DISCOVERIE T GLENLUCA S E SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE3 4 .

III.

REPORT ON SOME DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, .

. DAVIDSONM B . YJ , O.B.E., F.C.I.S., F.S.A., F.S.A.ScoT.

I am grateful to the Council of the Society of Antiquaries of for authorising me to use one of the four permits issued by the Officer Commanding, Lucy TriaeBa l Bombing Ranges examineo t , s occasioa , n arose, the sand and gravel areas within their zone of operations. When the area was taken over by the Royal Air Force it was felt that some superficial oversigh archaeologicay b t l observers migh desirablee b t e Glenlucth s a , e Sands have been for many years an area prolific of prehistoric material, froe mon d whican h there have been recovered, from tim timeo et , probably more objects of antiquity than from any area of similar extent in Scotland.1 It was gratifying, therefore, that the Service Authorities recognised this potential value in these waste-lands under their control, and so readily signified their co-operation, at such times as their ranges were clear of danger. The area is situated to the NW. of , roughly between the Motes of Sandhead and . The shore-line extends to about 6^ miles. B'etween the high-water mark and the Sandhead—Glenluce highway it is somewhat crescenti formn ci , centre widenin deptth a n o ei t abou f t ho gou t 1-j miles, the extent of the enclosed area being about 4 square miles. This region appear e irregularlb o t s y divided into five zones (fig, .1) running approximately parallel to the coast-line. Inland from the high tidal-water line Zone No. 1 is a band of merse-land, having as a background Zone No. 2, an almost continuous line of sandhills, widespread in extent, t risinno t g appreciablbu y abov 25-fooe eth t contour linea .s i 3 Zon . eNo level, swampy, almost landlocked area with numerous lochans drainage th , e of which is impeded by the sandhills already mentioned. In the landward direction this zon encloses ei anothey db r rang sand-dunef eo s which riso et slightly above the 50-foot level and which form Zone No. 4. Between these dunes and the Sandhead—Glenluce roadway is a moorland area—Zone No. 5— completely covere brackey db heatherd nan . The flint areas appear to be restricted to Nos. 4 and 5 Zones. Vegetation covers practically the whole area, except in the sand-dune zones, where there are considerable patches of open ground which appear to be archseo- logically sterile in Zone No. 2, but No. 4 has still a few sand-blown gravel 1 B.C.A.M. (Wigtown), xliii. 44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52. DISCOVERIE T GLENLUCA S E SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE5 4 .

areas in -which, flints are prolific. But the total flint area presently exposed is small, relativ s complete wholeit th d o et an , e investigation shoult dno present undue difficulty. A mann si y areas where sand-dune characteristic,e sar thes capricioue ear s 1 d unstablan d changeean f wind-currento s s frequently expose prehistoric settlements, working floor burial-placesd san thesn I . e feature Glenluce sth e Sands are not exceptional. It was therefore to these areas of exposed gravels that attention was directed on the occasion of a short holiday in the Mull of in the humid summer of 1948. From the southern end, Clayshant appeared to suggest a suitable point begio t n exploration e wholth t e bu ,are a ther envelopes ewa densa n di e growth of fixation-grass, rushes and bracken to shoulder height. A mile north, however, a large open space appeared to offer some promise, access being simple rouga s a , h roadwa beed yha n constructed eastward inte oth dunes to facilitate the removal of sand and gravel. In that area were considerable open patches where gravels were expose faia d r numbedan f ro broken flints were visiblsurfacee th superfician eA o . l examinatio thif no s area, however, revealed nothin significancey an f go . This linkeares a wa another o dt , northe lyinth o gt , which provee b o dt somewhat L-shaped, one arm being a large, flat, gravel-strewn open space, whil numbea othee eth d rha sand-moundf ro dunesd san , in. bot whicf ho h were found large quantitie fracturef so earls d flintswa y t noteI . d thae tth flint areas were in patches. In a region of clean, unpebbled sand one would come across a clearly defined, circular or oval area on which the surface concentration of flint-flakes and splinters would amount to 60—70 to the square foot. This feature was characteristic of the whole site, these flint patches varying from a single yard in diameter to large areas of several hundred square yards. Attention was therefore directed to this region (PI. X, 1), the results of which form the basis of this report.

THE POTTERY. r recorFo d purpose sitee sth s were numbered thesd an , e references have been retained herein. 1. To the north of a h'ttle pond of water, which had apparently been recently scooped out to provide building materials, there is a small sand-dune lying approximately east and west. The gravelly bed in which the pool is situated slope base circulara s th f gentleo o t p ,yu bracken-covered knoll, standing prominently about 3 ft. higher than the dune. On the ascending easterly slope of this little dune is a gravel patch covering an area of about 20 x 10 ft. The gravel includes a number of broken stones with sharp edges, none of which is any larger than the palm of one's hand, together with 1 The Culbin Sands in Morayshire and the Tentsmuir Sands in Fife are typical. 46 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1951-52. smala l numbe flinf o r t chipsgenerae Th . l directio thif no s gravelled area is about NE. to SW. (PL X, 1). To the SW. of this area and about 18 ins. outwith the gravel-spread there were found exposed the crushed rim fragments of an urn, apparently situn i wit hnumbea cineratef o r d bones visible. Though badly brokena , considerable proportioremainsm ri bodye e t littl th nonth d bu ,f f neo an o , e bas e survivedod th f eha buriae withiTh y .lla ydssita 0 n1 f eo . whicd hha evidently served some military purpose larga , e numbe disusef o r d d fulan l empty sand-bags bearing witnes suco st h use. The pottery fragment sf abou o indicat n ins7 tur diameten i . n ea t a r the top. The material is a pale, cream-coloured clay composed of a rough, pebbly mixture, poorly fired and extremely friable, the surface of many of the fragments having flaked off. The rim, rounded both outside and inside, slopes slightly inward. The wall is f- in. thick at the top, widening . abou fin o -t t t ou If ins. down, thus formin gconcava e band roune dth upper part of the vessel (fig. 2, 1). The urn appears to be devoid of any ornamentation. The stony fabric is not only visible in the broken sections but also on the outer and inner surfaces, and it gives the impression of a very rude construction. The inside surface has been fire-blackened. The bones were bleache d wer l dan recovere eal d from withi aren na a of about 4 ft. radius from the urn. Among them were found some lumps of wood charcoal about the size of a hazel nut. The area of the burial was excavated evidenco n enclosiny t an bu ,f eo g structur r floorineo g camo et light. above e NEth e grave th f 2 e edg.o th . o th t Abouf site eo . n l ft o , 3 t area smala , flale parth t f bassecono ta f eo protrude n dur ince dhon above the sand (PL X, 4). Strewn around, between the two urns, lay about two dozen white-quartz, rounded pebbles f abouo , t egg-size, which appeared significant in that very few were visible elsewhere and nowhere in such a concentration. The exposed urn-base was cracked and seemed to be rapidly deteriorating. It was not possible to brush the sand from it with a feather or a grass without detaching fragments from it, and it appeared as though it had only just los protectivs it t e sand covering t seemeI . d expedient, therefore coveo t , r it up again in order to give time to make preparations to salve it (PL X, 3). A supply of surgical tape was as much as a remote district could offer wholee andth n simpls t seemeo a i , e b emeana o dt couls sa devisee db d to bind it together. Inch by inch, therefore, as it was uncovered, it was swathed horizontally and vertically, and after many hours of patient work the vessel was completely divested of its sand covering. Eventually, the t througcu san s incheo dwa htw wits m belo ri hborrowe a e wth d steel shelf retrieve s odomestia f wa n dur carefulls c e intact cookewa th t d I y.an r turned on its side and supported and packed in a box for transport. From DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 47

1 O! 3 * INCHES 1 . NO N UR

I

URN NO. 3 (i) I ) (i 2 . URNNO

ANVIL AND HAMMER STONESi

N UR PLA F O N WITH CONTENTS AT RIM

I SECTION THROUG ' H 2A- INCHE° * B 3S SECTION THROUG D HC- ,

. Fig.Thre2 e Urnsanvio hammed t beadtw lan je , d an , r stones. 48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

this position it was not moved till over three months later, by which time vessee th somo lt itsel d e ha fexten t walline drieth s da g out d thed an , nha begu craco nt k through pressure fro deemes inside mth wa t ei d advisablo et unloa , whicdit dons hwa e stil s whillwa lyint ei g horizontally.

