Derek Simpson

Archaeological evidence for the first Mesolithic occupation of the Western Isles of Scotland

The examination of eroding coastal dunes at the prehistoric site of Northton, Harris, has produced the first archaeological evidence of Mesolithic activity in the Western Isles in the form of two midden-related deposits. The first phase of Mesolithic activity is dated to 7060-6650 cal. BC based on AMS dating of charred hazelnut shells. This discovery appears to validate the frequent pollen-based inferences of Mesolithic impact for the area and, as predicted, allows the Atlantic fringe of Scotland to become part of the European Mesolithic mainstream. A detailed pedological analysis also suggests that these early midden layers may have been amended during the Neolithic period as part of a possible phase of cultivation.

Post-Beaker Period Death and Burial at Northton, Isle Of Harris, Scotland

Abstract The prehistoric site of Northton, Isle of Harris, is best known for the important settlement evidence that it has produced. A total of 15 burials, however, have also been recovered from the site. These have recently been subject to a new programme of osteological and palaeopathological analysis and radiocarbon dating, the results of which indicate that the burials date from the immediate post-Beaker period through to the later Iron Age. As such, a large proportion of them have originated from periods that have previously been poorly represented in the Western Isles in terms of funerary remains. The objective of the paper is to provide an overview of the new research on the Northton burials, and to place the findings within the broader context of contemporary funerary practices in the Western Isles.