Latest news with #Ahrensburgian
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Ultimate adventure story': Submerged stone circles reveal perilous migration of prehistoric people to far northern Scotland 11,000 years ago
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The discovery of submerged stone circles and Stone Age tools on the Isle of Skye reveals that humans occupied what is now northern Scotland about 11,000 years ago. The finding indicates that these people braved a volatile landscape of glaciers and fluctuating coastlines in northern Scotland, venturing much farther north than experts once believed. "This is a hugely significant discovery which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known, of north-west Scotland," Karen Hardy, a prehistoric archaeologist at the University of Glasgow, said in a statement. Hardy and colleagues published a study of two archaeological sites on the Isle of Skye in the Journal of Quaternary Science in April. Until recently, little was known about the earliest settlements in Scotland, due to factors such as sea-level rise and the lack of organic remains to radiocarbon-date archaeological sites there, the researchers noted in the study. But Hardy and colleagues' discovery of numerous stone tools shaped into points, blades and scrapers in a style called Ahrensburgian — which was in use across north-central Europe during the Late Upper Paleolithic — has provided evidence that hunter-gatherers made their way across the forbidding Isle of Skye coastline more than 11,000 years ago. Related: Was it a stone tool or just a rock? An archaeologist explains how scientists can tell the difference The researchers also found several stone circles between 10 and 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) in diameter in the tidal area of a second archaeological site. Boulders measuring roughly 1.6 feet (0.5 m) in diameter were embedded in the clay bottom of the beach to form a circle. Because of sea-level rise, these stone circles "are only visible at the extreme spring tides and are exposed around 2-3 hours per year," they wrote in the study, but the circles were likely terrestrial features when they were constructed. By estimating the timing of glacier retreat and sea-level rise, the researchers determined that the only time these stone circles could have been created would have been around 11,000 years ago, during a period of volatile climate change as the glaciers rapidly melted at the end of the last ice age. This time frame fits with similar stone circles found in Norway that have been dated to 11,000 to 10,500 years ago and are thought to be the remains of a hide-covered tent or hut, the team said. Around the same time, the lower sea level also would have opened up a land bridge or terrestrial corridor between the southern part of the Isle of Skye and mainland Scotland. Ancient people likely would have used this passageway when migrating northwest from what are today Germany and Belgium. Today, this swath of land connecting Great Britain to continental Europe is known as Doggerland, but it's now under the North Sea. RELATED STORIES —2 Stone Age circles discovered on English moorland may have been part of a 'sacred arc' —Ancient stone circles in Norway were hiding a dark secret: dozens of children's graves —Nabta Playa: A mysterious stone circle that may be the world's oldest astronomical observatory "To reach north-west Scotland would have involved complex travel across unfamiliar terrain, comprising steep mountains and large bodies of water," the researchers wrote, possibly in pursuit of deer and other large mammals. Living in Skye 11,000 years ago required ancient people to adapt quickly to a rapidly changing climate and environment, according to the researchers. But the abundant stone tools and curious circles suggest a decent-sized group of people stuck it out for the long term and settled into their new coastal life. "The journey made by these pioneering people who left their lowland territories in mainland Europe to travel northwards into the unknown is the ultimate adventure story," Hardy said.
