63 A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? Lindsay J Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado with contributions by Dawn McLaren and Melissa Melikian

Introduction

This paper reports on the discovery and excavation of a small long-cist cemetery at Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar. Although the archaeological evidence is not extensive the proximity of the cemetery to Restenneth Priory raises questions about its Christian origins and affiliations, and particularly its possible association with the ‘lost’ church of Egglespether. The evidence for these associations is explored, while the pre-Christian and Christian contexts for the development of these cemeteries in Angus and further afield are reviewed.

Background

In April 2004 human remains were discovered at the base of the quarry face at Lochhead Quarry, Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar (Illus 1), and subsequently the very residual remains of the cist from which they probably came was identified (Cook 2004). Examination within the immediate vicinity of the disturbed cist did not identify any other features. Given the dimensions of the remains of the cist, 0.60m by 0.40m and its apparent isolation (Illus 2; Cist 20), it was thought likely that the find was a short cist of prehistoric date. However, in early July 2004 the quarry workmen identified more human remains and up to four cists within the quarry face (Illus 2 and 3). A visit to the quarry by archaeologists confirmed the presence of the cists and also identified another undisturbed cist some distance from the quarry face (Illus 4). Subsequently, a supervised machine scrape of the exposed surface, from the quarry face to just short of the fenceline (Illus 2), was undertaken. Although this area had been previously topsoil stripped by heavy machinery (see below) the remains of a further 13 cists and a single pit were located and subsequently excavated by one of the authors (Dunbar 2004). All work reported here was carried out under the remit and terms of the Historic Human Remains Call-Off Contract. Illus 1 Location of quarry and Restenneth Priory. Location

The site is located within a working sand and gravel embankment has disturbed the natural topography of the quarry (NGR NO 483 514; Illus 1 and 2) which was site and blocks any views in that direction. The soils of previously agricultural land. The cists were situated this area are developed on drifts, which are derived from on a prominent natural rise which allows views over Lower Old Red Sandstone sediments. The soils are humus- the slightly lower lying ground to the west, towards iron podzols deriving from fluvio-glacial sands and gravels Gowanbank. To the east the presence of a railway (Walker et al 1982) and are naturally free draining.

Tayside and Archaeological Journal vol 18 2012, 63–80 64 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado

Illus 2 Plan of cemetery, showing eroding quarry face.

The excavation

Of the 20 cists located in the quarry, Cists 1, 2, 3, 4, The remaining cists were recorded and fully 8 and 20 (Illus 2) were deemed to be too dangerous excavated by hand. The area of the quarry in which to excavate normally. Instead, the entire cist and they were located had been subjected to an unsupervised surrounding sediment were removed by machine in topsoil strip which had removed between 0.3m and 0.4m one movement, under archaeological direction. In of material including the interface between subsoil and most cases the cist and surrounding sediment survived topsoil. This had been conducted using extremely large as a standing section and the archaeologists were able and heavy (45 tonne) front bladed tracked machines to excavate the cist under the same basic conditions and consequently all the cists had suffered collapse and as if it were still in situ. In each case the machine- disturbance to varying degree. The most common effect excavated cists had already suffered considerable of the use of such large machinery was in the form of collapse into the quarry prior to excavation. crushing damage. The soft nature of the sandstone A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 65

slabs and their inherent susceptibility to weathering and laminating meant they were naturally prone to fracturing and breaking. In some cases it was clear that such breakages had occurred in antiquity but the topsoil strip had exacerbated this problem. Cist 19 must have been intact until relatively recently because it was still voided, but the topsoil strip had broken almost all of the cover slabs and damaged the well preserved skeletal remains below, allowing material to enter the cist. At the other extreme the topsoil strip had removed the side slabs and capstones of Cist 3 and truncated the skeleton from mid-femur down.

The cists are described individually below.

Cist 1 (Illus 3) Illus 3 The ribs of the skeleton in Cist 1 protruding Cist 1 had partially collapsed into the quarry, with the from the quarry face. W end of the cist lost. The cist was of unknown length and measured c. 0.5m wide. It was aligned approxi- mately E/W. Photographs taken of the remnants of Cist 1 in situ indicated a construction of sandstone floor slabs, side slabs and capstones forming a rectangular cist. The skeletal remains recovered included a skull from the quarry floor, with pelvis, femurs and lower leg bones recovered during excavation.

Illus 4 The quarry looking due west, with Cist 6 marked by ranging rod. 66 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado

Cist 2 torso bones were recovered from the quarry floor, and leg bones were recovered during hand excavation. A The majority of Cist 2 had fallen into the quarry, and as radiocarbon date from the skeleton indicates a date range such its exact alignment was unclear. Skull fragments of AD 410 to 570 (SUERC-6870; Table 1and Illus 12). were recovered from the debris in the quarry floor. Given the incomplete nature of Cist 2 the length of the cist Cist 5 (Illus 5 and 6) was unknown but the surviving elements were up to 0.5m wide. The cist was constructed of sandstone floor This cist was intact with a full complement of capstones slabs, side slabs and capstones. The skeletal remains present. It had suffered some ancient collapse of the side were poorly preserved with only skull fragments and slabs along the SE side. This was especially evident at a long bone recovered during excavation. the W end which had fallen inwards crushing the left side of the skeleton. The cist measured 1.77m long by up Cist 3 to 0.44m wide. It was aligned ENE/WSW and made of sandstone floor slabs, side slabs and capstones, forming a Cist 3 was also partially collapsed into the quarry and, rectangular cist tapering at the feet. The inhumation had as with Cist 1 and 2, the SW end of the cist that was suffered differential preservation with only the skull and lost. Fragmentary remains of a skull were recovered left humerus surviving from the upper part, while only from the quarry floor below Cist 3. The topsoil strip the pelvis, femurs and lower leg bones were present from had severely damaged this cist (see above) but it was the lower half of the skeleton. The skeleton had been still clear that it had been constructed of sandstone placed face up with the legs uncrossed. A radiocarbon floor slabs, side slabs and capstones and measured date from the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 430 approximately 0.5m wide. The skeleton had been to 610 (SUERC-6871; Table 1and Illus 12). truncated below the mid-femur. A radiocarbon date from the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 530 Cist 6 to 660 (SUERC-6869; Table 1 and Illus 12). Cist 6 had been disturbed by the quarry topsoil strip Cist 4 with the W end and N side of the cist suffering the most damage. Side slabs and capstones had been dragged Cist 4 was also disturbed by the quarrying. The W end away from the cist or were missing entirely. On cleaning of the cist had fallen to the quarry floor from where it became apparent that the skull and other skeletal fragments of skull were recovered. The truncation remains had also been dislodged. Due to continued meant the length of the cist could not be determined collapse of the quarry edge, Cist 6 was relocated by though it measured up to 0.5m in width. The in situ machine after the skeletal remains had been hand- remnants of Cist 4 indicate sandstone floor slabs, side excavated. The cist measured 1.85m long by up to slabs and capstones forming a rectangular cist. Upper 0.47m wide and was orientated NE/SW. The cist was