CONTENT URNF O S . The sand taken with the vessel below its rim, when released from its enveloping wrapping, fell awa revealed yan d bone materia compaca n i l t mass, level with the brim, the packing element appearing to be mostly sand. At one inch below the brim the osseous mass was so closely compressed gentle b o t y d probethaha t i t d thit outA s. depthcentree th n i ,patc a , h of carbonised wood about 2 ins. x 1 in. appeared together with a smaller area same abou . froth walle in t e m 1 tth A depth— . 1 in.—a small scraf po bon founs ewa d showin ggreea depta no t stain 1-f hp o J insU centrae . th . l area continued very closely packed, sand becoming les quantitn si a d yan considerable amount of bone-dust appearing, giving the mixture an earthy appearance rather than that of sand. At that level a red-stained fragment was found within 1-J ins. of the centre together "with another pocket of carbonised wood. At 2 ins. deep there appeared some bluish-stained pieces of bone and a tooth t 2^A .ins cavita . discloses ywa d abou ins5 t . acrossc witar n ha depth of about 1^ ins. This extended to the bottom of the urn. The content appearew smucno e b o dht more gritty with considerable quantities of ins4 e sandbone d th froo .t an ,ms2 seeme imbeddee b o dt sann di d (fig. 2, Plan and Sections). A ins3 e greatest th . t densit f blacyo k material observeds st wa i d an , was noted that these appeare closn di e juxtaposition nea perimetere th r . The bone material consisted of large pieces, including portions of a skull. Four inches down, sand predominated, bones being in large concentrations and black material in small pockets. It early became apparent that the carbonised material was of two kinds, the one being burnt wood, the other a sooty material, built up in layers, forming a scale. This did not show a fibrous structure e deposith ; f scals adherino t wa e insid th o get walf o l vessele th . The largest bone fragment appearedw no s knuckla : e bonjointw ja e a , with tooth cavities visible and a large piece of skull. Another small piece of bone stained green was recovered here. At 4-^ ins., nothing was visible except sand, some flecks of black matter minutd an e particle bonef so . Ains5 t . littla ther s ee wa pocke f charcoalo t amond an ,smala t gi l t beaje d encase smala n di l coverin claf go y (fig , 2A)2 . . The contents of the urn having been emptied and the sand sifted, the DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 49

interior wall was found to have a quantity of the sooty deposit still adhering. Thibeed ha sn successivn i buil p u t e layer depta o st somn hi e placef o s ~32 m> DESCRIPTIO URNP NO . It was now possible to measure up the urn. It is a plain, bucket-shaped, red earthenwar witn e ur h flaa t han s basei t dI .mad e and consequencen i , , s dimensionit s vary considerably, those given being meane outsidTh . e base th ins. e 75 height s e i fa ,th ins diameted m ri t. an e beinth t gra 11^ ins. slightls i m ri ye tapereTh d inwardwall-thicknese th d ,an fairls si y uniformly •J in. at the top, widening to \ in. where it merges into the base. The flat base is 1 in. in thickness (fig. 2, 2). The urn has no ornamentation, but despite the irregularities in its construction it is rather graceful in its outline, the exterior having a slight convexity to a maximum diameter of 8-j ins. some 2f ins. below the rim. It appears to have been built up in four sections, viz.: from the base to l^r ins., from 1^ to 4 ins., from 4 to 1\ ins., and from 1\ to \\\ ins.

REPORT ON HUMAN REMAINS PROM Two CREMATION BURIALS. The cinerated remains were submitted to Dr L. H. Wells, M.B., B.Ch., D.Sc., Senior Lecturer in Physical Anthropology, University of , whgoos owa d enoug furniso ht followine hth g reports.

"The remains from the intact urn (No. 2) include representative portions of one human skeleton extractinn I . g these fragments fro urne filline mth th , f go Mr Davidso divided nha d them into three parcels, correspondin o depthgt f o s worths i inst 6 I notf 4- . y o ins.ins2 ins 2 d 4 e0- 0- 2- .an .,tha layee th t r (the lowest in the inverted position of the urn) was composed of a very large number of small fragments e 2—th 4; ins. layer containe dsmallea r numbe f suco r h frag- ments with a few of larger size, while the 4-6 ins. layer produced only a few large fragments. As Mr Davidson has remarked, this probably reflects the sequence in which the remains were deposited in the urn, the large pieces being introduced smallee th firsd ran t one sthemf o dumpe p .to n Somdo e allowanc alss eo ha ot be mad settlinr econtente fo th bee d f go ha n t sinverte oncpo grounde e eth th n di . Fragments of the growing ends of the limb bones, of the base of the braincase, and of the upper and lower jaws can be identified. These show the remains to be those of a child aged between two and five years, most probably round about four years. From the dispersed burial (No. 1) there survive only a large number of small fragments of the skull, some chips which are probably portions of ribs, and one portion of the shaft of a long bone (? tibia). It seems probable that what has survive thin di s case represent ins2 0- .intace filline layee th th sth f n go tri urn, the remainder having been completely destroyed by weathering. Among the skull fragments it is possible to identify the mastoid part of the right temporal bone and the outer half of the right upper orbital margin. Both these fragments VOL. LXXXVI. 4 50 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1951-52. appear to have belonged to a child approaching adolescence. If the bones were t likelno havs o yi t e ethos ag exceedeboya s f eo hi , d twelve th e n yearsi t bu , case of a girl it might have been as much as fifteen years. Unfortunately these fragment e t physicaaffor th cluy no o an o det d s l type people o madth fo ewh e these burials."

REPORT ON SAMPLES OF CARBONISED WOOD. Sample f carboniseo s d n werwoour ed2 submitte. froNo m o t d Mr Jame . GentlesC s , B.Sc., Departmen f Botanyo t e UniversitTh , f o y , for examination and he made the undernoted report. "Specimens from both sets of samples were embedded in paraffin wax and sections for microscopic examination were cut both in transverse and longitudinal planes. These sections showed that structures, called vessels, were present—a feature of the Angiosperm group of higher plants. It was also noted that these vessels were laid dow definita n i e ring arrangement—tha wooe 'rins th t dwa g porous'. From these facts and the fact that the wood is obviously from a tree or shrub nativ Britaino et s possibli t i , narroo t e e searcwth fouo ht r possible species, viz. ash ,oakr eldero .m el , Of distinctivs thesei k oa , possessinn ei g rather wide Medullary Rays (plates of living cells running in a radial direction between the dead, lignified vessels, fibres, etc. of the wood), a feature which gives oak its characteristic grain and whic alss hi o showcharcoae th y nb l sections. In my opinion, therefore, the specimens examined which are similar in structure are carbonised oak wood, though the possibility of other fragments being of different origin cannot be excluded. A microphotograph of the carbonised wood in transverse section is provided (PI. XI, 4)." REPORT ON CARBONACEOUS DEPOSIT. A sample of the laminated sooty deposit from the inside wall of No. 2 urn was submitted for analysis to Messrs R. R. Tatlock and Thomson, Analytical and Consulting Chemists, Public Analysts and Gas Examiners Laboratory, Glasgow havo ewh , mad followine eth g report. "ANALYSI SAMPLA F O S P CARBONACEOUEO S DEPOSIT FBOM CINEBABY UBN. Per cent. Siliceous Matter ...... 8-10 Oxide of Iron ...... -82 Alumina ...... 4-35 . 1-1. 5 . Carbonat . Lim. f eo e Carbonate of Magnesia ..... '64 Phosphat Limf eo e ..... -22 Carbonaceous Matter ..... 84-72 100-00 DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 51

