Secrets of Rosemarkie Bronze Age hoard revealed

"When the top of the neatly-arranged stack of bronze objects emerged from the ground, it was clear that it was a significant archaeological find, not just because of the jewelry, but because of the visible surviving organic fibers. The entire hoard was removed in a soil block for excavation in laboratory conditions. The block was transferred to GUARD Archaeology's Finds Lab for micro-excavation under controlled conditions to ensure that the organic remains were preserved."

"The excavation found evidence of a small Bronze Age settlement at Rosemarkie. The remains of seven roundhouses were discovered, built over a long stretch of more than six centuries in the 1st millennium B.C. The roundhouses were not all occupied at the same time, but rather built in succession. One of the roundhouses contained fragments of metalworking molds for the production of weapons (a swords, spearheads), tools (sickles) and jewelry (bracelets)."

"It was buried in a single event inside a shallow pit that was just big enough to fit the objects. The hoard was not lost or part of a larger deposition. The hole was dug specifically for these objects and then immediately filled. It's possible that it was intended to be temporary, a family's treasures carefully tied together, cushioned by plant material, then hidden close to home for safekeeping with the intent to retrieve it when a danger had passed, only that recovery never happened."

Excavation in May 2021 during new-home construction uncovered a Bronze Age settlement at Rosemarkie with seven roundhouses built over more than six centuries in the 1st millennium B.C. The roundhouses were built in succession rather than occupied simultaneously. One roundhouse contained fragments of metalworking molds used to produce weapons (a sword, spearheads), tools (sickles), and jewelry (bracelets). Around the 9th century B.C. a hoard was buried in a shallow pit dug specifically for the objects, stacked and cushioned, apparently hidden for safekeeping but never recovered. The hoard included bronze artifacts and preserved organic fibres and was removed in a soil block for laboratory micro-excavation; X‑rays revealed nine bronze items including a complete penannular ringed ornament.

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