Illus 5 Plan and section of Cist 5. A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 67

constructed of sandstone floor slabs, side slabs and cist was orientated approximately NE/SW and was capstones forming a rectangular cist, tapering towards approximately 0.5m wide. Survival of the skeletal the feet and beyond the shoulders. Only the lower remains was poor. Only the long bones of the arm half of the skeleton had survived in situ; many other and a clavicle were recovered among the bone frag- bones had degraded and/or had been removed by the ments recovered from the quarry floor. The pelvis was topsoil strip. The skull, right clavicle, right humerus recovered during hand-excavation after the machine and right scapula were recovered though they had been relocation. dislodged from their original positions. Fragments of a single amber bead were recovered close to the skull. Cist 9 The bead had been broken recently presumably during the disturbance of the cist. A radiocarbon date from Cist 9 was extremely disturbed by machine truncation. the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 530 to 650 The cist was assumed to have had side slabs and cap- (SUERC-6872; Table 1and Illus 12). stones which had been dragged away during the topsoil strip. This cist was built without any base Cist 7 stones. The presence of human remains in situ within the shallow cut indicated that the lack of base stones Cist 7 had been disturbed by the quarry topsoil strip in this cist was deliberate. Though the damage to with the W end and S side of the cist suffering the most the cist obscured its original length, it was at least damage. All the capstones were missing along with the 1.5m long and up to 0.7m wide. It was aligned ENE/ entire southern side of the cist. The sandstone floor WSW. The skeletal remains recovered included slabs and some of the side slabs survived in situ. The skull fragments and fragments of both femurs and cist measured 1.65m long by up to 0.43m wide and was tibias recovered in situ with further skull and bone aligned ENE/WSW. Excavation revealed that the upper fragments retrieved from disturbed cist material. torso had also been removed by the topsoil strip leaving only the pelvis and lower legs in situ along with some Cist 10 other disturbed bone fragments. A radiocarbon date from the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 340 to Cist 10 was relatively well preserved with a single 540 (SUERC-6873; Table 1and Illus 12). large capstone and side slabs of sandstone still in situ. Excavation failed to yield any skeletal remains Cist 8 but did uncover an unusual pebble lining to the base of the cist, not present in any of the other excavated The W end of Cist 8 had collapsed into the quarry and examples. The cist measured 0.82m long by up to bones were recovered from the quarry floor. Cist 8 had 0.34m wide and was aligned ENE/WSW. The small sandstone floor slabs, side slabs and capstones forming size of Cist 10 suggests that this may have been a a rectangular cist. From the surviving remains it is likely child burial.

Illus 6 Cist 5 during excavation. Capstones in situ (left), partially excavated (centre) and fully excavated with base slabs exposed (right). 68 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado

Cist 11 Cist 13 (Illus 7)

Cist 11 had been disturbed by the quarry topsoil This cist was well preserved with a full complement strip, the E end of the cist being fully truncated. All the of capstones, side slabs and basal slabs present. It capstones were missing from the cist, with two suspected had suffered ancient collapse and a small amount capstones lying close by. The legs had been removed by of damage from the topsoil scrape, specifically the the topsoil strip leaving only the pelvis, torso and skull crushing of the side slabs along the S side of the cist in situ, and these were somewhat crushed. The remnants into and over the capstones. The cist was 1.96m long of the cist comprised sandstone floor slabs and side slabs. by up to 0.58m wide and was aligned ENE/WSW. The cist measured at least 1.33m long by 0.52m wide Although the skeletal remains had also been crushed and was aligned ENE/WSW. A radiocarbon date from during the topsoil strip most of the skeleton was the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 430 to 610 represented with skull, arms, torso, pelvis, femurs (SUERC-6874; Table 1and Illus 12). and lower legs recovered. A radiocarbon date from the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 530 to 650 Cist 12 (SUERC-6878; Table 1and Illus 12).

This cist was nearly intact with almost all of the capstones Cist 14 (Illus 8) present. It had suffered ancient collapse and a small amount of damage from the topsoil scrape, specifically Cist 14 was nearly intact with most of the capstones the dragging out of the side slabs at the head and north- present, though the cist had collapsed in antiquity. east corner of the cist. The cist was built of sandstone Sandstone floor slabs, side slabs and capstones floor slabs, side slabs and capstones forming a rectangu- formed a roughly rectangular cist tapering at the lar cist. It was 1.68m long by up to 0.57m wide and was feet. The cist measured 1.01m long by 0.35m wide aligned NE/SW. The skeletal remains appeared to be and was aligned ENE/WSW. As with Cist 10, the undamaged by the topsoil strip. However, survival was size of the cist suggests that this was probably a child generally poor with only skull fragments, part of the left burial. Small fragments of the skull and parts of the ulna, right side of pelvis and lower leg bones recovered. A left tibia were recovered but it was not possible to radiocarbon date from the skeleton indicates a date range confirm that these bones were the remains of of AD 420 to 600 (SUERC-6875; Table 1and Illus 12). a juvenile.

Illus 7 Plan and section of Cist 13. A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 69

Cist 15 (Illus 9) Cist 16 (Illus 10)

This cist was slightly truncated with most of the Cist 16 was amongst the most heavily truncated cists capstones removed and it had suffered some ancient on site. The topsoil strip had removed the side slabs collapse. The cist was constructed of sandstone side and capstones with only the base slabs surviving in situ. slabs and capstones forming a roughly rectangular cist; The cist remains measured only 1.35m by up to 0.60m the base was not lined. The cist measured 1.92m long though the remains of the cut measured up to 1.74m. by 0.48m wide and was aligned NE/SW. Nothing of The cist was orientated ENE/WSW. The skeletal the skeleton survived. remains had also been lost during the topsoil strip with only fragments of the femurs and lower legs surviving.

Illus 8 Plan and section of Cist 14.

Illus 9 Plan and section of Cist 15.

Illus 10 Plan and section of Cist 16. 70 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado

Cist 17 (Illus 11)

This cist was intact with a full complement of capstones present. It had suffered ancient collapse but the side slabs and floor slabs were all still in situ. It measured 1.67m long by 0.42m wide and was aligned NE/SW. The skeleton was undisturbed but only fragments of the skull and legs survived. The legs were uncrossed, a little apart as if laid on their side, which matched the skull which also was positioned on its side.

