Archaeologists working near Dornoch in northern Scotland have uncovered an unusual stone-lined structure containing human remains, according to a specialty publication report on the find. The structure was discovered by Highland Archaeological Services during preparation for an expansion at a local quarry.
According to the report, the discovery first appeared as a circle of stones below the surface. Further excavation revealed an oval depression roughly 10 feet long and 6.5 feet wide, featuring carefully built stone walls, a floor made of rock slabs, and a descending stairway with narrow steps.
At the lowest portion of the structure, excavators found a bowl hewn from soapstone and what appears to be a bangle crafted from shale, the report said. Additional excavation nearby revealed postholes that archaeologists say may mark where ancient houses once stood. The site's features are believed to be linked to Scotland's Iron Age, according to archaeologists, though they say the site is unique among suspected Iron Age burial sites known in the country.
Lachlan McKeggie, co-director of Highland Archaeological Services, said the group has reached out to regional experts for their opinions, but that none consulted so far have an idea of what the site was. "It is a bit of a mystery," McKeggie said, adding, "No one has seen anything like it before."
McKeggie said the structure bears some resemblance to a souterrain, a type of underground chamber associated with Iron Age settlements that experts say may have been used for storage. But other experts have suggested the structure could instead have been incorporated into a larger aboveground building, such as a roundhouse similar to others suspected of having stood nearby. Some experts have also raised the possibility of a ritual purpose, a theory often advanced when no other explanation fits, noting that the careful fitting of the stones could support such a use.
A viscous, clay-like substance was used to bond portions of the lower structure, which experts say could indicate it was designed to hold water or another liquid. However, experts also note that the steep staircase, narrow entrance, and small capacity argue against simple water storage. McKeggie joked that the structure might have served as an Iron Age hot tub, while stating more seriously that the structure would have been built with a purpose that remains unknown. Archaeologists say further analysis will be required before any final determination can be made.
McKeggie said the individual whose remains were found within the structure is believed to have been a female adult, and that her remains may have been placed there as the structure was being deliberately filled in. Researchers plan to conduct further analysis of her remains, which may provide additional details about her life, according to researchers.
Experts note that Iron Age burials are relatively uncommon in northern Scotland, in part because acidic soil conditions in the region tend to prevent long-term preservation of human remains.