The mineral portio sample th f no e consists largel presence th sandf y o t bu , e of Carbonate and Phosphate of Lime may indicate the presence of bone ash. impossibls i t I identifo et materiae yth l from whic carbonaceoue hth s deposit originates s organia , c matte charrinn o r g completely lose s characterit s d an , nothing remain sample th n sgivi o et epositiva e indicatio sources it f no . There is no tarry or fatty matter in the sample and there is nothing revealed by analysis to give a definite clue to the formation of the deposit. It appears, however, to have been built up in thin layers, suggesting repeated exposures to a sooty or carbon laden atmosphere. In other words, the earthen- ware pot appears to have been used many times for the same purpose, possibly involving firing wit hwooa d fire fro insidee mth . t havCoulpo ee beedth n used for heat treatin articln a som n gi y ee wa stretched ove t witri hviea mouldinwo t g exampler potshape e fo th th s f a ,o e mouldint o e t th ,i hidef go skinse d th s an r o , beating of brass or other soft alloys, pewter, etc., and indeed any plastic material, workine th whicf go h woul facilitatee db certaia y db n amoun heaf o t t? Another possibility which occurs to us is the use of the earthenware vessel e purposfoth r f temperino e g iror tool-making—thfo n e cementation process,1 which coursef o , , woul conductee db d insid pote eth , heat being applied froe mth inside and wood charcoal providing the carbon for the temper. We thin carboe kth n temperin more th e b likel o gt y explanation."

3. The fragmentary remains of a third urn were found 38 yards NE. of sherde Th s. 2 wer . eNo e sit recoveref th eo d froplaceso mtw e lesseth , r one of which contained a few pieces which had become detached by wind actio carried nan dshora t distance away. Many fragments were collected fro e maimth n site, which differed fro e surroundinmth g grave than i l t i t was marked by some large flat and rounded stones •which in themselves were sufficient to draw attention to it (PL IX, 2). Some of the fragments were large simpls whild t togethefi wa an , t o ei t faira r numbe piecesf o r , in the absence of rim or base fragments it has not been possible to reconstruct completa e sectio walline th givo t f no r ereasonabla go y accurate picture of its build. It appears to have been a vessel of some 10 ins. in diameter anwalline dth g varies fro thicknesn i m . \fin o - t . sMan 3) (fig , f 2 yo . the sherds were defaced on one or other side by weathering, but many pieces still show soot-blackening on the inner faces. One of the fragments show pattersa chevrof no n markings fragmenm ri A . t much fire-blackened appears to be a "false-rim" made by the vessel breaking along a line where one strip of clay was pressed on the top of another. The piece seemed too sucf o reaindicate e s hlargi a m sharth heav s d lri a e thi ed b an t pnyo an t po d by the fragments (fig. 2). The find-spot was carefully excavated and a good number of fire-blackened

sherds were recoverer d along with three flint artifacts (fig. 4, Nos. 1, 2 and 13).

1 Cementatio procesa s ni s which, consist surroundinn i s gsolia d body wit e powdehth othef o r r substance heatind san whole degrega th o t et sufficien eno causo t t e fusion physicae th , l propertief so bode th y being change chemicay db l combination wit powdere hth ; thus iron becomes stee cementay lb - tion with charcoal powder, and green bottle glass becomes porcelain by cementation with sand. 52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

MISCELLANEOUS POTSHERDS. Considerable numbers of sherds were found on the surface of the site. A few have been selected because of their forms or decorative features (PI. XII). fragmentm ri A . 1 , fire-blackened all oveheated an r d almose th o t t point of fusion. It has four lines of bold string markings within f in. of its lip. 2. Three fragment a littl f o se vessel mad f fino e e browns i clay t I . covered with fine, parallel cord impressions—abou inch e row2 th 1 t .o st The base indicate vessea s f abouo l t 2\ ins turndiametern .m i ri se Th . wida t a e t angleou , givin impressioe gth beakerB a t witf no bu , h widela y everte 1 (figm dri , 2) 3 ..

) 10 (11) i ac O m ) (7

Kg. 3. Outlines of pottery sherds. Nos. 1,2, 3 and 5 relate to tlie corresponding numbers in Plate XII.

3. Rim and base fragments of small vessel, both wholly fire-blackened. The outside diameter at the rim is about 4^ ins. and the base 2 ins. Heavy impressions of cord (fig. 3,3). 4. Sherd of light brown clay with five lines of bold string marks deeply impressed. 1 J. Abercromby, Bronze Age Pottery, n (1912), pi. ci; cf. fig. 5356. DISCOVERIE T GLENLUCA S E SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE3 5 . 5. Thick fragment of red ware with raised band on exterior which is itself overlaid with '' maggot'' markings irregularly laid on. 6. Heavy-walled sherd of rather fine red texture. Impressions are faint through weathering. 7. A light brown piece with imposed band, part of which can be seen detachede b o t . Maggot marking fainte sar . 8. Fire-blackened fragment with bold string impressions. 9. Red ware with three prominent oblique markings. 10. Small rim piece with markings firmly impressed. 11. Small sherd wit clear-cuo htw t line smalf so l comb incisions numbering inche th abou.o t 4 2 t . Seve12 n fine, clearly impressed, parallel line f coro s d markingn i s brown clay. . Deface13 d piece with five string impressions. . Brow14 n sherd wit parallex hsi l line finf so e cord impressions within f- inch. 15. Cord impressions showing good "sand-blast" effect. . Seve16 n very shar well-defined pan d row strinf so g marking aboun si t \ inch. 17. Minute impressions as though made with a comb obliquely. 18. Cord markings sand-blasted. 19. Plain grooves pressed in causing the clay to bulge out. fragmenm 20Ri . t with plain line markings. . Sher21 d wit scoreo h tw inne n so r face. 22. Bold chevron pattern.

STONE ARTIFACTS. The number and variety of the flint tools from the Grlenluce Sands have long been recognised and renowned and require no recapitulation here. The site under revie bees w exceptionha o nn oved whole an ,r th e are surface ath e is studded with immense concentrations consisting of many thousands of flints. In face of such potential wealth one could but be selective and pick out only those which appeared to be noteworthy. Possibly the most strikin a flin e t se gsit o featurt e s wherwa e a esingl e worke d beeha rn employed s materialhi , debrid san s spread aroun de piece th jusd s sa ha t been struck off, together with the manufacturing tools of hammer and anvil. Sometimes one stone had been used in the double capacity of hammer anvid an l (fig , but.2) , more often, these were found separatelye th n I . greater concentration a numbes f workero r s must have been employed over a considerable period to leave behind such masses of fractured flints. 54 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

345 CHS.

Fig. 4. Flint artifacts. DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 55

FLINT ARTIFACTS. t wilI sufficiene lb mentioo t t n onl yfea w good specimen knapper'e th f so s work (fig. 4). 1. A dark bottle-green flint discoidal scraper, somewhat turtle-backed with plain reverse showing prominent bul percussionf bo . Steeply trimmed opposite bulb and lightly dressed round remainder, except at bulb where it is battered.1 2. An opaque, almost transparent greenish flint with a -j in. brown band across its centre. Trimmed as above on one face only; reverse being plain, with outstanding bulb.2 3. Thumb-nail scrape brown ri n flint. 4. Knife, trimmed along both long sides. 5. Heavily backed round scraper. 6. Lance-head finely dressed along two sides; made from fine flake and showing prominent ripple mark reversen so . 7. Fine point trimmed alon side ground geon an othern do . 8. Small, finely dressed scraper, trimme botn do h side curvef so d edge. 9. Fine translucent point, trimmed both edges, terminatin t basga n ei hinge fracture. 10. Hollow scraper for left-handed work. 11. Broken point in dull white flint. 12. Arrow-head, in white flint, barbed and tanged. Finely worked and polished. . Ver13 y thin fine flake with rounded end, very delicately dressed on. side on e onl foro yt m round-nosed scraper. Ripple flake scars visible front bacd an k transversel workeo yt d face.