Cist 18

This cist was truncated by the topsoil strip with all of the capstones removed and many of the side slabs removed from the E end and S side of the cist. The W end of the cist was relatively undamaged and all of the base stones survived in situ. The cist was 1.61 m long by up to 0.54m wide and orientated ENE/WSW. Extensive truncation coupled with poor survival meant that the only skeletal remains retrieved were fragments of the base of the skull, lower jaw and humerus (right and left). Illus 11 Plan and section of Cist 17. Cist 19

This cist was virtually intact with almost a full comple- skeleton indicates a date range of AD 530 to 660 ment of capstones present. Although it appeared not (SUERC-6880; Table 1and Illus 12). to have suffered any ancient collapse the topsoil strip had caused considerable damage, collapsing the cist, The pit crushing and dragging the side slabs along the S and N sides of the cist and damaging the skeleton. The cist The only other feature revealed by the excavations was was constructed of sandstone floor slabs, side slabs a large sub-circular pit, 1.5m in diameter and 0.40m and capstones forming a rectangular cist tapering deep, lying c8m due E of Cist 10 (Illus 2). It contained towards the feet. It measured at least 1.61m by up to two charcoal-rich layers within which there were three 0.39m wide and was orientated NE/SW. The skeleton pieces of struck chert. was complete and the bone was in excellent condition but the topsoil strip had crushed the skull and some of the torso. Almost the entire skeleton was retrieved Radiocarbon dating including smaller bones from the hands and toes. The good preservation of the skeleton meant that it was The primary aim of the radiocarbon dating programme possible to observe details of the burial practice. The was to establish the period of use for the long cist cemetery hands had been placed across the pelvis and the legs which would give the cemetery a secure context in which had been crossed at the ankles. A radiocarbon date it could be examined and compared with other contemp- from the skeleton indicates a date range of AD 560 orary sites and activities in eastern Scotland. From to 660 (SUERC-6879; Table 1and Illus 12). the 18 cists with skeletal remains ten were chosen for radiocarbon dating (Table 1). The main factor in the Cist 20 choice of cist was the presence of large bones in good condition, but other factors included construction type Cist 20 was excavated after it had already partially (ie both cists with and without stone bases) and spatial collapsed into the quarry. The cist appeared to distribution, because this might help in determining comprise sandstone side slabs with no base stones. the pattern of growth of the cemetery. So, for example, No capstones were recorded but it is likely that these Cist 20 was selected for dating because, although the were removed during the topsoil strip. The remains skeletal remains were scant, its location some distance of the cist measured at least 0.60m long by 0.40m from the other excavated cists raised the possibility wide. The fragmentary nature of the cist meant that it that it was not directly associated with the main use was impossible to ascertain its alignment. Two small of the cemetery. fragments of bone were recovered from the cist while It had been noted that at sites such as Thornybank, upper body fragments including cranial fragments, Midlothian and Redcastle, Angus a small number of scapula, ribs, vertebrae and a humerus were recovered the radiocarbon dated long cists returned ‘unusual’ from the quarry floor. A radiocarbon date from the dates that lay outside the general spread of dates that A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 71

Table 1 Radiocarbon dates, listed in order of age. lab code context dated material C14 age BP calibrated date at 2 sigma (95.4%) SUERC-6873 Cist 7 L/R fibia 1625+/-35 340 to 540 cal AD SUERC-6870 Cist 4 L/R femur 1565+/-35 410 to 570 cal AD SUERC-6875 Cist 12 L femur 1545+/-35 420 to 600 cal AD SUERC-6871 Cist 5 L/R femur 1530+/-35 430 to 610 cal AD SUERC-6874 Cist 11 L humerus 1530+/-35 430 to 610 cal AD SUERC-6872 Cist 6 L/R femur 1495+/-35 430 to 490 cal AD (9.0%) 530 to 650 cal AD (86.4%) SUERC-6878 Cist 13 R femur 1480+/-35 460 to 490 cal AD (1.4%) 530 to 650 cal AD (94%) SUERC-6869 Cist 3 L/R femur 1475+/-35 530 to 660 cal AD SUERC-6879 Cist 19 R femur 1440+/-35 560 to 660 cal AD SUERC-6880 Cist 20 L humerus 1400+/-40 570 to 680 cal AD

Illus 12 The radiocarbon dates (graph produced using OxCal v4 1.7 Bronk Ramsey 2010; r:5 Atmospheric data from Reimer et al 2009).

appeared to signify the period of use of the cemetery clustered, and the carbon to nitrogen ratios are similar (Rees 2002, 343; Alexander 2005, 105). In these cases enough to suggest that the radiocarbon dates are all it is thought that local ground conditions may have uncontaminated. led to contamination that resulted in misleading dates. The ten dates for the cemetery cover a period from the Examination of the carbon to nitrogen ratios of these late 4th century to mid 7th century AD but within this unusual dates showed that their ratios were higher range there are distinct clusters of dates (Illus 12). Cist than in the case of the other dates. At Auchterforfar 7 may be one of the earliest, burial occurring some time Farm, the radiocarbon dates returned are closely between the late 4th to mid 6th centuries AD. Cists 4, 72 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado

12, 5 and 11 are statistically indistinguishable from in the burials. Individuals were present from across each other and lie within a period from the early 5th the adult age range, although there were fewer old to late 6th centuries AD, while Cists 6, 13, 3, 19 and 20 adults in the group than in the younger ages (Illus 13). form a distinct group suggesting burial within a period Four individuals could only be classed as adult as the between the mid 6th to mid 7th centuries AD. The relevant ageing characteristics were not present. spread of radiocarbon dates suggests that the cemetery Both males (n.5) and females (n.8) were represented may have been in use over a period of about 250 years. in the sample with an overall slight bias towards females in the sex ratio of 1:1.6 (Table 2 and Illus 13). Stature could be calculated for only four individuals Human bone whose long bones were intact. Based on these very small Melissa Melikian sample numbers the average male height was 1.72 m, which matches the male mean height from a survey Methodology of early medieval sites (range 1.70 -1.82m; Roberts and Cox 2003, 195). The average female height was The human bones were analysed in accordance with recommendations by Historic Scotland (1997), Institute of Field Archaeologists (Brickley and McKinley 2004) Table 2 The age and sex distribution of the 18 articulated and English Heritage (2002). The evidence is summarised individuals from Lochead Quarry. Adult ageing due briefly below; the full analytical report can be found in to a lack of specific skeletal elements to permit more the site archive. accurate ageing, Undetermined age where skeletal preservation was significantly limited and determination Results between adult or juvenile remains was not possible. Undetermined sex due to poor preservation of specific A total of 18 articulated human burials were recovered skeletal elements that are sexually dimorphic. from 18 of the cists, confirming that single burials were made in the cists. One un-identified fragment age category male female undetermined total of unstratified disarticulated long bone shaft was foetal/neonatal 0 0 0 0 recovered. It was eroded and bleached and could not 1–6 months 0 0 0 0 be associated with a particular cist. The mixed bone 7–11 months 0 0 0 0 from Cists 1 and 2 contained an additional mandible 1–5 years 0 0 0 0 that was not associated with the skeletons from either 6–11 years 0 0 0 0 Cist 1 or 2. 12–17 years 0 0 0 0 Half the skeletons were represented by less than 50% 18–25 years 1 2 1 4 of the total skeleton, and the majority, (61.1%), were in 26–35 years 2 2 0 4 poor condition, with many of the bones appearing quite 36–45 years 1 3 0 4 weathered and eroded. 46+ years 1 0 0 1 The assemblage consisted of 17 adults and one adult 0 1 3 4 individual that could not be aged (Table 2 and Illus undetermined age 0 0 1 1 13). There were no juveniles below 18 years of age total 5 8 5 18

