PAST Peeblesshire Archaeological Society Times Winter 2005

Iron Age ' bodies' unveiled in Ireland

Archaeologists have unveiled two Iron , as it has become The Clonycavan man was a young Age 'bog bodies' which were known, was missing a head and lower male no more than 5ft 2in tall. found in the Republic of Ireland. The limbs. It was discovered by workmen Beneath his hair, which retains its bodies, which are both male and clearing a drainage ditch through a unusual ‘raised’ style, was a massive have been dated to more than 2,000 bog. wound. This had been caused by a years ago, probably belong to the heavy cutting object that smashed victims of a ritual sacrifice. Although the police were open his skull. Chemical analysis of initially called in, an inspection by the the hair showed that Clonycavan In common with other prehistoric bog state pathologist confirmed man's diet was rich in vegetables in bodies, they show signs of having been that this was an archaeological case. the months leading up to his death, tortured before their deaths. Both bodies were subsequently taken suggesting he died in summer. It also to the National Museum of Ireland in revealed that he had been using a Details of the finds are to be Dublin. Over the last 18 months, an type of hair gel; this appears outlined in a BBC Timewatch international team of experts has been to have been composed of vegetable documentary to be screened examining the bodies to learn when plant oil mixed with a resin on BBC2 on Friday, January 20 and how they lived and died. The team that had probably come from south- at 9pm. includes Dr Don Brothwell, who led western France or Spain. the scientific investigation of Lindow The first body dropped off a peat cut- Man (aka Pete Marsh) the well-known Old Croghan man was also young - ting machine in February bog body found in Cheshire in 1984. probably in his early to mid 2003 in Clonycavan, near Dublin. 20s - but he was much taller than his The forearms, hands and lower showed that the counterpart from 25 miles away. abdomen are missing, believed to have men were killed around 2,300 years Scientists worked out from the length been hacked off by the machine. ago. The C14 dates show that the of his arms that he would have Clonycavan man died between 392-201 stood an estimated 198cm (6ft 6 in) The second was found in May the BC and the Oldcroghan man between tall. same year in Croghan, just 25 miles 362-175 BC. Continues p4 [not for squeamish!] (40km) from Clonycavan. In this issue...

Bog bodies in Ireland 1 & 4 —recent finds

A final glimpse at 17th century Pee- 2-3 blesshire

Background to the Hilton of Cadboll 4 project

Lecture programme 4

Digging vehicles out of the snow near Leadburn in 1958 (Scotsman publications)

A final glimpse at 17th century Peeblesshire This is the sixth and final set of 4 December 21 August extracts from the Kirk Session Kathrine clark delated guilty not only of compeared marione Currie and all made records for West Linton Parish relaps in fornicatione acording to hir clear against hir is enjonied the nixt Church from 1657 to 1661, confessione but of trilaps the delators lords day to sit in a sait before the pulpit transcribed by Douglas Speirs are ordained to try the trueth and there publikly confesse her scolding w[i]t[h] other misdemenors whilk shee and edited by Trevor Cowie. 11 December promised to doe and enacted hirself nothing could be done this day becaus never to doe the like under the paine of Beyond redemption?: ‘… trilaps in few elders wer present the weather the high censure of the church fornicatione…' being so foull 26 August 3 July 1660 18 December The censure taken off marione currie delated this day a scandle of fornica- This day the elders of blyth wer not becaus shee obeyed as was ordained tione betwixt James Rid in blyth and present to declare anything concerning kath clark who are ordained to be sum- kathrine clark Marion Currie in trouble again moned before the sessione against the [note the references to ‘jogs’ - ie nixt day 25 December jougs. Ed] It is declared by the elders of blyth that 17 July they heard of some elders of the paro- 22 September 1661 compeared kathrine clark confessed chin of kirkurd that kath. clark was complaint given in by James duglas called fornicatione with James Rid and that she trilaps in fornicatione but that shee had of the hall against marione currie that was relapse yet hir injunctione for tak- removed from them and gone to shee had reviled him being ane elder and ing away the scandale is continued till ed[inburg]h with out any testimoniall slandered him calling him ane adulterer the mans compearance and confessione and they know not where shee wus but therefore shee is ordanied to be sum- should strive to get knowledge moned against the nixt day. 24 July Kath. clark yet continued till the mans 1 January 1661 29 September [com]pearance The minister declared to the sessione compeared marione currie and denyde that in face of the pr[is]b[it]rie mr that shee had aiver reviled or slandered 31 July alex[ande]r dicksone who had bene James duglas and therefore he offered to kath clark yet continued upone the for- minister at kirkcurd at kirkurd andro prove it by these witness John androw mer reasone Brown one of the elders of the sessione and James wilsone who are ordained to at kirkcurd and one other elder whose be cited against the nixt day 14 August name he had forgotten affirmed that compeared James Rid and confessed kathrine clark was trilaps in fornica- 6 October fornicatione with Kathrine clark and tione. No knowledge as yet in what compeared marione curie and also the that he had not fallen in fornicatione house at ed[inburg]h kath clark is witness shee enquyred if shee had any before therefore he is ordained to thing against the witnes admitted them stand thrie severall dayes in the publick 8 January and they wer taken sworne in hir pres- place for penitents for taking away the The sessione not able to get knowledge ence shee was. removed with one of the scandale and that he in the mean time whither kath. clark is gone some saying witness the other according to his oath have his recourse severall times to the shee is gone out of ed[inburg]h over the declared that he heard as was minister and some elders for evidencing watter of forth some that shee is yet in co[m]plained then he viz John androw signs of repentance ed[inburg]h resolve not to speak any was removed and James wilsone called more of hir in their book till ther hear and remembred of his oath declared as 26 August concerning hir the other and so the complaint was kath clark enjoned to appear for hir proven and she was enjoined to stand in relapse in fornicatione sex severall sa- the Jogs at the kirk dore on the lords baths in the publik place appointed for Marione Currie’s ‘scandalous day till the people convened and then penitents scolding’ - and other misdemean- goe up to the publik place appointed for ours penitents 20 November The censure is taken off James Rid who 14 August 1660 13 October in the thrid day (haveing obeyed the Marione Currie delated for scandalous This day before marione currie hid former injunctiones) was received from scolding and other miscariage is or- obeyed the injunctiones of the sessione the publik place appointed for these dained to be summoned. John androw gave in a new complaint professed penitent against marione currie and gave up his

