4405 bp (AA-27743, AA-27744) on human bone, 7590 bp (OxA-4994) on bone tool
View references for this cave.
Site: Borness Cave, Borness, Dumfries and Galloway
NGR: NX 6208 4466
SMR: NX64SW 1
Excavation: 1872-1878
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland
Burials: 2
Finds: Whetstones, bronze and bone artefacts, glass armlet, Samian pottery, animal bones
Date: ?Romano-British (4)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Braes of Ganavan, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8585 3231
NMR: NM83SE 27
Excavation: A.J. MacDougall, 1906
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, Edinburgh (HL 439)
Burials: 1 (child)
Finds: Flints, bone needle, animal bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Carding Mill Bay I, Oban, Argyll
NGR: NM 847 294
NMR: NM82NW 20
Excavation: 1990
Curation:?
Burials: 5+
Finds: Bronze Age food vessel, Bronze Age flint, worked antler, quartz artefacts
Date: Neolithic (1)
14C: 4800, 4830, 4690, 4330 bp (OxA-7663, 7664, 7665, 7890) on human bone. 4765 & 5190 bp (OxA-3739, 3740) on bone & antler; 5060 & 4980 bp (GU-2796, 2797) on charcoal; 5440 & 5410 bp (GU-2898, 2899) on marine shell
View references for this cave.
Site: Cave No. 1, Inchnadamph, Sutherland
NGR: NC 268 170
NMR: NC21NE 1
Excavation: Cree, J.E. & Callander, J.G., 1926
Curation:Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh
Burials: 1
Finds: Iron knife, animal bones.
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Cave of the Skulls (Uamh nan Claigionn), Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8484 2936
NMR: NM82NW 2
Excavation: 18th & 19th century
Curation:?
Burials: 1+
Finds: -
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Crinan Ferry, North Knapdale, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NR 799 938
NMR: NR79SE 22
Excavation: R.J. Mapleton, 1880; M. Campbell & M. Sandeman, 1959
Curation:Glasgow Art Gallery & Museum
Burials: 2+
Finds: Beaker pottery, worked flint, animal bones
Date: Early Bronze Age (2)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Distillery Cave, Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8598 3015
NMR: NM83SE 7
Excavation: 1890
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, Edinburgh (HL 381-389)
Burials: 12+ (5 adults, 7 children)
Finds: Flints, antler tool
Date: ?Early Bronze Age (4)
14C: 3780 bp (OxA-4509) on antler spatula
View references for this cave.
Site: Dunollie Castle, Kilmore and Kilbride, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8524 3146
NMR: NM83SE 30
Excavation: before 1870
Curation:?
Burials: 3+
Finds: -
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Duntroon, Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NR 8004 9587
NMR: NR89NW 25
Excavation: 1862; R.J. Mapleton, 1875
Curation:?
Burials: 7+
Finds: Flint scrapers, flint core, animal bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: En-Dah-Win, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8557 3221
NMR: NM83SE 24
Excavation: before 1870
Curation:?
Burials: 1+
Finds: -
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Gasworks Cave, Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8605 3005
NMR: NM83SE 5
Excavation: 1877
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, Edinburgh (HL378-380)
Burials: 1+
Finds: Bronze Age pottery, flint flake, marine shells
Date: ?Bronze Age (4)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Jonathan’s Cave, East Wemyss, Fife
NGR: NT 3456 9723
NMR: NT39NW 9 and 31
Excavation: D. Provan, 1980 & 1985
Curation:-
Burials: 1
Finds: Pottery, animal bone
Date: Medieval (1)
14C: 980 bp (GU-3038) on human bone; 2230 bp (GU-2138), 955 bp (GU-1369)
View references for this cave.
Site: MacAnall’s Cave, Ailsa Craig, Dailly, South Ayrshire
NGR: NX 0164 9942
NMR: NX09NW 3
Excavation: before 1856
Curation:?
Burials: 1+
Finds: -
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: MacArthur Cave, Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8592 3043
NMR: NM83SE 9
Excavation: J. Munro & J.W. Higgin, 1895
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, Edinburgh (HL1-389)
Burials: 4+ (adults)
Finds: Mesolithic bone and flint artefacts, stone hammers, limpet scoops, animal bones
Date: Early Iron Age (1)
14C: 2460 to 2170 bp (OxA-4485 to 4488) on human bone
View references for this cave.