FLINT Ho WE. Abou e sitth te f haldescribeo . mila f eNE d abov smalo e thertw le ear adjacent hills, called on the O.S. map Flint Howe. These bare, rounded hillocks stand less than 20 ft. high above the surrounding sand and are almost completely covered with broken stones, most of which appear to be fire fracture. d1) (PI, XI . Aroun base dth e several small knolls werthef o emo noted tw wer d ean , excavated to reveal small stone-built hearths. These proved to be almost circular—abou ins.—erection2 3 y b 6 3 t s buil f smalo t l stonese sucar s ha widespread in the area and without any binding matter. The centre was completels hollowa d wan y filled with sooty debris containing fragmentf o s carbonised relic o woodn t s werbu , e discovere. d2) (PI, XI . 1 Cf. J. Evans, Ancient Stone Implements, 270, fig. 204. . Ibid.,Cf 2 276, fig. 219. 56 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1951-52. Both hearths examine same th ed characteristicsdha . Neithe theif o r r heights was more than 9 ins. above the sand. Hearths similar to the above have been found on Shewalton Moor, Ayrshire. The describee yar ds simpl 1a y ring f stonesso , generally pretty much burned and consisting of a built structure of water-worn stones, without cement, 2 ft. 6 ins. in diameter and 15 ins. deep, the upper surface, wher placed s fire eeth wa , being basin-like hollowth n I . e depression there were bit charref so d branches, charcoal powde fragmentd ran bonesf so . Som yds0 e2 . frohillock e base th m th f eo largsa e flat sand-dune disclosed furthea r large concentratio same th f eno natur sootf eo y matte depta o rt h of several inche lengta d nearlsf an h o y 1. 0ft Ther e were neither stoner sno hearth visible in this case.

SLAG FOUND WITH No 3 URN. . Along with the broken portions of the No. 3 urn there was picked up a piece which looked like the bottom of an urn, this being a quadrant forming part of a base of about 3-g- ins. diameter. It was about •§• in. thick. On examination after cleaning, it proved to be a piece of slag which had bee bottoe nmoulded th left vessea ha n i f m d inside o fors th dan lit mo et base of a vessel with a rounded fillet between the wall and the base. From the apparent diameter it appeared unlikely that it was related to Not som urn3 .Ye e. features appeare poino dt somo t t e connectione th : sooty laminated deposit of carbon in the No. 2 urn; the general appearance thicknese wels th same a base s th a lth f e eo f vesseso l suggeste dcrucibla e ; e carbon-ladeth e urnRepor3 th . n ; fragmentNo t e froth mf o s Tatlock and Thomson; the extensive manufacture of carbon at Flint Howe—all appeared to point to a late use of a Bronze Age vessel. The slag fragment was therefor . CrivaneE . submitteH r , B.Sc.M o dt , A.R.T.C., A.R.I.C., F.I.M., Head of the Department of Metallurgy, Coatbridge Technical College, for analysis, wit undernotee hth d result.

REPORANALYSIE TH SAMPLN A T O F S O SLA F EO G FOUND AMONG THE FRAGMENTS OF No. 3 URN. "The sample submitte visuan do l examinatio founs slage b nwa ,o d t whic h was confirmed by the low density of the material. One could fairly assume tha sample th t beed eha n formed durin manue gth - facture and melting of a charge of steel and would consist principally of ferrous silicate together with smaller quantities of manganese and calcium silicates and still les f somo s e aluminates. Iron oxide would almost certainl presene yb s a t well, but carbon could hardly exist in the oxidising atmosphere prevailing, and

woul liberatee db carbos da n monoxid dioxided ean , which would escape through J1 . Smith, Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire (1895), 118. DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 57 moltee th n slag. Trace oftee ar thif ns so entrappesga slae ford th g man n di small blow-holes. presence Th irof e sla o r stee nth o moss g i n i l t unlikely slae th mucs g i s a , h more fluid and a great deal lighter than iron or steel and floats on the latter without mixing and factn ,i , protectivacta s sa e coatin excessivo gt e oxidation, at the same time playing a large part in refining the steel by the chemical reaction of the iron oxide in the slag and the carbon and other impurities in the iron such as manganese and silicon. Consequently the carbon will be eliminated as gaseous oxides whil silicoe iroe eth th n n nwouli oxidisee db iroe th n y oxiddb silicoo et n dioxide, this latter formin fluidg a melting-poin w lo , t slag with iron oxide, viz. ferrous silicate. Similarly, manganes s easili e y oxidise o manganest d e oxide, which forms manganese silicate wit silicoe hth n dioxide which still further lower meltinge sth - point of the slag, increasing its fluidity. specifiw lo e c Th gravit sample th f y o slaf eo g make t cleasi rmetalliy thaan f ti c iron is present, it would be finely disseminated in small globules none of which coul detected.e db " The sample of the slag was subsequently crushed to destruction and its analysis gave the undernoted result. Per cent. Ferrous oxide, FeO ..... 63-19 . 7-1. 5Ferri . c oxide . , Fe . 2O3 Free metallic iron ..... 9-04 Manganese oxide, MnO ..... 0-60 Sulphur, S ...... 0-017 Phosphorus, P ...... 0-40 Carbon C ,...... 0-164 Insoluble matter (mainly silica—SiO2 wita h little lime, CaO) ...... 19-44 100-00

"The above analysis seem indicato t s e thae specimeth t s tap-cindewa n r from a wrought-iron puddling furnace, probably originating from the hearth. Wrought iron from suc hfurnaca s lonha eg bee e ncementatio th use r dfo n process of steel-making in crucibles, and it is a possibility that the charge of wrought iroassociates nwa d wit hlargea r quantit tap-cindef yo r than usual and, mixed with charcoa crucible usuath e n th li n lei way charge ,th e could have been heated to a temperature sufficient to render the tap-cinder plastic without melting melting-poinsteele e th th s ,a lattee th f mucs rti o h higher. This could accounr tfo its shape, as it would easily take the shape of the crucible in such a soft condition. Shoul e sladth g have been melte thed dan n floate layea n f molteo do r n steel, the free n th esla e iroth g n wouli d have entere moltee dth n stee would t an l dno have appeare slae th g n danalysisi . If, however, the crucible was used before the general introduction of the puddling furnace, the above nth e theory woul longeo dn r hold good. There is another possibility that the tap-cinder was produced during the workin somf go e primitive proces thud san s entere crucible dth e wit irone hth . Another possibility suggests itself. The tap-cinder may have been made in the crucible, gradually accumulating in thickness and brought about by 58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

oxidatio irof no n chargecombinatioe th d san iroe th n f noxideo s with silica which woul introducee db d wit charge hth impuritiess ea fror o , m silicoirone , th or ,n i perhaps, added purposely, to produce a slag. The silica could also have originated from the crucible itself. Slag accumulations are often seen at the top of crucibles which hav t beeeno n properly cleaned after each mel r chargeo t . The carbon in the slag (0-164 per cent.) could, of course, have originated from organic carbonaceous material from the earth or have become associated with slae th g fro crucible mth e charge."

Bather than leave the question of the formation of the slag wide open, Mr Crivan generously undertoo e examinatioth k d analysie an nth f o s materials from each of the urns No. 1 and No. 3 with a view to determining from their structure whethe r otheo e r on rcoul d have been utilisea s da crucible. He furnished the following additional Report on these vessels.

