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A New Study of the Decorated Cists in Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2021

Aaron Watson  and
Richard Bradley
Aaron Watson
Affiliation:
Aaron Watson. Kilmartin Museum, Kilmartin, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8RQ. Email: aaron@kilmartin.org
Richard Bradley
Affiliation:
Richard Bradley. Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Whiteknights Box 227, Reading, RG6 6AB. Email: r.j.bradley@reading.ac.uk
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Abstract

Decorated cists have been identified at three burial cairns in Kilmartin Glen, Mid Argyll. The paper provides a new analysis of the cover slab at Nether Largie North, which features a series of pecked axeheads. Previous studies suggested that they replaced an array of cup marks, but the evidence of photogrammetry suggests a longer sequence and a more complex scheme. The same approach was taken to the decorated cists beneath the Nether Largie Mid cairn and a comparable structure at Ri Cruin. Additional depictions were identified. The carvings within all three cists are organised in similar ways. They date from a period in the Early Bronze Age when metal was imported from Ireland. At the same time, the reuse of older structures suggests a new concern with the past.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Nouvelle étude des cistes décorés á Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Ecosse, de Aaron Watson et Richard Bradley

Des cistes décorés ont été identifiés à trois cairns d’inhumation à Kilmartin Glen, Mid Argyll. L’article offre une nouvelle analyse de la pierre de couverture à Nether Largie Nord qui présente une serie de têtes de haches piquetées. Des études antérieures ont indiqué qu’elles remplaçaient une serie de marques dans la pierre, mais la preuve par la photogrammétrie montre une séquence plus longue et un schéma plus complexe. La même approche a été utilisée aux cistes décorés sous le Nether Largie Mid cairn et à une structure comparable à Ri Cruin. Des descriptions supplémentaires furent identifiés. Les gravures à l’intérieur des trois sites sont organisées de la même manière. Elles datent d’une periode au début de l’Âge du Bronze quand le métal était importé d’Irlande. Au moment où la réutilisation de structures plus anciennes indique un nouvel intérêt pour le passé.

Zusammenfassung

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Eine neue Untersuchung der verzierten Steinkisten von Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Schottland, von Aaron Watson und Richard Bradley

Verzierte Steinkisten wurden in drei Grabhügeln (Cairns) in Kilmartin Glen, Mid Argyll, festgestellt. Der Beitrag präsentiert eine neue Untersuchung des Decksteins von Nether Largie North, der eine Reihe von gepickten Axtköpfen zeigt. Bisherige Untersuchungen schlugen vor, dass sie eine Reihe von Schälchen (Cupmarks) ersetzten. aber die Daten der Fotogrammetrie legen eine längere Sequenz und ein komplexeres Schema nahe. Mit der gleichen Methode wurden die verzierten Kisten unter dem Cairn Nether Nargie Mid und eine vergleichbare Struktur von Ri Cruin untersucht. Weitere bildliche Darstellungen wurden festgestellt. Die Ritzungen waren in allen drei Kisten auf vergleichbare Weise angeordnet. Sie datieren in eine Zeit der Frühbronzezeit, in der Metall aus Irland importiert wurde. Zugleich verweist die Wiedernutzung älterer Strukturen auf eine neue Beschäftigung mit der Vergangenheit.

Resumen

RESUMEN

Un nuevo estudio de las cistas decoradas de Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Escocia, por Aaron Watson y Richard Bradley

Se han identificado tres cistas decoradas en los túmulos funerarios de Kilmartin Glen, Mid Argyll. Este artículo aporta un nuevo análisis de la laja de cobertera de Nether Largie, que presenta una serie de hachas piqueteadas. Estudios previos han sugerido que reemplazan una serie de cazoletas anteriores, pero la evidencia fotogramétrica sugiere una secuencia más larga y un diseño más complejo. Este mismo enfoque se ha adoptado para las cistas decoradas del túmulo de Nether Largie Mid y la estructura similar de Ri Cruin. Se han identificado nuevas representaciones. Los grabados en estas tres cistas presentan una organización semejante. Se adscriben a un momento inicial de la Edad del Bronce cuando el metal era importado de Irlanda. Al mismo tiempo, la reutilización de estructuras anteriores sugiere una cierta preocupación por el pasado.

Keywords

Rock artcistsaxeheadshalberdscup markscairnsKilmartin GlenIreland
Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 87 , December 2021 , pp. 219 - 230
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Prehistoric Society

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