Illus 13 The number of individuals per age and sex groups from Lochead Quarry. A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 73

1.55m , smaller than the mean 1.61m for the period but Early Christian cemetery formed around a nucleus of within the estimated range 1.55 -1.70m (Roberts and earlier burials, as at Hallow Hill, Fife (Proudfoot 1996, Cox 2003, 195), suggesting no severe nutritional or 413–6), but in the present case radiocarbon dates are environmental stresses occurred during childhood such that they can not be used to support this idea. of this small sample. There are in fact very few Early Christian burials Dental diseases were present in the sample with with grave goods, particularly with ornaments; rare caries (9.4% of teeth affected), ante-mortem tooth examples include a cannel coal armlet fragment from loss (10.3% tooth positions affected) and dental Parkburn, Lasswade (Henshall 1956, 264–5, 277) and abscesses (1.1% tooth positions affected) all present. a ring pendant from St Andrews (Hay Fleming 1909, Poor dental hygiene and dietary factors also influenced 411–2). Several accompanied burials, comparable to the accumulation of mineralised plaque or calculus, Auchterforfar Farm, come from the Early Christian which had affected all but one of the individuals with cemetery at Barhobble, Dumfries and Galloway teeth present and was severe in four cases. (Cormack 1995). Many of the grave goods, including Degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis, an iron pin, iron shears, knife fragments and exotic were also present and affected the spine, the shoulders stones appear to have been deliberately deposited as and the knee. Additional pathological cases included a amulets or charms (ibid 39). Pieces of exotic green possible injury-related periosteal new bone formation porphyry came from the burial of a child; white quartz above the right orbit and un-ascertained bone formation pebbles were also commonly found. There were also on the left femur of the individual from Cist 1. A bone fragmentary relics such as a prehistoric flint scraper reaction to a probable sebaceous cyst was also present associated with grave XXI, a fragment of a Romano- on a right parietal bone from the skeleton in Cist 6. British glass bangle from burial S28 and a heckle fragment within a child’s grave. The fragmentary Conclusion condition of these objects suggests that they were retained, perhaps as heirlooms, and deposited within Skeletal analysis has confirmed the burial of adult the graves because of their perceived special or amuletic males and females at Auchterforfar Farm. The lack qualities. Such grave goods suggest the persistence of of juvenile remains in the assemblage is probably due superstitions alongside more formal Christian beliefs. to survival, as the small Cists 10 and 14 indicate that Amber has long been thought to hold amuletic juveniles were also buried in the cemetery. Whilst the properties; it was common during the Roman period incomplete nature of the remains limited aspects of for children to wear amber charms (Martin-Kilcher the analysis, poor dental hygiene was evident together 2000, 66), thought to ward off evil and to protect them with probable skeletal indications of active lifestyles, from harm. Amber was thought to provide protection possible non-specific infection or similarly-derived soft- against sickness, and in the recent past when worn tissue related lesions and the effects of possible injury, round the neck was believed to cure fevers, diseases which could be inferred from the pathological changes of the mouth, throat and jaws (Black 1893, 475). It is present. The results thus provide some insights into perhaps of interest that the occupant of Cist 6 was one early medieval life and burial in the area. of two within the cemetery with unusual pathology, displaying a small circular lesion, perhaps from a cyst, on the skull. The amber bead Dawn McLaren Summary SF 13 Irregular thick discoidal amber bead, sub-rectangular in section with slightly off-centre, bi-conical circular perforation Cemetery size (Diam 5mm). Approximately 90% of the bead remains; it was intact when deposited but is now fragmentary. The surface is The excavated remains from the Auchterforfar Farm covered in a light brown patina with slight polish, particularly cemetery consisted of 20 long cist graves, while the round the edges and interior of the perforation. There is a worn skeletal remains recovered indicate that there were chip on the original surface. D 16.5 T 6–7.7mm. Context 125, at least 21 burials present. However, the spread of disturbed fill of Cist 6. the graves (Illus 2) and the manner of their discovery makes it likely that these remains formed only a pro- Discussion portion of the original cemetery. The discovery of the cemetery had been dependent on the recognition of The bead was recovered from the disturbed fill at the skeletal remains by quarry workers so it is plausible west end of Cist 6, near the skull/neck area and may that other cists went unrecognised because skeletal have been worn as a pendant. The recovery of an amber remains had not survived within the cist, as in Cists bead from what is probably an Early Christian burial is 10 and 15, for example. Fallen bones may also have unusual and is difficult to parallel, as it was exceedingly been covered by material following collapse and rare in the Early Christian tradition for bodies to be therefore not visible to the quarry workers. The loss buried with grave goods. There are cases where an of other burials would appear to be confirmed by the 74 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado presence of bone recovered from the quarry floor There is some variation in the alignment of the during the July excavations, from an individual who graves, where enough of the cist survived to be could not be assigned to any excavated cist. confident of its orientation; Cists 6, 12, 15, 17 and These scenarios may explain the apparent gap 19 are aligned NE/SW while Cists 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, between Cist 20 and the main cluster of excavated 14, 16 and 18 are aligned ENE/WSW. The NE/SW cists, a gap of some 25m. The radiocarbon dates show cluster lies more centrally within the main group that Cist 20 was part of the same period of interment while the ENE/WSW burials lie to the N and S of as the main cluster so there is no obvious reason why this cluster. The ENE/WSW burials may represent it should be so isolated. If the gap contained the same a slightly later phase in which efforts were made to approximate density of burials as that found in the comply with the more standard Christian rite of main cluster then many dozens of burials would have E/W burial (but see Discussion below). been lost, but it seems unlikely that, even with the Auchterforfar Farm appears to be much less scenarios outlined above, so many skeletons would formally organized than some of the larger long cist have gone unnoticed. It seems more probable that cemeteries. There seems to be some organization there was a more scattered distribution of burials of graves into rows roughly orientated N/S, most in this area. clearly seen with Cists 7, 16 and 18,but there is none Whilst the N, W and SW boundaries of the original of the more structured regularity seen at Hallow Hill, cemetery must have been removed by quarrying we can St. Andrews, Fife (Proudfoot 1996), the Catstane, be more certain that the excavated graves represent the Midlothian (Cowie 1978), Parkburn, Lasswade, easternmost extent of the cemetery (Illus 2). Although Midlothian (Henshall, 1956), or Thornybank, stripped of topsoil the area to the E of the graves did Dalkeith (Rees 2002). Auchterforfar Farm also not appear to have been extensively truncated and no displays less density of graves than these examples, archaeological features were found there. although Thornybank displays comparable gaps It is unlikely that the cemetery at Auchterforfar and differences in grave density across the cemetery. Farm is of a scale similar to that of Hallow Hill, where excavation uncovered more than 160 individuals Cist architecture (Proudfoot 1996). At Thornybank, Dalkeith over 100 burials were excavated across an area of a similar Most of the cists at Auchterforfar Farm displayed a size to Hallow Hill of c2000m2 (Rees 2002). At high degree of consistency in terms of construction. Auchterforfar Farm the cemetery covers an area of The cists were assembled within rounded rectangular around 1200m2 and can therefore