REPOR TESTN TO SAMPLE N SO POTTERP O S Y PROM Nos. 1 AND 3 URNS. "I crushed samples of the clays of both urns, ground them with water and examined the plasticityr mfo orden i , givo t rindicatio n ea temperature th f no e to which the urns had been heated. It will be understood that when clays are temperaturesheatew lo do t 200-30y sa , 0 deg. Cent., they still retain this plasticity on crushing and grinding with water, but at temperatures sufficiently high to drive off their water of combination, they lose their plastic nature even if crushed and mixed with water. Both urns had little plasticity left although No. 1 had retained a little more than No. 3. Different clays lose their combined moistur t differena e t temperaturet bu s extreme th e rang usualls ei y about 450°—600 . Repeate°C d heatin mosf go t clays theso t e temperatures would gradually destroy their plasticity. Evidence therefore exists for the belief that the urns had been subjected to a temperature of at least 450° C., No. 3 having had more heat applied than No. 1. This temperature is well above that at which any organic matter would decompose, whether it be food, plants, fuel or body remains. At 450° C. or thereabouts a carbonaceous deposit would remai t wouln bu t bur dno exteny n an of this o ft a s would requir erathea r higher temperature. e carbonaceouSomth f eo s deposit has probably been burned away but it is not possible to determine the proportion. Furthe re sample testth n so s -were take determino nt refractorinese eth f o s the clays, i.e. their ability to withstand heating to high temperatures. The results wer shows followine a th n i g table. The results indicate thae clayth t s would definitel e suitablb t r no fo ye high temperatures such as are used in steel-melting, as at least 1500° C. would be require t thia sd temperaturdan claye eth s would appearmel e slagd Th an t . - e urnancth sf eo indicate s that temperatures even around 1100neved ha . r°C been reached. No. 3 urn is a little more refractory than No. 1, although the difference is not very greattexturee Th . s are f course,o , different chemicaA . l analysis would probably reveal some differenc n compositioi e n which would accoune th r fo t slightly different refractoriness. Usually e lesth ,s refractor yhighea clas yha r percentag impuritiesf eo , suc alkaliess ha , lime, magnesi iror ao n oxide. Clay is DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 59

Temperaturn ei No Urn1 . . No Urn3 . . degrees Centigrade.

850 Turns bright red. No As for No. 1. All carbona- sign f fusionso . ceous matte drivew rno n off. 1050 Still no signs of fusion. As for No. 1. 1100 Incipient fusion on the No signs of fusion. surfac claye th f .eo 1150 Definite fusion penetrat- Sign f fusioo s n mainln yo intg in o bod clayf yo . surface. 1250 Fused slag-like appear- More definite signs of ance. o t samfusion t e no ; •extent as No. 1.

basically aluminium silicate with combined moisture and impurities. No. 1 urn is probably a little less refractory on account of having a lower percentage of alumin largsilicaf highee a o d e Th ea .an particleon r appea n ur 1 r. s seeNo n i to bear this out as they are probably of a siliceous nature, which would lower the refractoriness in this case." Observations. The improvised method employed to salve the No. 2 urn, while novel, wat unprecedentedsno . HearB . J s r useD .d muc same hth e techniqun ei raisin ga cinerar t Brackmona n ur y t Mill, Fife, about 1935, e maith 1 n difference being that he utilised cotton bandages with loops for lifting, beinn ur ge unsupportedth e inverte f th o d p an dto e sanboned th , dan s •were deposite excavate e heaa th n di n p i d pit.

WHITE QUARTZ PEBBLES. The presence of white quartz pebbles has been noted.2 These have frequently been recorded from burial sites. Three such were found witha skeleton in a barrow on Elton Moor.3 In opening Carder Low, near Harting- ton, about eighty quartz pebbles were found. It has been suggested that they were possibly cast into the mound during its construction by mourners and friends of the deceased as tokens of respect.4 A quartz pebble lay among a deposit of burnt bones, accompanied by a bronze pin, in another barrow near Throwley.5 It has also been stated that in Penmyuydd Churchyard, Anglesea, numerous skeletons were found wit hwhita e oval P.S.A.8., T.XXT (1936-8), 262. abovee . Se *46 . p ,

31 Vestiges Antiquities e oth f of Derbyshire,. 43 . 63 . cit., . p Op 4 5 T. Bateman, Ten Years Diggings (1861), 130. 60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

pebble of the size of a hen's egg near each.1 In the group of cinerary urns foun Stevenstont a d , Ayrshire, four white quartz pebbles, each about . \in diametern i , were found wit bonee hth s from four urns 2 and, found embedded in the centre of the cover of another were about six quartz pebbles and a reddish quartz pebble about the size of a hen's egg.3 At Musselburgh hundred whitf so e quartz pebbles, larg poine smalld on ean tt a forme, da laye ins9 r . thick.4 White stones avertecarried an e Evie ddth Ey lwit h them the protection of heaven, whence they were said to come.5 In the Boo Revelatiof ko n ther passaga s ei e 6: tha"Tm othi overcometd an . . h. [I] will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." There is thus ample evidence symbolise ofth white th mf eo pebble whic oftehs i n represente emblematis da c of happines happa r thesy so ywh e dayd pebblean ,hav y sma e been cast into tombs or ancient graves.

COLOURED STAININ BONESN GO . Two of the cremated bones showed green stains; one had red and some fragments had blue. Burnt bones with green staining have been reported from Langside, Glasgow 7; Seamill, East Kilbride 8; Pitlessie, Cults, Fife 9; Balnabraid, Kintyre10; Brechin11; Cowdenbeath12; and Palmerston, ,13 and in all these cases the stains have been attributed to the deterioration of or contact with a small object of bronze or copper. e quitb y Thie true ma st anothe bu , r explanatio s beeha n n offered: "The green stain, sometimes observee th bonest n alwayo do t no e s i ,du s proximit bronzf yo beecoppers r eo ha n t founbu , analysin do causee b o st d by the presence of phosphate of iron, a salt which can assume various tinges of blu green.d ean " 14 closn I e proximit urnse th o y't site ther mucs ei h evidenc irof eo n pan. This is a hard, scaly stratum that forms below soil or sand and which is encrusted sufficientl retaio yt nformatios waterit n O win.e nth d blowe sth sand from above it, leaving it exposed and frequently waterlogged. The sand belo wt tendsi , also becomo t , e blown awa winy yb d currents, leaving the resistant scale layer until the undercutting causes it to break off. Iron pan is caused by the deposition of iron salts through the percolation of water impregnated l t witsanfounal no h dn s i d i iron deposits t I . t bu , only where iron-bearing wate bees rha n conditiofilterine th s i s ga n prevailing arounwideld an urns e t yda th ' site.

Arch. Camb., 3 set., VII, 91. P.S.A.S., XL (1905-6), 385. » Ibid., 394. 1 2 4 Ibid., LXXXI (1945-7), 176. 5 Wallis Budge, Amulets and Superstitions, 326. ' P.S.A.S.,6 Eev xxxi . . iix17 , (1904-5), 528. " Ibid., LXI (1926-7), 248. Ibid., 264. " Ibid., LIT (1919-20), 189. Ibid., txxv (1940-1), 211. 9 Ibid., LXV (1930-1), 266. Trans. Dumf. Gall.d ll an A.8., xvii. ,85 12 13 14 Brit. Mus. Guide Antiquitieso t of Bronze (1920)e Ag . 65 , DISCOVERIE T GLENLUCA S E SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE1 6 . Fro e analysemth se carbonaceou oth f s deposi urn2 . t ,insidNo e eth and that of the clays, together with the presence of much iron pan in the area, there is thus sufficient prima facie evidence to support the conjecture tha greee bluth d t nan e stains were produce iroy db n phosphate thad an t; ther mors ewa e than enough iron oxide presen foro t tstainsd mre this a , s oxid simpls ei y rouge. Ther evidenco n presence s ei th f eo irof eo n pyrites thif beed i , sha n as present originally t wouli , d oxidis irod re n o oxidet n eo the application of heat.