Site: MacKay Cave (Burnbank Cave), Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8595 3059
NMR: NM83SE 4
Excavation: MacKay, 1869
Curation:National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Burials: 2 (1 adult, 1 child)
Finds: Flint artefacts, marine shells, animal bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Nether Warburton, St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire
NGR: NO 736 633
NMR: NO 76 SW 19
Excavation: 1847
Curation:Angus District Museum, Montrose (1977.72)
Burials: 1+
Finds: Pottery, animal bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Raschoille Cave, Glenshellach, Oban, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 8549 2891
NMR: NM82NE 47
Excavation: K.D. Connock, 1984
Curation:?
Burials: 20+
Finds: Flint arrowhead, marine shells, fish bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Red Cove, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NR 6883 4296
NMR: NR64SE 25
Excavation: before 1869
Curation:?
Burials: 1+
Finds: -
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Reindeer Cave, Inchnadamph, Sutherland
NGR: NC 268 170
NMR: NC21NE 1
Excavation: Cree, J.E. & Callander, J.G., 1926
Curation:Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh
Burials: 4 (3 children, 1 adult)
Finds: Walrus ivory pin; antler point; animal bones.
Date: Neolithic (1)
14C: 4515 to 4720 bp (OxA-5758 to OxA-5761) on human bone; 1900 (OxA 3527) on walrus ivory pin; 850 bp (OxA-5757) on worked antler
View references for this cave.
Site: Saint Baldred’s Cave (Auldhame; Seacliff Cave), Whitekirk, East Lothian
NGR: NT 6045 8448
NMR: NT68SW 7
Excavation: G. Sligo, 1831; 1905
Curation:?
Burials: 2 (children)
Finds: ?Iron Age pottery, worked bone, animal bones
Date: ?Iron Age (4)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Saint Medan’s Cave, Kirkmaiden, Dumfries and Galloway
NGR: NX 1437 3159
NMR: NX13SW 10
Excavation: 1870; H. Maxwell, 1885
Curation:?
Burials: 1+
Finds: Flints, worked antler, animal bone
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Sculptor’s Cave, Covesea, Moray
NGR: NJ 1750 7072
NMR: NJ17SE 1
Excavation: S. Benton, 1928-1930; I.A.G. Shepherd & A.N. Shepherd, 1979
Curation:?
Burials: 1+ (including children)
Finds: Late Bronze Age, Roman Iron Age & Pictish metalwork, Bronze Age & Roman pottery, bone implements, animal bone
Date: Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age (4)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Scurrival Cave (Uamh an Duin), Eoligarry, Barra, Outer Hebrides
NGR: NF 6956 0798
NMR: NF60NE 5
Excavation: A. Young, 1958; K. Branigan, 1998
Curation:Private collection
Burials: 1
Finds: Middle Iron Age and Medieval pottery, flint and quartzite flakes, saddle quern
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Torrs Cave (Dirk Hatteraick Cove), Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
NGR: NX 6767 4459
NMR: NX64SE 5
Excavation: S.V. Morris, c. 1935-37,
Curation:Stewartry Museum
Burials: 1 (worked human bone)
Finds: Stone axe; flint core; worked bone; RB, medieval & post-medieval pottery; animal bones.
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Uamh an t-Sill (Cave of the Seed/Cave of the Fairies), Torrin, Skye
NGR: NG 602 197
Excavation: Grampian Speleological Group, 1973
Curation:-
Burials: 1
Finds: -
Date: unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Uamh Fhraing, Eigg, Small Isles
NGR: NM 4749 8352
SMR: NM48SE 20
Excavation: 1863
Curation:Royal Museum of Scotland; ?Birmingham Museum
Burials: 1+
Finds: None
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
Site: Ulva Cave (A’Chrannag), Ulva, Argyll and Bute
NGR: NM 4314 3843
NMR: NM43NW 22
Excavation: C. Bonsall, 1987
Curation:?
Burials: 1 (child)
Finds: Early Neolithic pottery, flint artefacts, animal bones
Date: Unknown (5)
14C: 5750 bp (OxA-3738) on antler
View references for this cave.
Site: The Yellow Man, North Berwick, East Lothian
NGR: NT 5753 8557
NMR: NT58NE 8
Excavation: Before 1907
Curation:National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (FC 236)
Burials: 1 (child)
Finds: Bronze pin, pottery, animal bones
Date: ?Early medieval (4)
14C: -
View references for this cave.
© CAPRA 2000