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Evidence of Scotland's earliest human populations found on Skye
Proof of one of the earliest human settlements in Scotland has been discovered. Tools and stone circles were among the discoveries made in one of the country's most iconic locations. Archaeologists and researchers made the discoveries on the Isle of Skye . The team was headed by Karen Hardy, Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Glasgow. The stone tools discovered have been dated to a period known as the Late Upper Palaeolithic era. This puts them at around between 11,000 and 11,500 years of age . The wider implications of the discoveries have been examined in detail. Highly detailed maps of local glacier formations were used to investigate an unusual group of stone circular structures that appear to lie underneath modern sea level. These sites were found by Professor Hardy and local archaeologist Martin Wildgoose. Their pair's discovery means that the west coast now features the biggest concentration of evidence for these pioneer human populations anywhere in Scotland, as well as revealing that early humans ventured significantly further north than previously thought. Professor Karen Hardy commented: "This is a hugely significant discovery which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known, of north-west Scotland." The team included representatives from the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Leeds Beckett, and Flinders in Australia. Together, they worked together to reconstruct the local landscape and changing sea levels. This period immediately followed the Younger Dryas—also known as the Loch Lomond Stadial. Much of west Scotland was buried under ice, with groups of nomadic hunter-gatherers most likely of the Ahrensburgian culture from northern Europe, crossed Doggerland—an area that is now covered by the North Sea—and established themselves on Skye. Back then, the landscape of Scotland would have looked very different to today. Professor Hardy added: "The journey made by these pioneering people who left their lowland territories in mainland Europe to travel northwards into the unknown, is the ultimate adventure story. "As they journeyed northwards, most likely following animal herds, they eventually reached Scotland, where the western landscape was dramatically changing as glaciers melted and the land rebounded as it recovered from the weight of the ice. "A good example of the volatility they would have encountered can be found in Glen Roy, where the world-famous Parallel Roads provide physical testament to the huge landscape changes and cataclysmic floods that they would have encountered, as they travelled across Scotland." Upon reaching Skye, the early people created tools from stone they found locally. According to Professor Hardy, the settlers purposefully and strategically decided where to base themselves as they chose a location that had good access to coastal and riverine resources—as well as natural materials such as ochre that were highly valued by ancient cultures. The discoveries have been announced in a paper published in The Journal of Quaternary Science. The paper is titled 'At the far end of everything: A likely Ahrensburgian presence in the far north of the Isle of Skye, Scotland'. The paper concludes by stating: "While the number of Ahrensburgian findspots is low, they are spread widely across Scotland, including from the islands of Tiree, Orkney, and Islay, that also imply significant sea journeys, suggesting a larger population than the number of finds might imply. "To date, all Late Upper Palaeolithic sites in Scotland have been discovered by chance, and there is insufficient evidence to address further questions regarding their adaptations and lifestyles. "By reconstructing the geographical limitations imposed by ice sheet evolution, changes in Relative Sea Level and river courses, it may be possible to focus on other likely locations—both onshore and offshore—and begin to uncover more evidence." The paper continues: "Recovering evidence for a LUP presence in Scotland presents challenges unmatched in continental Europe. However, despite being distant from its central area, the evidence from Skye reflects an Ahrensburgian presence at the extreme north- west continental limit, extending their distribution. "The people who made these artefacts originated in the mainland of northwest Europe, crossed Doggerland into what is now Britain, and eventually reached the far north of the Isle of Skye. "Here, they adapted to live in a fragmented, fluctuating, and volatile environment amid melting glaciers, mountains, and oceans – vastly different from the low-lying environments of their homelands on the northwestern edge of the Great European Plain." The sites themselves cannot be visited. However, the landscape these early pioneers encountered can be imagined at Sconser. Approximately 11,000 years ago, following the melting of the last of the Cuillin Mountain glaciers, the sea level would still be lower than today. It would have even been possible to walk to the island of Raasay.