BONE CONTENT. It has been noted that the No. 2 urn contained the remains of a child, filles depta o wa t df 6an ho ^n dinsur tha e . witth t h sand e osseouth , s remains having then been placed on top. The method of placing the heavier bone firstn s ur int , e followeo th lighte e top e bees th th y ,ha t nd b ra recorded.

burian o n invertine l ur woul Th e th df g o caus sane e th filte o dt r throug1 h the bones, thus causing the cavity noted. Mann has described a hollow cylindrical cavity up the centre of a mass of osseous contents of two cinerary vessels which he attributes to the cremated bones having been gathered up into a small sack, the mouth of which had been twisted into a rope-shape placed an d downwards withi e sace deca e th e vesselth kth f nth n yo O . bones became concrete retained dan d this position roun vacane dth t space.

There was no evidence of any such feature in this Grlenluce2 urn.

THE BEAD. Th t beaeje s somewhadi t ovoi formn di , being rather roundee on t a r end s greatestha it e otherabou s i t nth a lengtt n I . i t t^.. d in •§in han diameter perforatioe Th . n doe t follo sno norma e wth ls lon it lin f geo axis but is pierced laterally by a curved transverse hole on one side of its main axia s outeit l linen ra doublO surfac.s ha e t foro i ee t spira t mon cu l steeply-pitched turn. This takes the form of a groove shaped in W form. The general appearance is well proportioned, elegant and even artistic (fig. 2, 2a). Jet beads are common enough in prehistoric burials but those embodying e spirath l moti infrequente ar f . John Smith report spiralle on s y twisted from Stevenston Sands, Ayrshire, and one — of vitreous paste — from

Shewalton Moor 4 ; while another e samth f eo , 3 material s recordei , d from Wigtownshire 5; while one — of blue glass — from Edderton, Ross-shires ha ,

yellow spiral inlays.6

2 1 P.S.A.S., I.yyxr (1946-7), 178. Trans. Dumf. and Gall. A.S., 3 ser., xvn, 94. 3 Prehistoric Ayrshiren i n Ma (1895) . 43 , « Ibid., . 116p . • P.8.A.S., (1862-4)V , *312 P.S.A.S.,. (1905-6)L X , 401. 62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

The curved hole suggests the V-shaped perforation associated with buttons 1 and pendants 2 which is common in England and in Scandinavia,3 and gives the impression that the ornament was intended for suspension as a pendant or attachment as a button and not for stringing on a necklace. In view of the fact that the remains were those of a child, a simple pendant was probabl more yth e likely use buttoa s ,a thif no s size would have been of little utility or service in the clothing of a very young person.

SOOT-BLACKENING. e presencTh f fire-blackenino e s frequentlha g y been recorded from Bronze Age burial sites as at Deerness, Orkney,4 where a clay urn, full of ashes, wasuppee th n ,i r part, darkened with soot lowee th , r beina f go reddish colour. Another from Orkneincrustation a d yha f soono t under the shoulder.5 The report does not state whether these sootings were outsid r insideo froe e urnsemth On .Harray , Orkney, bore trace botf so h groua f o smokcineraroutside.d f fire pe o th ean on n eo n I y6 urns fount da Stevenston, Ayrshire, hard sooty matter to an unusually large extent adhered firmly to the lower part of the interior.7 The Glenluce urns, particularly No. 2, were all sooted. Mr Crivan has effectively scotche e cruciblth d e theor d Tatlocan y d Thomsoan k e th n possible domestic use, even without Professor Childe's caution tha t shoulti d be remembered that domestic pottery correspondin cinerare th o gt y urns of the funerary series is quite unknown.8 I have made a list of objects found on the Glenluce Sands and have not been satisfied that anything therein could come into the category of objects which Tatlock and Thomson instance as necessitating the application of a certain amoun heatf o t . Certainly fish-hook mand an s y other small objects may have had heat applied, but these would be done in a simple hot flame and not within a vessel. My only suggestion—and I advance it with much reserve—is that the repeated applicatio f heao n t resulted fro e vessee firinth mth f o gl itself fro insidee conceivabls i mth t I . e that external hea t givint no alon s g ewa sufficient firing to solidify the walls of these comparatively thick-walled. vessel d thaan st outwar supplementee b do t firin d ha g inwardy db o T . some degree thi s substantiatei s examination a y b d e fragmentth f no f o s No. 3 urn, where the heat penetration from the inside is much greater than that applied externally (PL XI, 3). This is itself a natural phenomenon, as the internal heat is conserved within the vessel whereas the external is

dissipated into the cold air.

2 1 J. B. Mortimer, Forty Years Researches (1905), flg. 418, 925. Ibid., fig. 607.

Sheteli Falkg& , Scandinavian Archaeology (1937). 63 , P.8.A.8., LXVH (1932-3), 350. 4

?3 Ibid., 349. Ibid., XLVU ' Ibid.,(1912-3) 20. ,(1905-6) 421. , 385. 6 8 Trans. Dumf. and Gall. A.S., xxm, 141. DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 63

This suggestion may provide a reason for the hearths at Mint Ho we. firee b do t wer n stonen ur eo invertee t th sse f placeI d dan d withie nth hearth then heat coul appliee db d from hearte belowth d h an ,bein g larger than the diameter of most urns, sufficient draught would be given to raise a considerable heat t I woul. d also accoune lac f th relic-debrio kr fo t s within the hearth other than the carbonised wood. It might be said that the outside surface, except possibly the base, would be smothered in smoke and would consequently also be fire-blackened. To some extent thi trues s i t ther same bu , th ee coul b concentratio t dno n of headepositiod an t carbof no n whe smoke n th escapins ewa g int aire oth . Whatever external blackening there was would largely be dissipated by the scourin e percolatiog th actioe sand th df an n o e surfac watef no th n f o ro e vessee th l throughou agese th t .

THE POTTERY BUILD-UP. The three urns appea falo rt l into Abercromby's cinerary urns—bucket- shaped—Type 6,1 although fro scrappe mth s i y t naturi 3 Nosf d eo an .1 only possible to be definite about No. 2. In the Mann Collection in the Glasgow Art Gallery the last has a near parallel in one found within a grave t Knockdoona , Torrs, Lucefabrie Th f thes o vesselc.o etw s suggests that they are closely allied and the method of construction similar, as the Torrs urn seems from external examination to have been built up in three ring zones. The No. 2 urn appears to have been built up in four horizontal bands. An attemp mads wa tobtaio et n some definite information aboue th t construction of the vessels from the sherds available. It proved a simple matte grino rt sectionae dth l face sherdf o s widelf so y varying texture from crudee th , open sherdo t , n ston. 1sur No thay e wartth werf eo e hard dan compact and fired almost to their melting-point. A fine grade of an aluminium oxide, abrasive grinding wheel wit hmediua m vitrifiegraia d nan d bond ins4 2 ,diamete n .i runnind an r speea t ga f 500 do 0 peripherar pe . ft l minute, gave a smooth polished surface which showed up the inner structure shere oth f d without disintegratins handcontroy e wa b t Th I s . wa . l git noted that grindingn i , firee e skith d f th , e shern o face th f do s tendeo dt spark of minutn fi e particles .releas e surface th Thi th o t f eso e ecouldu e db tension induced by shrinkage during the early drying of the clay after the urn beed ha n made t sho t whicno wbu ,d superficiallhdi y until later t mighi r o , t also have been caused by prolonged heating in the clay which, brought about a gradual disintegration, helped by the penetration of carbon into the pores. Stevenson has suggested 2 that it would be interesting to see how often cordone th cordonef s o show, smala 4 w d lsho an d 3 urn , appliede sIX ar L P . cordo imposes surface nwa th n thicde. o \ e oin fkth wall o vessefa hod wlan Cf. Bronze Age Pottery, n, pi. ci, 5356. • P.S.A.S., LXXIH (1938-9), 238. 1 2 64 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1951-52. this flat pressure join "sprungd ha t " fro seatings mit . This crack extends fo . ralon in f s longitudinagit l face. That this ruptur purels ewa y local can be seen from the adjacent face section of the same sherd only 1-| ins. away and which shows the line of merging of the build-up of the whole head. The maggot-design potsherdhav) 7 ed XIIbotan L 5 s(P ,hraise a d applied band, and the latter shows how this has come detached, leaving a clean, right-angled break in the centre of the photograph. internae bees Th ha n1 commente. l make-ugroune No n Th ur d . f po d on face (PL XIII, No. 1) not only illustrates the characteristic texture of this vessel t alsbu ,o show linee sth applicatiof so f o bandinge m ri th f e no Th . this vessel is wavy (No. 2) to such a degree as to confirm the roughness of its construction but this scalloping effect appears to be intentional (No. 3). Both views show the stony content even when smoothed off to form the wall surface urne th .f so A fresh break of the fragment (No. 5) shows how this rude material was manipulate produco dt esmootha , rounded edge. fractureo show7 tw . e No th sNo dillustratejoint6 p . d la ° an , 30 sa faces where the joint has come apart. The light colour penetrating from potter e facee th th f o s y appear indicato st estructuraa l joint. No show8 . versa y flat angl jointp ebelola d illustrates ,an i wt i same dth e piece with the edge ground. Amon e outlinegth s specimeno (fig ther) tw f 3 .o e ) ear 11 s (Nosd an 9 . false rim surn3 fro. . mNo