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witness to prove his bill viz Robert moniall and named James tait in carlippes 21 May alex[ande]r, andro watsone, Issobell por- and his brother and this being found a ly reported George mark his obedience teous and Joane mure who are all or- because James tait himself broght a testi- which is accepted dained to be summoned against the nixt moniall from the sessione of penicuik day the tennor of the complaint was that and his brother from the minister and And finally, some insights into an his father was hanged and called himself a sessione of twedemoore he is there in age old problem - the upkeep of land loppen loun presence summoned to compere before the church! the pr[is]b[it]rie 20 October A new door for the churchyard 23 October compeared marione curie and denyde gate yet admitted the witness q[uhai]rof Rob- compeared James hendersone humbly ert alex[ande]r Jeane moore and Isobell desireing that the sessione wold enjonie 3 May 1659 porteous wer sworne and all parties him themselves and not cause him goe the sessione this day ordained Johne [who] have interest removed ther sever- down to peebles he confessed his guilt Androw to veiw [th]e Churche yerd all, deponed and did prove the Bill the and wold submit himself to their cen- Gate and to make ane doore for [th]e sessione deferred the injunctione for all sure. The sessione o[r]dain him to be same togither untill tuysday the twentie and present the nixt sessione day eight of this instant becaus now praise to 10 May god the harvest was done 30 October Johne Andrew declaird that he had few elders being present James hender- veiwed [the] Church yard gate and had 28 October son is ordained to compeir and receive made ane dore [thai]rto according to The injunctione was delayed because of his injunctiones the first sessione day [th]e sessions directione for [th]e which the infrequencie of elders after the synode which will be the 13 of [th]e sessione allowed him to receave november pay[men]t fra [th]e toxmoister 5 November the Injunctione yet delayed upone the 13 November Church maintenance former reason James hendersone called and not 17 April 1660 compeiring ordained to be summoned something was spoken about the 12 November against the nixt day thatching of the kirk and no further compeared marione currie before the sessione w[i]t[h] many tears and desired 20 November June 1661 the sessione wold pitie hir conditione James hendersone called and not all the sessione dayes of Junij the elders upone this the sessione in hopes shee compeiring agane to be summoned convened and except penalties and col- should amend contented themselves lectiones which be long unto another with the former injunctione which shee 27 November register nothing heard promised to obey and with hir owne compeared James hendersone and consent enacted hirself that if shee fell in ordanied there by the sessione in his July 1661 the like againe shee should be lyable to knies to be humbled and co[n]fess his The like may be said of the moneth of the penalty of ten libs. scottes money offence to god and the minister and el- July onely they consulted about thatch- and to be put in the Jogs as long as they ders against whome he spoke which was ing and mending of the kirk and repair- pleased done and he encated if the like be found ing of the windowes with glasse and in him againe he sall be more highly cen- wyre. 19 November sured reported to the sessione marrione currie hir obedience to their injunctione which A bad mark against George Mark! is accepted 7 May 1661 James Henderson falls foul of the George mark given up to the sessione session for breach of the sabbath that he should have bene met carrieing a sheep upone

