Evidence of Stone Age inhabitants discovered in the Scottish Cairngorms

Research published in the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, has reported on the discovery of traces of the stone age inhabitants of the Cairngorms. A team consisting of students from the universities of Aberdeen and Dublin has uncovered evidence confirming people were living in the Cairngorms from as early as 7500 BC. Among the organisations supporting the new research was the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and Aberdeenshire Council. 

Stone tools and traces of firepits and possible shelters have been found in Deeside in the Cairngorms. It confirms that people were living in the mountains of Scotland 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. This type of evidence is difficult to find. There were low population levels at the time. The hunter-gatherers did not stay in one location and movied around living off the land. Their dwellings were usually temporary. 

So that only small numbers of small stone tools can be found along with discoloured soil that points to an ancient hearth and the existence of a shelter. It is this that archaeologists found in Deeside in the Cairngorms. It is thought that these Mesolithic people went into the hills with some provisions and then hunted deer, fish and birds as well as foraging for plants and fungi. The deer would provide food, skins for clothing and shelters with the antler and bone being used to make tools.

Image above:  Deeside in Aberdeenshire image courtesey of Upper Dee Tributaries Project.

Image below: Stone tools among the finds courtesy of Upper Dee Tributaries Project.