CREMATION. The relationship between skeletal remain theid an s r containing vessel hat receivesno d much attention Wellr D . s inform thae tm s "the dried

skeleton of an adult weighs 1l 2 to 15 Ibs.; that of a child, like Glenluce 2, probably not more than 3 Ibs. When green bone is burned it will crack and warp tremendously, unlik bony edr e reduce e whicb n hcindeca do t r without losing its shape. If the bones did not fall to pieces in the fire they would certainl handlingn o o s o yd . Obviously, ther los g eburningn bi smuso a e tb . The real question e thaseem b f packin o to t s g volume rather than weight impressioy M . s thani t requirei t a sfairl y fierce heat actinr gfo quit etima reduco et ehumaa n bod remembebonu o yt yo eo ashD e .th r cremation of Hector in the Iliad? " 2 1 Letter of 23/6/52. 2 "Perform, ye Trojans! What the rites require, And forestfele funeraa th l r sfo l pyre;

These Toils continue nine succeeding days, An sylvaa d r higai nn h i structur e raise." HOMER, Iliad, Book xxtv, Trs. by A. Pope, 1720.

DISCOVERIE T GLENLUCA S E SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE5 6 .

Fairbarn report sthat in excavating a cairn on the southern skirts

of Middlefield Law, 1 Ayrshire elevation a t a ,foune h f 105. no dft 0 nothing t unde completa bu t , ii rnit e circular trenc discoveres hwa d containinga cremation burial along wit hgreaa t quantit charcoaf yo woof lo unusualln di y large fragments sees nwa frot I scorchee burntd m. th re d eartdan h that crematioe th taked nha ncirculae placth n eo r platform withi trence nth h over whic e caird th finallh ha n y been raiseda nearb t A .y partially demolished cairn he found under the heaviest stones of the cairn a shallow pit in the sand containing a large deposit of charcoal of wood and fragments of incinerated bone e residuth , e probabl e funerath f yo l pyre.2 That field cremation, eve modern ni n times, requires much fue s evidencei l e th y db allowance of "wood fuel for the cremation of Indian soldiers during the 1914—18 war which was 1 ton. Modern cremation practice, however, can

reduce a body weighing 144 Ibs.3 to about 4 Ibs. It may be taken as certain 4 that the gaseous products arising from a cremated body amount, although invisible leso n scent weightr s o thait ,t centpe r f 7 o ,n pe 9 ,3 , only remaining solidss fore a th purf m o n i , e white ash. The partial filling of urns with cinerary remains is an archaeological commonplace capacite th centr abou n Glenlucf e pe ur O th 6 ,f 2 .y5 t o . eNo was sandy take b comparativeln I p n.u cinerare th f o recordn yur w yfe s are there details of the osseous content other than a description or analysis of the bones themselves, and there are a number of reasons to account for this. Frequently the urn is broken, sometimes being found crushed and often being wrecke removan o d l and man,n i y cases e contentth , s were scattered; sometime saveds wa mann i n ,s ur onl ye ycasepara th f e o tsth bases or parts of the bases or rims were missing; in the search for "treasure" e boneth s were reckone littlf do e consequenc werd ean e consequently lost or destroyed n othei ; r cases onl e largeyth r calcined bones have been preserved frequentld an , quits i t yi e uncertai bonene th tha l s al thav e been recovered therefors i t I t .altogethe no e r simpl compilo et e reliable data from informatio fragmentaryo ns . Ther nevertheless ei s some information available, and in some reports the proportion of bone remains is related to the urn space while in others the weight of the bone content is stated. The proportions vary from about \ of the urn capacity to "packed full" of incinerated human remains. At Loanhead of Daviot a series of cremation

interments of one adult in 5 a single cinerary urn varied from 1 Ib. to 2 Ibs. 14 oz.6 A general average weight appears to be round about 1 Ib. 15 oz. Information was given regarding three urns selected at random from the Collections of the National Museum and the Glasgow Art Gallery as to the "weight and volume of their bone contents. It was found that, on

» P.S.A.S., LXI (1926-7), 275. « Ibid., 278. Ibid., LXXI (1936-7), 272.

Ency. Brit., 14th Ed., vi, 665. P.S.A.S.,8 LXXII (1937-8), 20.

6 «4 Ibid., LXX (1935-6), 304 ff. VOL. Lxxxvr. 5 TABLE I.—BONE CONTENT RECORDED ACCORDING TO VOLUME.

Bone content. Bone weight. Maximum 05 sizen ur s Ci inchesn i . Urn Per cent, of Urn from Reference. Page. capacity, Actual. Estimated. ashes P.8.A.S. cub. ins. Actual to vol. Propor- Estimated. of urn. tion Height. Dia. Ibs. oz. Ibs. oz.

Durness LXVII 346 15 12 1 654 I 300 6 13 46-1 Orkney ?> 346 13 12| 788 496 f t 11 5 63-0 £ o Aberdeen LX 102 104 10± 900 445 t f 10 2 49-4 o 13i lit 844 i 304 6 15 21-6 H Quandale LXXI 78 6f 7* 174 1 96 2 3 55-2 H Craigentinny LXXII 20 8£ 8 258 Full 258 f t 5 14 100 a LXXVI 79 17 12* 1452 i 144 3 4 10-0 §I— ( Cfi TOTAL 5070 • • 2043 •• •• 46 8

AVERAGE 724 292 •• 6 10 40-3 H W TABLE II.—BONE CONTENT RECORDED ACCORDIN WEIGHTO GT . O Orkney XLVII 420 11 10J 746 44 1 5-26 o Midlothian LXVI 402 14J 14J 870 88 2 . . . , 9-0 , . . Loanhead6 LXX 293 13i Hi 665 , f 126 2 14 t 17-0 7 293 12 12 628 . . 107 2 7 , . 10-5 8 293 14* 12 660 . . 112 2 9 15-0 3 294 8* 84 261 52 1 3 . t t 18-2 CO 2 294 10 9 272 112 2 9 37-0 Cn 4 294 11 12 630 t 107 2 7 15-2 Dunragit LXXIX 168 "i Hi 654 r 63 1 7 t t f 8-8 Seamill LXI 250 12J 10i 579 196 219 5 t 1 t 33-8 to Pinkie Mains LXXXI 177 »* 8 306 210 142 3 '4 . . . . 68-6 Outerston LXXIII 230 11* 10J 392 52 82 1 14 . . 13-6 Dumfries D.&G. XXIII 139 7| »A 225 77 1 12 30-1