ane horse neck before him therefore is 7 October 1660 ordained to be summoned against the This day James hendersone delated to nixt day of sessone the sessione to have spoken reproach- fullie of th[e]m is ordained to be cited 14 May the nixt [lords day] Compeared George mark in lynstone

green and confessed q[uhai]rfore he is 16 October enjonied against the nixt lords day to compeired James hendersone and not humble himself before the congregatione denying what he said that there wer to the end [of the week] [so that] the Jougs at Duddingston Church some in the parochin suffered to dwell scandale may be taken away this .10. years without testimoniall testi- PAST Page 3

In the later 19th century, the cross-slab Background to was removed to Invergordon Castle by Irish Bog Bodies the landowner. When he was selling the the Hilton of Castle in 1921, his descendant, Captain (continued from p1) Macleod, gave the stone to the British Cadboll Project Museum in London. Following a national He had been horrifically tortured outcry for it to be returned to Scotland, before death. His nipples had been it was given to the National Museum of cut and he had been stabbed in the Our speaker in January will be Antiquities of Scotland in Edinburgh and ribs. A cut on his arm suggested he Heather James of GUARD it is now on prominent display in the new had tried to defend himself during (Glasgow University Archaeological Museum of Scotland. the attack that ended his life. The Research Division) who will be young man was later beheaded and speaking about the results of the The chapel site in Hilton, Easter Ross, dismembered. Hazel ropes were from where the cross-slab was removed passed through his arms before he recent excavations on the chapel was buried in the bog. Food remains site at Hilton in Easter Ross—the in the nineteenth century, came into the care of the Scottish Ministers in 1978 and in his stomach show that the Old original location of the superb Croghan man had eaten milk and Hilton of Cadboll Pictish cross- is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. cereals before he died. slab. The aim of the excavations here was ini- tially to examine evidence for the deface- However electron microscope ex- The upper portion of the Hilton of ment of the Pictish cross-slab, and in later amination of his finger nails showed Cadboll cross-slab was presented to seasons to recover all the fragments and he did no physical labour whatsoever what is now the National Museums to examine their archaeological context. and chemical analysis of his nails of Scotland in 1921. What originally The excavations have recovered the showed that he had more meat in his would have been the side bearing a wonderfully preserved original lower diet than Clonycavan man. This cross was defaced during the 17th portion of the cross-slab, and its original suggests that he died in a colder sea- century when it was converted into a settings and have resulted in the retrieval son than Clonycavan man, when tombstone for Alexander Duff and of over 10,000 fragments. About 1,500 of vegetables were more scarce. It may his three wives. Despite this later these have some evidence of the original also explain why his remains are damage, what survives on prominent sculpted surface and an attempt is being better preserved. display in the Museum of Scotland in made to piece these together to recon- Edinburgh is one of most famous and struct the original cross-face. Ned Kelly, the museum’s Keeper of accomplished of Pictish sculptures. Irish Antiquities, noted both bog

Source: bodies had been discovered along The significance of the sculpture was Hilton of Cadboll Project website ancient tribal boundaries. Further first recognised during the late 18th (www.guard.arts.gla.ac.uk) research revealed that around 40 century, when it lay in the vicinity of other bog body discoveries had been the chapel site at Hilton in Easter made along former boundaries. Ross. Kelly believes that the explanation for this correlation with important political or royal boundaries may be LECTURE PROGRAMME 2005 – 2006 that the burials are offerings to the gods of fertility by kings to ensure a 19 January 2006 successful reign. Heather James, Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division ‘The Hilton of Cadboll project’ Other finds of late Bronze and early Iron Age material — ranging from 16 February 2006 weaponry , horse gear and cauldrons David Cowley, RCAHMS to personal ornaments—also occur ‘Aerial Photography’ on tribal borders.

16 March 2006 The two bog bodies are now at the David Caldwell, National Museums of Scotland National Museum of Ireland in ‘Rediscovering Alexander Selkirk. on Robinson Crusoe Island’ Dublin. So far they have been seen only by archaeologists and 20 April 2006 scientists, but they will go on public AGM followed by Members Night display at the Museum in May.

Meetings start at 7.30 pm and will be held on Thursday evenings in the Sources: Peebles Community Centre, Walkershaugh, Peebles BBC News, Mirror.co.uk; Irish Times Non-members welcome