It’s been a little while since the last post to this blog as this summer has been very busy for the Tracing the Lines team. In particular, a number of important assemblages of Grooved Ware pottery have now been examined at museums across Scotland to check for radiocarbon datable residues. Despite concerns that much of the pottery from older excavations would have been scrubbed clean this has fortunately turned out not to be the case, and it has so far been possible to identify eighty-five possibly datable sherds from nineteen separate sites, twenty-five of the identified samples being of very high quality. With further assemblages waiting to be examined this autumn this has been a very encouraging start.
In addition to the analysis of Grooved Ware pottery that forms the heart of this research it has been also possible this summer to promote the project at various events around the country. These have included displaying posters about the on-going research at the Prehistoric Society’s Europa Conference at the University of Southampton, two days of talking to members of the public and making replica vessels at the Amazing Ages historical event held at Fort George near Inverness, and a further public engagement event at the open day at the Ness of Brodgar excavations in Orkney with a follow-up a public lecture in Kirkwall. Other events are planned over the next few months, so watch this space…
Mike Copper and a potential future archaeologist at the Amazing Ages event at Fort George near Inverness debating how prehistoric pots were made
Of course, none of the work undertaken this summer would have been possible without the kind support of individuals and institutions across Scotland and beyond, and the team would like to extend their thanks to all of those who have been able to contribute so far, particularly the staff at National Museums Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, the Ness of Brodgar, and Perth, Inverness and Biggar Museums.