TOTAL 6888 1331 30 6 • •

AVERAGE 530 •• 102 2 5 •• 21-7 DISCOVERIES AT GLENLUCE SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 67

the average, 2-7 cubic inches of osseous remains weighed one ounce, and tables were compiled based on this figure. It is appreciated that the urns examined form a very small and haphazard sample of Scottish Bronze Age cinerary urns, but, acceptinw gno momene the e basie th th m t th f a s o n o t fashionabl centr pe ,1 e pilot survey, indicatthey yma etrena Bronzn di e Age cremation practice. Further reservations mus e madeb t : whea n vessel is reported as being ^ full of bones, it is assumed to be -j of its depth and not -j of its volume; vessels were chosen which were more or less complete; and, wherever possible crematio,a n buria takes lwa n representing one adult only. From Table t proportioa th n I e ur e volum e f asheth no th o f t so e 40 per cent, appears to be high, but this may be accounted for by the apparently empirical metho computinf d o approximat n a y b t gi e fraction. Had the proportions of bone content been taken relative to the volume of the urn the ash volume would have risen to 60 per cent. The urn capacity is show r centabous na pe 6 , 3 thighe r tha average nth Tablf eo , whileII e contenh as r cente pe s abouth i t ,6 greater18 t percentage Th . f spaceo e urne inth s varies noneo frot 5 m9 , althoug hlattee eveth n rni casa n ei packed urn some space was taken up by intrusive fibrous rootlets and in many there is a small proportion of carbonised wood. In any case it is obvious that ample provision was allowed for in selecting a receptacle to bur e cremateyth d remains. weighte Somth f eo Tabln i s eI conve e yth impression that more tha buriae non sammade s li th en ei urn.

CONCLUSIONS. This late Bronz sitfurnishes e eha e Ag numbeda interestinf ro g features. The cremation burials represen childreo tw t n individuai n l urnse Th . remains of the younger one were placed in an apparently new vessel, for if beed ha n n utiliseothey ur an e r rlengty th dpurposefo an r timef ho fo r ,o , t couli t havdno e retaine e sootdth y deposi s inneit n ro t wall choicA . e had to be exercised whether to put the ashes of the children in a vessel muc largo hthir to efo s purposwitp u fil o ht t i l r someo e other substance. That sand was chosen in that area is not surprising, but why in the bottom of the urn ? Had it been intended to use the vessel for a subsequent inter- ment the sand would probably have been placed over the bones in order not to disturb the ashes of the child. That the choice was made to put the sand in first may have been due to superstitious reasons. Dr Hears 1 and others have suggested that the upturned vessel became littla e hous uncommot proteco eno t s bonese wa th t t finI o nt .d cremation burials in pits covered over by soil or sand. At one burial at Loanhead of Daviot crematee th d remain individualx si f so beed sha n thrown int opita , 2 1 P.S.A.S., LXXI (1936-7), 277. * P.S.A.S., LXX (1935-6), 285. 68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1951-52.

this being subsequently filled with dark soil and ash from the pyre, and, t Drumpellier,a e centr th circla f n i f nineo eo e stone coffins, abouo tw t

barrow-loads1 of charred bones were found covered with sand. At Glenluce this practice of sand burial was thus maintained, with the added protection invertee o th fpreveno t n dur t dispersa ashese th f lo . otheOe excludo nth t rn handur e have sane y th th , dma en i bee t npu malevolent influence r evio s l spirits, althoug prevalence hth cisf eo t burial lends no support to this superstition. Up to a generation ago, in Fife, it was customary to shut and lock the door of a farmhouse while the family wa t dinnersa . Scott refer sthio t 2 s custom Frazed an , r mentions 3 that, opinioe inth savagesf no acte eatinf th , so drinkind gan attendee gar d with special dangers and the soul may escape from the mouth or be extracted enem n arte a f th s o y b present. The sla gs clearl founwa n yd ur intrusive wit3 e remain. hth No f ,o s havy ma e beed an n derived fro mflooa r abov presene eth t leve t whichbu l , through wind action, has eventually merged with the present. The site yielded a fair amount of decorated pottery sherds, many however being much defaced through weathering. That their defacement and disintegration can be quickly brought about is evidenced by the fact that completeld ha n ur wall1 e y botto. d th disintegratedan sNo f mo , leaving stiltraces a t lwa extantno ,m whilri e ,e th albei vera n ti y parlous condition. The ware was mainly corded, and included beaker sherds, and some pieces with maggot and comb markings characteristic of the early Bronze Age. Thpottern e ur wel y ylma have been manufacture districte th n di . e earlth f yo "Toward Bronzd en e th sAge , burial without cremation was, practically speaking end n durind a t , an ,a whollat e e gth th e f Bronzeo e Age, crematio e solth e s prevailinnwa g custom. Fro e vermth y naturf eo this custom important changes were brough t e ford abouth man n i t furnishing of the grave; the grave is a very small chamber which only just allow surne rooth ,r musuallfo ysimpla e earthenwar t containinepo g charree th t unprotectese s di e bonesearthe th n t th ur A r elsn e di o ., eth same tun e sepulchrath e l furniture disappears; longeo thern y s i ean r demand for large costly bronzes as offerings in the grave, and neither men womer no receivw notheno y ean r equipment than some unimportant trifle, paia tweezersf ro pina , razor,a somr o , e such article. The urnssimplese th f ,o tooe t ar kind, , plain earthenware pots without decoration, of the same sort as we find in the fragments of broken earthenware on the dwelling sites. The same jars as were used for food and cooking in daily life were finally made into burial urns same . th en Thei categore yar y e 'Housth s a e Urns Germann i ' Italyd symbolie yan Th . c ide s cleai a r enough; the urn represents the dwelling of the dead."

1 J. Mffler, Coatbridge, Its Rise and Progress (1864), 98. 2 Old Mortality, chap, viii, note iv. 3 Taboo and Perils of the Soul (ii), 116. DISCOVERIE T GLENLUCA S E SANDS, WIGTOWNSHIRE9 6 .

The above appears to be a fair summing up of Glenluce; yet not one word refers to that site. The extract is taken from Haakon Shetelig and Hjalmar FaLk's Scandinavian Archceology. d GlenlucAn 1 e could hardly have had a closer or more telling analogy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. I hav acknowledgo et indebtednesy m e e Officeth o t sr Commanding, Luc Bombiny eBa g Ranges furnishinr ,fo wit e "runso g m stereoh 1 tw 2 f "o - scopic aerial photographs of the whole area of the Glenluce Sands; to my son, Dr A. L. M. Davidson, whose "first aid" assistance was largely instru- Misd an smentas urn2 Cochrane Mr . savinn o ;i lt No e gth , Drummore; Crivan. E . Wells. JameH r H . r ,M L M ,r s D Gentles o Messrt o t d ,an s Tatlock Thomsod an their nfo r professiona . KB . l. Stevenso reportsR r M d o t ;n an Mr J. G. Scott for furnishing me with data from the collections in their charge; and for the photograph of the No. 2 urn to Mrs M. E. Scott; and to painss photographe hi th r f -o Mfo e rd Alexus an , e ,. 1 Gra th PIF ., r .X yfo taking -work in making a photographic record of the ceramic material and its build-up as represented in Plates Nos. IX, XI, XII and XIII.

DISPOSITIO p RELICSNo . Alrelice th l s recovered, together wit aeriae hth l photographs, have been lodgee Nationath n di l Museu f Antiquitiesmo , Edinburgh courtesy b , f yo permissiod an n fro e Officemth r Commanding, LucBombiny eBa g Ranges, whoo t m thank e expresse sar e co-operatio th r dfo freelo ns y l giveal t na compiletimee th o st thif ro s Report. Gordo. V 1. B Trs ny (1937)b . , 149-50.