be regarded as a pits no deeper than 0.5m below the present stripped smaller cemetery perhaps relating to a family grouping ground surface. The topsoil had been between 0.3 rather than a larger community. and 0.4m in depth over the area so the pits must have been dug to a depth of as much as a metre. The cists Cemetery layout were rectangular in plan but in some of the better- preserved examples there was a distinct tapering The cemetery showed a degree of organisation in a towards the feet and others widened at the shoulders number of respects. The graves all shared a similar giving a coffin-like shape. architecture, incorporating the same elements in All but two of the cists were of a similar size, with structural design and use of materials (see below). breadths of about 0.5 m and lengths of between 1.61m Furthermore, none of the graves were intercut or and 1.96m, where the complete extent of the cist could overlapping suggesting that they must have been be ascertained. The two exceptions were Cists 10 and marked in some way. Grave markers could have taken 14 which at 0.82m and 1.01m in length respectively, a number of forms such as small earthen mounds, have been interpreted as child burials. stone piles, stone uprights or organic materials such All of the cists were built of sandstone slabs, as wooden posts, but given the degree of disturbance which could have been sourced locally. The cists caused by the quarry topsoil strip it is unsurprising usually consisted of a single slab at both the head that no evidence for such markers was found. Grave and feet with the sides constructed from between markers have been suggested at other long cist five and eight sandstone slabs. The capstones were cemeteries such as Thornybank, Dalkeith where, similarly all thin sandstone slabs with upwards of despite the presence of more than 100 graves there four or five per cist. The bases in the majority of the was no evidence of intercutting (Rees 2002). cists were also lined with sandstone slabs. None of Although the excavated graves probably form only the slabs appear to have been worked, except for a proportion of the original cemetery, there are still a a single sandstone piece used as side slab in Cist 5 number of useful observations about layout that can which had been roughly shaped and dressed along be made. There are clear clusters of graves which are one edge. Given the absence of evidence for other not a by-product of the quarrying activities. Cists 1, 5, worked stones this may indicate reuse of stone 9 and 10 form a cluster away from the main group and worked for an earlier purpose. may represent a family group. It is possible that Cist There were a few exceptions to the standard 20 was part of a similar cluster. construction described above. In some cases where A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 75 large in situ boulders were naturally present within Discussion the subsoil they were used as cist side slabs, such as in Cist 15 (Illus 11). In Cists 9 and 15 the bases of the The pre-Christian context cists were unlined, while in Cist 10, the base was lined with small pebbles, of a kind which occur naturally Recent research on long cist cemeteries holds that within the surrounding subsoil. Pebble floors within these are not necessarily or exclusively the graves cists are known from early prehistoric beaker burials of Christians, but rather that the earliest Christians (cf Kintore, ; Cook and Dunbar 2008), appropriated existing burial rites (Winlow 2011; whilst at Lundin Links one cist was lined with sea Maldonado 2011). Two long cists from Angus have shells and some of the cairns incorporated layers of so far returned early first millennium AD dates: one pebbles (Greig et al 2000, 595). adjacent to a square barrow at Redcastle (Alexander 2005), and one furnished with a penannular brooch Skeletal remains from Craigie, Dundee (Hutcheson 1903; Sheridan 2004, 176); a possibly related instance is the long As there was no discernible pattern to the distribution cist from Airlie School which contained a late Roman of sexes and ages of the deceased across the cemetery glass cup, but this grave remains undated (Davidson we must conclude that age and sex were not factors 1886). This can be compared to a growing number in determining position within the cemetery. This is of inhumations from barrows which date from early a common trait in other long cist cemeteries; perhaps in the first millennium, including examples from family ties played a more significant role in the choice Boysack Mills (Murray and Ralston 1997), Redcastle of burial spot within these cemeteries. (Alexander 2005), and most recently Inchtuthil in Comparison of the skeletal remains from Auchter- Perthshire (Winlow and Cook 2010). Crucially, except forfar Farm with those from the larger long cist for the grave at Boysack Mills, all these inhumations cemeteries indicates that the populations represented were facing east, an attribute generally associated with within these cemeteries were similar in many respects. Christian burial. Alongside other early dates from With the proviso that the small size of the assemblage elsewhere in Scotland, there is no longer any need to from Auchterforfar Farm makes errors of estimate resort to the arrival of early Christian missionaries to large, there is still considerable correlation between explain the practice of east-facing inhumation. assemblages. For instance, in terms of stature the One of the long cists (Cist 6) from Auchterforfar average height for males of 1.72m and 1.55m for Farm was furnished with an amber bead. The use of females at Auchterforfar Farm is comparable to grave goods, or material culture deliberately included 1.73m for males and 1.62m for females at Hallow within the grave deposit, is often thought to be a mark Hill (Proudfoot 1996) and 1.73m for male and of lingering pagan practices. However, it is worth 1.56m for females at Lundin Links (Greig et al 2000). noting the growing number of unfurnished Iron Age Although there were no skeletal remains in Cists inhumations from across Scotland, including the 10 and 14, their small dimensions make it probable majority of long cists from Galson, Lewis (Neighbour that they were child burials. At the barrow cemeteries et al 2000) and Winton House, East Lothian (Dalland at Redcastle, Lunan Bay, (Alexander 2005) there were 1991). As such, ‘pagan’ Iron Age burials in Scotland no juvenile burials and similarly at Lundin Links the did not always include grave goods, nor were they youngest burial was a young adult circa 18 years particularly rich when they did. In the local context of old (Greig et al 2000). In contrast the large long Angus, the few dated inhumations indicate that lightly cist cemetery at Hallowhill contained a number of furnished burial was the norm in the Iron Age, but juvenile burials (Proudfoot 1996). apparently also continued into the mid and late first millennium AD, as seen at Auchterforfar Farm. Other Burial practice examples include the copper ring and iron bracelet from a dug grave alongside early medieval long cists The poor survival of skeletal remains at Auchterforfar at Elliot promontory fort (Cameron et al 2007), iron Farm means that, in all but a few instances, we cannot objects from the multiple burial at Hawkhill dated to be absolutely certain of the burial rite. In all cases the 8/9th century (Rees 2009), and possibly the cist where remains were recovered the body was laid from Airlie mentioned previously. In this context, we with the head to the west and in most instances the can see that even well into the Early Christian period, body lay in a supine and extended position within some inhumations were buried wearing pendants, the cist. bracelets or rings, or in more unusual deposits such In those cists with better skeletal preservation as at Hawkhill. slight differences in burial rite were observed. In But while it is now all but certain that early medieval Cist 5 the head was positioned face up with the legs inhumation rites stem from practices developed in the uncrossed whilst in Cist 19 the hands were placed Iron Age, it is also true that cemeteries, or large group- across the pelvis and the legs had been crossed at the ings of inhumations, are an innovation of the mid-first ankles. In Cist 17 the head was turned to the SE as millennium. It has been argued that the emergence were the legs which were spread a little apart. of cemeteries marks the change to Christianity, as 76 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado

Christians believed that one had to be buried within a of early Christianity (Dunwell and Ralston 2008). The consecrated burial ground. However, the contemporary majority of the evidence comes from early sculpture documents clearly show that the idea of consecrated including the Pictish ‘Class II’ cross-slabs like Glamis, ground for burial is a late one, with the earliest and Aberlemno, the few free-standing recorded consecration rituals appearing only in a crosses such as St Vigeans and Camus’ Cross, and late Anglo-Saxon context (Gittos 2002). The earliest the more anonymous cross slabs with little or no canon laws regarding proper Christian burial in an ornamentation like Pitmuies and Nevay (Borland et al Irish context only date from the 8th century, although 2007; Fraser 2008; Henderson and Henderson 2004). monastic communities began to urge Christians to bury Little more can be said of this evidence other than to with other Christians from the 7th century (O’Brien say that these broadly date from the late 7th to the 10th 2003). Even in the late Roman empire, burial using centuries, and in Angus, these only rarely coincide traditional family customs was more important than with excavated burials. A small number of medieval religious concerns (Rebillard 2003). church foundations have long cists or early burials This is precisely what was revealed at Auchterforfar nearby, including Farnell (Warden 1883, 232–233) and Farm, where the cemetery in fact consisted of separate Ballumbie where the medieval church is built on top clusters of graves, but which seemingly were in use of the long cist cemetery (Dunwell and Ralston 2008, simultaneously. Rather than a single community 144; pers comm. D. Hall), but the majority of early deciding to bury in a certain place and in a certain cemeteries are found at some distance from church way, here separate communities practiced similar sites, including Auchterforfar Farm, which is 1.5km burial rites in close proximity. ‘Clustering’ has been southwest of the nearest early church at Restenneth, observed in early medieval cemeteries across Britain, discussed further below. Again, this may be due to and a model in which cemeteries accrued organically excavation bias as very few medieval churches have in open settings rather than as designated and enclosed been excavated in Angus, but it appears that the known burial grounds has been argued in the most recent long cist and square barrow sites are mutually exclusive study of funerary practices in early medieval Scotland with Early Christian sculpture. (Maldonado 2011). Unlike the very large row-grave The architectural evidence is not particularly helpful cemeteries of the Lothians (eg Rees 2002), in Angus, in this respect, since there are no upstanding churches large cemeteries are the exception. Instead, a model in Angus that need be earlier than the 12th century, of punctuated burial in small clusters appearing in including the early round tower at and the various places in the landscape helps explain the finds of archaic-looking square tower at Restenneth, although numerous ‘stray’ burials which characterize the Scottish the dating of these remains controversial (Simpson evidence for the most part, and which in Angus are 1963, 283; Cameron 1994; Fernie 1986; Potter 2006). found at West Grange of Conon (Cameron 2003), St There are fragments of Pictish architectural sculpture Orland’s Stone (Murray 2008), the latter surrounding in the area at Farnell, St Vigeans and nearby Meigle, a cross slab crucially indicating that this practice of but these are difficult to date; by analogy with the scattered burial continued into the Christian period. In Arch in Perthshire and the St Andrews this model, larger cemeteries like Auchterforfar Farm sarcophagus in Fife, we may suppose that stone and Redcastle were deemed special enough to be churches were being built in southern Pictland by at revisited by more than one family group, and it may least the 8–9th centuries (Henderson and Henderson be that in these cases, a communal bond was created 2004, 196–213). and maintained by a religious, possibly Christian, The only other evidence for early Christian activity association. in the area comes from more intractable source material such as place-names in early charters and church dedi- Auchterforfar Farm and early Christianity in Angus cations. There are numerous dedications to early Celtic saints in Angus, but recent work has focused on two The enigmatic long cist cemeteries of early medieval potentially genuine early medieval saints’ cults: those Scotland often provoke discussions of religious affili- of St Peter and St Lawrence. Both are universal saints, ation. Groups of unfurnished, east-oriented graves early martyrs with well-documented relic cults extending such as those revealed at Auchterforfar Farm are across Europe from the 4th century onward; however, often presumed to be evidence for early Christianity. their cults in Angus can be dated reasonably closely to Yet there is a problematic disconnect between the c. 700 AD. Dedications to St Peter are often tied to the early burial evidence and the rather later evidence for reference in the Ecclesiastical History of the English Christianity such as cross slabs and place-names. The People (c AD 730), written by the Northumbrian monk radiocarbon dates from Auchterforfar Farm span this Bede, in which the Pictish king Nechtan mac Der-Ilei gap, and the site sits within a rich landscape of early (c AD 706–729 ) decides to update the Pictish church Christian activity in eastern Scotland. As such, this to the ‘Roman’ standard as exemplified by the twin is a good opportunity to revisit the evidence for early monasteries of Peter and Paul at Monkwearmouth Christianity in Angus. and Jarrow. According to Bede, detailed liturgical It is unfortunate that the most recent archaeological instructions were sent north along with Northumbrian survey of the region stops before tackling the subject stonemasons who were to build a mortared stone A long cist cemetery near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus – Christian or pre-Christian? 