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Scotsman
28-04-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
Scotland's earliest known settlers who arrived 11,000 years ago found on island
Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Traces of one of Scotland's earliest human populations of 'pioneers' who walked thousands of miles before settling on a Scottish island have been found after a set of stone tools were dated to more than 11,000 years ago. The tools were discovered on croftland in the Uig area of the Isle of Skye by a team of archaeologists led by Karen Hardy, professor of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stone tools were found in the north of Skye, in the area around Uig (pictured), and have been dated to around 11,000 to 11,500 years old. Picture: DavideGorla/Flickr/CC | DavideGorla/Flickr/CC The tools have been dated to the Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP), around 11,500 to 11,000 years ago. The stone tools found on Skye. PIC: Karen Hardy. | Karen Hardy An 'enigmatic' group of stone circular structures, which appear to now lie beyond modern seal level, were also discovered by Prof Hardy and Skye-based archaeologist Martin Wildgoose, following analysis of the local landscape and glacial changes. Following the discovery, the west coast now represents the largest concentration of evidence for these pioneer human populations anywhere in Scotland. The findings reveal how early humans of this period ventured much further north than previously believed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Prof Hardy said: 'This is a hugely significant discovery, which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known, of north-west Scotland.' The team, from the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Leeds Beckett and Flinders in Australia, worked together to reconstruct the local landscape, glacial formations and changing sea levels. The circular alignment at Sconser, which is believed to be linked to the nomadic hunter-gatherers most likely of the Ahrensburgian culture from northern Europe, who arrived on the Isle of Skye around 11,000 years ago. PIC: Jamie Booth | Jamie Booth Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) immediately follows the Younger Dryas period - or the Loch Lomond Stadial - when much of west Scotland was buried under ice. Then, groups of nomadic hunter-gatherers most likely of the Ahrensburgian culture from northern Europe, crossed Doggerland, an area that is now covered by the North Sea, and established themselves on Skye. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Prof Hardy said: 'The journey made by these pioneering people who left their lowland territories in mainland Europe to travel northwards into the unknown is the ultimate adventure story. 'As they journeyed northwards, most likely following animal herds, they eventually reached Scotland, where the western landscape was dramatically changing as glaciers melted and the land rebounded as it recovered from the weight of the ice. 'A good example of the volatility they would have encountered can be found in Glen Roy, where the world-famous Parallel Roads provide physical testament to the huge landscape changes and cataclysmic floods that they would have encountered, as they travelled across Scotland.' Professor Karen Hardy, an expert in prehistoric archaeology at Glasgow University, led the discovery. | Contributed The Parallel Roads are a result of an ancient, ice-dammed lake that carved stepped, narrow terraces into the landscape along its shoreline. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the climate sufficiently warmed, the ice receded and the glacial lake drained, leaving behind the shorelines - or 'roads' - that are embedded through the glen. Prof Hardy said she believed the settlers deliberately and strategically chose where to base themselves and selected a location that had good access to coastal and riverine resources, as well as natural materials like ochre - highly valued by ancient cultures. A paper on the findings, published in The Journal of Quarterly Science, said: 'While the number of Ahrensburgian find spots is low, they are spread widely across Scotland, including from the islands of Tiree, Orkney and Islay, that also imply significant sea journeys, suggesting a larger population than the number of finds might imply. 'To date, all Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) sites in Scotland have been discovered by chance and there is insufficient evidence to address further questions regarding their adaptations and lifestyles. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'By reconstructing the geographical limitations imposed by ice sheet evolution, changes in relative sea level (RSL) and river courses, it may be possible to focus on other likely locations – both onshore and offshore – and begin to uncover more evidence.' The paper said evidence of the Ahrensburgian on Skye extended their present to the 'extreme north-west continental limit'. 'Here, they adapted to live in a fragmented, fluctuating, and volatile environment amid melting glaciers, mountains, and oceans – vastly different from the low-lying environments of their homelands on the north-western edge of the Great European Plain,' the paper said. Although the sites themselves cannot be visited, the landscape these early pioneers encountered can be imagined at Sconser - a small crofting township on Skye.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tools dating back 11,000 years found on Skye
Archaeologists have discovered ancient tools which they believe show evidence of one of the earliest human populations yet known in Scotland. The stone tool heads are believed to be between 11,000 and 11,500 years old and date from a period known as the Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP). The discovery was made an at undisclosed location on the island of Skye. Experts say the find means that the west coast now represents the largest concentration of evidence for human populations anywhere in Scotland. More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds Karen Hardy, Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, led a team of archaeologists and scientists which has published its findings in The Journal of Quaternary Science. She said: "This is a hugely significant discovery which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known of north-west Scotland." During the LUP period when they tools are believed to have been made, much of western Scotland was buried under ice. Prof Hardy said groups of nomadic hunter-gatherers, most likely of the Ahrensburgian culture from northern Europe, would have crossed the Doggerland area now covered by the North Sea and established themselves on Skye. "The journey made by these pioneering people who left their lowland territories in mainland Europe to travel northwards into the unknown is the ultimate adventure story," she said. "As they journeyed northwards, most likely following animal herds, they eventually reached Scotland, where the western landscape was dramatically changing as glaciers melted and the land rebounded as it recovered from the weight of the ice. "A good example of the volatility they would have encountered can be found in Glen Roy, where the world-famous Parallel Roads provide physical testament to the huge landscape changes and cataclysmic floods that they would have encountered as they travelled across Scotland." Once they reached Skye, the early settlers crafted tools from stone found locally. Scientists believe they deliberately chose to base themselves close to coastal and river resources as well as natural materials like ochre, which was highly valued by ancient cultures.
