Latest news with #AvonArchaeologyHighland
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Excavations at site of new Tom Doak golf course site in Scotland nets prehistoric findings
Artifacts spanning thousands of years have been uncovered during work on a new golf course in the Scottish Highlands. Traces of ancient dwellings, a ceremonial circle and a wheel which belonged to a Bronze Age chariot have been among the "properly exceptional" finds revealed during the construction of the Old Petty Championship Golf Course at Cabot Highlands, near Inverness. Excavations were conducted by Avon Archaeology Highland across the site, which covers 50 hectares, during its construction phase. These revealed at least 25 prehistoric wooden buildings, alongside relics such as flint tools, quern stones, and the rare prehistoric chariot wheel. Other discoveries include remnants of Neolithic wooden buildings, a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age cremation urn and evidence for medieval field systems and grain-drying kilns, adding to Scotland's rich and layered history. Archaeologists say the findings paint a picture of ancient life in the Highlands, from ceremonial practices to agricultural innovation, between the Middle Ages and 6,000 years ago. Stuart McColm, vice president of golf development at Cabot, said: "This has been a remarkable journey from prehistoric times to the present, right here on our doorstep. 'It's humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground. We're proud to preserve this heritage while creating a world-class golf experience." Chief among the finds is a wooden palisade, thought to be between 2-3,000 years old. Inside the outline of the structure was a cremation pit, which the remains of a chariot wheel. The circle has now been reburied with the article removed, with its outline still visible on the re-routed course. The name of the course is a nod to the Old Petty Church, which was built in 1839 and sits off what will become the 16th green. The now-unused church is believed to sit at the site of an even older church, and the Old Petty Church is reported to have hosted an unusual custom: Mourners in the early 1800s would run to the church's graveyard during funerals while carrying the coffin. Cabot revealed Doak's planned routing for Old Petty in 2023, with holes passing a 400-year-old castle that provided the previous name for the property, Castle Stuart, before the Canadian-based Cabot bought it and rebranded the northern Scottish resort in 2022. Andy Young, principal archaeologist at Avon Archaeology Highland, praised the collaboration: "The partnership with Cabot Highlands has been exemplary. Their commitment to preserving the past while shaping the future is a model for responsible development. 'Close collaboration between developer Cabot Highlands and the archaeology team has enabled the remains of the most important archaeology, for example the prehistoric palisade circle, to be protected, reburied and landscaped after archaeology investigations - the landscaped palisade circle monument now forms a clearly defined circular landscape feature alongside the fairway of Hole 7 of the new Old Petty course. 'By careful design and detail changes to the new course layout, it has been possible to protect and preserve other significant buried archaeological remains that were identified during the evaluation phase.' He added: 'These areas have been preserved in-situ through design and will ensure the survival of substantial areas containing buried archaeology for future generations. "Always happy to see new archaeology emerge from the ground, but some of the discoveries we have made, particularly relating to early Neolithic settlement and later prehistoric ceremonial or funerary activity, are properly exceptional. " The findings will now be documented in detail, with final reports and radiocarbon dating expected later in the year, coinciding with the much-anticipated opening of the new Old Petty golf course. All finds will ultimately be submitted to Treasure Trove Scotland and will most likely be retained by either The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh or Inverness Museum. Golfweek's Jason Lusk contributed reporting to this article. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Cabot Highlands golf course site nets prehistoric findings
USA Today
03-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Excavations at site of new Tom Doak golf course site in Scotland nets prehistoric findings
Excavations at site of new Tom Doak golf course site in Scotland nets prehistoric findings Artifacts spanning thousands of years have been uncovered during work on a new golf course in the Scottish Highlands. Traces of ancient dwellings, a ceremonial circle and a wheel which belonged to a Bronze Age chariot have been among the "properly exceptional" finds revealed during the construction of the Old Petty Championship Golf Course at Cabot Highlands, near Inverness. Excavations were conducted by Avon Archaeology Highland across the site, which covers 50 hectares, during its construction phase. These revealed at least 25 prehistoric wooden buildings, alongside relics such as flint tools, quern stones, and the rare prehistoric chariot wheel. Other discoveries include remnants of Neolithic wooden buildings, a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age cremation urn and evidence for medieval field systems and grain-drying kilns, adding to Scotland's rich and layered history. Archaeologists say the findings paint a picture of ancient life in the Highlands, from ceremonial practices to agricultural innovation, between the Middle Ages and 6,000 years ago. Stuart McColm, vice president of golf development at Cabot, said: "This has been a remarkable journey from prehistoric times to the present, right here on our doorstep. 