77 church dedicated to Peter (Bede, V, 21). This passage the spread of eglés+saint place-names from Fife has recently attracted fresh scholarly debate, which to Aberdeenshire, and dedications to local Pictish need not be repeated here (Veitch 1997; J Fraser 2008; saints. It is important to note that this is all going on Clancy 2004). The important thing to note is that this while the long cist cemeteries like Auchterforfar Farm passage, among other historical evidence, suggests a are still in use. Christian Pictish kingdom with its own functioning We can now turn to the Early Christian context church hierarchy before the Northumbrian intervention of Auchterforfar Farm. The priory of Restenneth, c AD 710 (Clancy 2004; 2008). The spread of dedications dedicated to St Peter and the nearest medieval church to St Peter in the Tayside region is conspicuous and to the cemetery at Auchterforfar Farm, is long thought is likely to be genuinely early as indicated by the to be at or near the site of an 8th-century Pictish church lost place-name Egglespether, or ‘church of St Peter’, (Simpson 1963). However, it appears that the case for recorded as part of the traditional lands of Restenneth a Pictish origin for Restenneth was based largely on the Priory in 1161 (Simpson 1963). Place-names comprising association by Bede of the cult of St Peter and the king eglés and a saint’s name seem to refer to Pictish church Nechtan mac Der-Ilei of Fortriu. It now seems that this foundations of the 7–8th centuries (Taylor 1998, 3–7), Pictish kingdom is not in southern Pictland but in the although it is possible given that so many of these did Firth area, thus making the connection between not go on to become medieval churches that these the Angus cult of St Peter and the testimony of Bede names refer to minor daughter chapels or gathering even less reliable (Woolf 2006; J Fraser 2008). In fact, places associated with a church rather than the main other than the potentially early square tower, there is monastic centre (Thomas 1971; Clancy 2008, 413). no evidence that Restenneth is an early foundation at Either way, it is clear that there was a Pictish church all; there are no fragments of early Christian sculpture, sponsoring the cult of St Peter in the local area. despite large concentrations at other Angus churches On the testimony of Bede and Adomnán of Iona, it such as Brechin, St Vigeans, Glamis, Kirriemuir and has long been assumed that Christianity was brought . Invergowrie, Tealing, and Meigle to the by historical missions from Whithorn and in Perthshire also have early sculpture along with Iona, but it is now clear that these are late mythical dedications to St Peter. All we know is that somewhere accounts bound up in the ecclesiastical politics of in the area there was an Egglespether, but this could the 7th and 8th centuries (Clancy 2002). Recent be anywhere in Angus from Tealing to Dysart, which excavations at Pictish monasteries at the Isle of May in are also named as belonging to Restenneth in 1161. Fife (James and Yeoman 2008) and Portmahomack in That a Christian long cist cemetery exists in such close Easter Ross (Carver 2008) have revealed early burials proximity to Restenneth may be the first archaeological and other monastic structures dating back as far as pointer to the location nearby of the lost Egglespether. the 6th century, in both cases predating the lives of the Is it possible that the cemetery at Auchterforfar Celtic saints to which they were eventually dedicated. Farm is the lost site of Egglespether? The link between Research into the cults of St Lawrence and Palladius early cemeteries and early churches in Tayside seems in Laurencekirk and Fordoun in the Mearns indicates to be the eglés- place-names, which have a similar that knowledge of these exotic saints was brought distribution to long cist burials (Foster 2004). The to Angus around AD 700 by Pictish churchmen who type-site is Eglisnamin, which has been convincingly probably trained in Ireland (Clancy 2009). It is these identified as Hallow Hill, site of a large long cist little-known Pictish saints, and the cults they chose cemetery near St Andrews, Fife (Proudfoot 1996). to spread, which are commemorated at churches However, a few caveats must be addressed. Firstly, the with Class II and Class III cross slabs across eastern range for the radiocarbon dates of the Auchterforfar Scotland (Clancy 2008). Further, it seems that these burials does not go beyond the late 7th century (Illus later Pictish saints like Ethernan, who died in AD 669 12), meaning that it was abandoned just when the eglés- and is associated with the Isle of May, founded new place-names seem to enter into widespread use, unlike churches but worked within an existing network of Hallow Hill which sees a late phase of use associated early monasteries. with the possible construction of a small timber chapel In short, there is no longer any need to resort to the on site. No such traces of a structure were found in the pseudo-historical St Ninian or a generalized ‘Columban excavated area at Auchterforfar Farm despite careful church’ to explain the expansion of Christianity in investigation. southern Pictland. Monasteries had been founded by Although long cist cemeteries may well be Christian at least the 6th century, and the Pictish church was sites, we should not assume that every cemetery will growing of its own accord by at least the 7th century; have an adjacent church; in fact, what evidence we the influx of new universal saints’ cults in the 8th have for Scotland suggests that these sites belong to century can be tied with other root-and-branch church a period before the widespread building of churches reforms taking place within the Pictish church, in line (Maldonado 2011). It has been argued that throughout with but not indebted to an intrusive Northumbrian the British Isles a shift from traditional burial sites like influence. The result of these reforms can still be seen Auchterforfar Farm to churchyard burial takes place in the spread of Class II Pictish cross slabs, of which in the late 7th/early 8th centuries (O’Brien 2003). This there are more in southern Pictland than anywhere else, does not mark a shift from pagan to Christian, but is 78 Lindsay Dunbar and Adrián Maldonado instead indicative of a more organized and powerful Acknowledgments church that is effectively promoting its saints’ cults by the establishment of newly consecrated burial A large debt of appreciation is due to the owners, grounds. This would explain the clear trend of managers and workmen at Laird Brothers Lochhead abandonment of long cist and barrow cemeteries Quarry without whose awareness and kind help around this time (Proudfoot 1996, 444). As shown the works could not have been completed. Thanks by the spread of Early Christian sculpture in Angus, are due to Moira Greig, of Aberdeenshire Council early churches seem to be founded at some distance who initially confirmed the remains on site, Patrick from the early cemeteries. A reasonable distance Ashmore of Historic Scotland for his guidance and between an early church and an early cemetery