The National
28-04-2025
- Science
- The National
Archaeologists find evidence of 'some of earliest humans in Scotland'
Stone tools found on the island off the west coast date back to around 9500-9000 years ago – the Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP), experts believe. Discoveries also include an 'enigmatic group of stone circular structures' which appear to be below modern-day sea level. READ MORE: Archaeologists find 'world's oldest football pitch' in Scottish field Local archaeologist Martin Wildgoose and Karen Hardy, a professor of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Glasgow, made the discoveries which confirm that early humans ventured further north than previously thought. The finds have been announced in a paper – At the far end of everything: A likely Ahrensburgian presence in the far north of the Isle of Skye, Scotland – published in The Journal of Quaternary Science. Professor Hardy said: 'This is a hugely significant discovery which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known of north-west Scotland.' An 'enigmatic' stone circle identified on Skye (Image: Jamie Booth) The team, from the universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Leeds Beckett and Flinders in Australia, worked together to reconstruct the local landscape and changing sea levels. During this period, which is immediately after the Younger Dryas (also known as the Loch Lomond Stadial), when much of west Scotland was buried under ice, groups of nomadic hunter-gatherers most likely of the Ahrensburgian culture from northern Europe, crossed Doggerland, an area that is now covered by the North Sea, and established themselves on Skye. Ahrensburg was a late Paleolithic culture of reindeer hunters in northern Europe, known for their distinctive tanged flint points and mobile way of life as the Ice Age ended. The ancient stone tools found on the Isle of Skye (Image: Karen Hardy) Hardy went on: 'The journey made by these pioneering people who left their lowland territories in mainland Europe to travel northwards into the unknown is the ultimate adventure story. 'As they journeyed northwards, most likely following animal herds, they eventually reached Scotland, where the western landscape was dramatically changing as glaciers melted and the land rebounded as it recovered from the weight of the ice. 'A good example of the volatility they would have encountered can be found in Glen Roy, where the world-famous Parallel Roads provide physical testament to the huge landscape changes and cataclysmic floods that they would have encountered as they travelled across Scotland.' Professor Karen Hardy (Image: Supplied) Wildgoose and Hardy's paper states: 'While the number of Ahrensburgian findspots is low, they are spread widely across Scotland, including from the islands of Tiree, Orkney and Islay, that also imply significant sea journeys, suggesting a larger population than the number of finds might imply. 'To date, all Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) sites in Scotland have been discovered by chance, and there is insufficient evidence to address further questions regarding their adaptations and lifestyles. 'By reconstructing the geographical limitations imposed by ice sheet evolution, changes in Relative Sea Level (RSL) and river courses, it may be possible to focus on other likely locations – both onshore and offshore – and begin to uncover more evidence.' The University of Glasgow said the exact location of the sites were not open to visitors, but that Sconser, on Skye, would provide an idea of how the landscape looked when those early settlers were alive.