'It's humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground. We're proud to preserve this heritage while creating a world-class golf experience." Dig netted finds up to 3,000 years old Chief among the finds is a wooden palisade, thought to be between 2-3,000 years old. Inside the outline of the structure was a cremation pit, which the remains of a chariot wheel. The circle has now been reburied with the article removed, with its outline still visible on the re-routed course. The name of the course is a nod to the Old Petty Church, which was built in 1839 and sits off what will become the 16th green. The now-unused church is believed to sit at the site of an even older church, and the Old Petty Church is reported to have hosted an unusual custom: Mourners in the early 1800s would run to the church's graveyard during funerals while carrying the coffin. Cabot revealed Doak's planned routing for Old Petty in 2023, with holes passing a 400-year-old castle that provided the previous name for the property, Castle Stuart, before the Canadian-based Cabot bought it and rebranded the northern Scottish resort in 2022. More: Where to begin planning a golf trip to Scotland? Here's a pretty good idea Old Petty collaboration praised by archaeologist Andy Young, principal archaeologist at Avon Archaeology Highland, praised the collaboration: "The partnership with Cabot Highlands has been exemplary. Their commitment to preserving the past while shaping the future is a model for responsible development. 'Close collaboration between developer Cabot Highlands and the archaeology team has enabled the remains of the most important archaeology, for example the prehistoric palisade circle, to be protected, reburied and landscaped after archaeology investigations - the landscaped palisade circle monument now forms a clearly defined circular landscape feature alongside the fairway of Hole 7 of the new Old Petty course. 'By careful design and detail changes to the new course layout, it has been possible to protect and preserve other significant buried archaeological remains that were identified during the evaluation phase.' He added: 'These areas have been preserved in-situ through design and will ensure the survival of substantial areas containing buried archaeology for future generations. "Always happy to see new archaeology emerge from the ground, but some of the discoveries we have made, particularly relating to early Neolithic settlement and later prehistoric ceremonial or funerary activity, are properly exceptional. " The findings will now be documented in detail, with final reports and radiocarbon dating expected later in the year, coinciding with the much-anticipated opening of the new Old Petty golf course. All finds will ultimately be submitted to Treasure Trove Scotland and will most likely be retained by either The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh or Inverness Museum. Golfweek's Jason Lusk contributed reporting to this article.
Fox News
02-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Excavators discover prehistoric village beneath future golf course: 'Remarkable journey'
Archaeologists excavating the site of a future golf course were surprised to find evidence of a prehistoric village — including a rare chariot wheel dating back millennia. The excavation took place near Inverness, Scotland, at the site of the future Old Petty Championship Golf Course at Cabot Highlands. Experts working for Avon Archaeology Highland also found a Bronze Age cremation urn estimated to be 3,500 years old, along with flint tools and quern stones, which were used to grind grains. Remnants of at least 25 Neolithic-era wooden buildings were also uncovered at the site, according to the BBC. Archaeologists told news agency SWNS the newest finds help "paint a picture of ancient life in the Highlands, from ceremonial practices to agricultural innovation." Cabot's vice president of golf development, Stuart McColm, applauded the find in a statement to SWNS. "This has been a remarkable journey from pre-historic times to the present, right here on our doorstep," McColm said. "It's humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground," the executive added. "We're proud to preserve this heritage while creating a world-class golf experience." Archaeologists also made efforts to preserve a prehistoric ceremonial circle, which was reburied where it was found. Avon Archaeology Highland principal archaeologist Andy Young commended Cabot Highlands for their participation in the excavation. "Their commitment to preserving the past while shaping the future is a model for responsible development," Young said. Archaeologists are currently working to analyze and date the remains, and a full report is expected to be released at the same time that the golf course opens. The discovery is one of many ancient finds in the United Kingdom in 2025. In March, a hoard of over 800 Iron Age objects were publicized by Durham University. In addition, archaeologists recently found hundreds of skeletons beneath a campus property owned by the University of Gloucestershire.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prehistoric chariot wheel unearthed at golf course