is advice, as well as Dr Gordon Cook at SUERC for perhaps to be expected around this time. As such, advice on the radiocarbon dating programme. The it is unlikely that Auchterforfar Farm represents excavation team consisted of Martin Cook, Alan the lost church of Egglespether, and indeed that the Duffy, Laura Scott, Ronan Toolis, Ralph Troup and association of a long cist cemetery and an eglés- Candy Hatherley. Thanks also go to AOC staff past place-name at Hallow Hill is the exception rather and present particularly Murray Cook, Ciara Clarke, than the rule. Richard Heawood and Ronan Toolis all of whom But the analogy with Hallow Hill may be taken helped with varying roles in the management of the further, as this site does enter a phase of decline fieldwork and post-excavation phases of the project. from the 7th century and is seemingly replaced by Graeme Carruthers prepared the illustrations and Derek the large cemetery associated with the possibly royal Alexander provided insightful and useful comments to church foundation dedicated to a universal saint at early drafts of the paper. St Andrews, a foundation first recorded in the 8th century (Anderson 1976; Wordsworth and Clark 1997). The fact that the radiocarbon dates seem References to suggest that the cemetery went out of use soon after the mid-7th century makes it hard to resist Alexander, D 2005 ‘Redcastle, Lunan Bay, Angus: the positing a change in burial place around this time, excavation of an Iron Age timber-lined souterrain associated with the wider church reforms instigated and a Pictish barrow cemetery’, Proc Soc Antiq Scot by the Picts themselves, and not by the colonization 135, 41 – 118. of the Pictish church by Columban or Northumbrian Anderson, M O 1976 ‘The Celtic Church in missionaries. Whether this shift in burial place was Kinrimund,’, in McRoberts, D (ed) The Medieval to a potentially early predecessor to Restenneth or Church of St Andrews, 1–10. Glasgow: John S Burns to the lost Egglespether may only be elucidated upon and Sons. further archaeological investigation. The severing of Black, G F 1893 ‘Scottish charms and amulets’, Proc Soc ties with ancestral burial grounds used for centuries Antiq Scot 27, 433–526. such as that of Auchterforfar Farm will not have Borland, J, Fraser, I and Sherriff, J 2007 ‘Eight socketed been undertaken lightly, and the decision to bury stones from Eastern Scotland’, Tayside Fife Archaeol among the saints rather than the ancestors can only J 13, 100–111. have taken place among the family, not with the Brickley, M and McKinley, J I (eds) 2004 Guidelines to church, no matter how strong we imagine it to be by the standards for recording human remains. Institute the 8th century. The implication is that, at least by of Field Archaeologists Paper No 7 BABAO, IFA. the end of their floruit in the 7th century, the users Cameron, N 1994 ‘St Rule’s Church, St Andrews, and of the long cist cemeteries in southern Scotland were early stone-built churches in Scotland’, Proc Soc devout enough to believe in the efficacy of burial in Antiq Scot 124, 367–378. churchyards for the prospect of their salvation. The Cameron, K 2003 ‘Archaeological Investigation at West question must now be why these churches were not Grange of Conon Souterrain’, Tayside Fife Archaeol built over existing burial grounds, and the answer J 9, 65–73. may be that the earliest monasteries were in use at Cameron, K, Rees, A, Dunwell, A and Anderson, S 2007 the same time, but reserved for only monastic burial. ‘Prehistoric pits, Bronze Age roundhouses, an Iron This seems to be the case at the early monastery on Age promontory enclosure, Early Historic cist burials the Isle of May, Fife, where the 7th century sees a and medieval enclosures along the route of the A92, new burial ground for a mixed population added Dundee to Arbroath’, Tayside Fife Archaeol J 13, to the earlier exclusively male burial ground (James 39–73. and Yeoman 2008). In conclusion, while the origins Carver, M 2008 Portmahomack: monastery of the Picts. of long cist cemeteries in Scotland need no longer be Edinburgh. 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Sheridan, A 2004 ‘The National Museums of Scotland Abstract radiocarbon dating programmes: results obtained Excavations near Auchterforfar Farm, Forfar, Angus during 2003/4’ Discovery Excav Scot 5, 174–176. have revealed the remains of a long cist cemetery, Simpson, W D 1963 ‘The Early Romanesque tower at comprising 20 long cist graves, aligned either ENE/ Restenneth Priory, Angus’, Antiq J 43, 269–283. WSE or NE/SW and dated by radiocarbon to between Taylor, S 1998 ‘Place-names and the Early Church in the 5th and 7th centuries AD. Analysis of the human Scotland’, Records of the Scottish Church Society bones indicates that both male and female adults were 28, 1–22. interred in the cemetery while the dimensions of two Thomas, C 1971 The Early Christian Archaeology of of the cists suggest that children were also buried there. North Britain. Glasgow. Oxford University Press. A single amber bead was the only grave good recorded. Veitch, K 1997 ‘The Columban church in Northern The pre-Christian and Christian contexts for the use Britain, 664–717: a reassessment’, Proc Soc Antiq of the cemetery are explored and it is concluded Scot 127, 627–647. that, as in common with other long cist cemeteries in Walker, A D et al 1982 Soil Survey of Scotland: Eastern Scotland the origins of Auchterforfar Farm need not Scotland. : Macaulay Institute for Soil necessarily be attributed to the arrival of Christianity, Research. but its demise was almost certainly played out within Warden, A J 1883 Angus or Forfarshire: the land and a thoroughly Christian cultural milieu. people, descriptive and historical, vol 3. Dundee. C. Alexander. Keywords Winlow, S 2011 ‘A review of Pictish burial practices amber bead in Tayside and Fife’, in Driscoll, S T, Geddes, J and Auchterforfar Farm Hall, M (eds) Pictish Progress: New Studies on Egglespether Northern Britain in the Early Middle Ages, 335–350. long cist The Northern World. Leiden. Brill. Restenneth Winlow, S and Cook, G 2010 ‘Two new dates from two old investigations: a reconsideration of The Women’s This paper was published with the aid of a grant from Knowe, Inchtuthil and Kingoodie long cist cemetery, Historic Scotland. Invergowrie’, Tayside Fife Archaeol J 16, 48–56. Woolf, A 2006 ‘Dun Nechtain, Fortriu, and the geography of the Picts’, Scott Hist Rev 85.2: 220.182–201. Wordsworth, J and Clark, P 1997 ‘Kirkhill’, in Rains, M and Hall, D (eds) Excavations in St Andrews 1980–89, 7–18. Glenrothes. (= Tayside Fife Archaeol Comm Monogr 1).