The remains of a prehistoric chariot wheel have been discovered at the site of a new Highland golf course. Archaeologists made the find in a pit used for cremations thousands of years ago. Flint tools and evidence of at least 25 Neolithic wooden buildings were also uncovered during excavations at the site of the new Old Petty championship golf course, near Inverness. Avon Archaeology Highland described the discovery of the chariot wheel as "rare". A 3,500-year-old Bronze Age cremation urn and evidence of medieval field systems and grain-drying kilns were among other finds. Archaeologists said the discoveries "painted a picture" of ceremonial practices and farming life in the area from about 6,000 years ago through to the Middle Ages, which ended about 500 years ago. The finds are to be radiocarbon dated and documented before being handed over to museums in Inverness and Edinburgh. Andy Young, principal archaeologist at Avon Archaeology Highland, said the wheel was the most important of the discoveries. The remains were found in a cremation pit inside a palisade circle, an area enclosed by a fence made of wooden posts. Golf course company Cabot is developing the new site. Stuart McColm, vice-president of golf development, said: "It's humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground." In 2008, archaeologists uncovered a small - but vital - clue to the use of a chariot about 40 miles (64km) away at Birnie, near Elgin. The piece for a horse harness was found during an archaeological dig at an Iron Age site. Loch's island could be a rare medieval settlement New study of Scotland's ancient burial monuments Avon Archaeology Highland Cabot Highlands
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
‘Rare' historic artefacts uncovered by archaeologists at site of brand new Scottish golf course
Some of the historical evidence dates back as far as 6,000 years ANICENT FINDS 'Rare' historic artefacts uncovered by archaeologists at site of brand new Scottish golf course ARTEFACTS dating back thousands of years have been uncovered by archaeologists at the site of a brand new golf course in the Scottish Highlands. Excavations conducted by Avon Archaeology Highland found evidence of at least 25 Neolithic wooden buildings, a prehistoric ceremonial circle, a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age urn plus historic artefacts, including a chariot wheel. Advertisement 7 The findings were revealed on the site of a brand new Scottish golf course which opens next year Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology 7 The historical evidence dates back thousands of years Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology 7 Many ancient artefacts were discovered during the dig Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology 7 The items were uncovered by Avon Archaeology Highland Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology The chariot wheel has been described as "rare" by archaeologists. The finds were revealed during the construction of the Old Petty Championship Golf Course at Cabot Highlands, near Inverness. The site covered 50 hectares and archaeologists say the findings "painted a picture" of ancient life in the Highlands, with evidence of medieval field systems and grain-drying kilns also uncovered. It's believed some origins date back around 6,000 years through to the Middle Ages, which ended around 500 years ago. Advertisement Stuart McColm, Vice-President of Golf Development at Cabot, said: "This has been a remarkable journey from pre-historic times to the present, right here on our doorstep. 'It's humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground. We're proud to preserve this heritage while creating a world-class golf experience." Andy Young, principal archaeologist at Avon Archaeology Highland, labelled the chariot wheel as the best discovery from the dig. "The partnership with Cabot Highlands has been exemplary," Young also stated. Advertisement "Their commitment to preserving the past while shaping the future is a model for responsible development." The findings will be documented in detail, with final reports and carbon dating confirmation expected before the end of 2025. The artefacts will ultimately be submitted to Treasure Trove Scotland and will most likely be retained by either The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh or the Inverness Museum. The new Old Petty golf course will open for Preview Play between August 1 and September 30, with the grand opening taking place in the spring of 2026. Advertisement 7 An ancient urn was found Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology 7 A full report will be made on the discoveries Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology 7 The site panned across 50 hectares Credit: Cabot Highland Archaeology Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
