Monument record MHG13613 - Bronze Age cist burial - Craig-na-Feich, Achavanich

The discovery of a cist during rock extraction for road improvement works at Craig-na-Feich in Achavanich was reported to Highland Regional Council in February 1987. On the 19th of February the cist was subject to a rescue excavation by the Highland Council Archaeology Unit led by Mr Robert B Gourlay. The cist consisted of a single, exceptionally tight crouched burial of a young woman. Accompanying grave goods included a short-necked Beaker, a bovine scapula, two flint flakes and a tiny thumb-nail scraper. The beaker decoration was created by a bone comb; the teeth marks are clearly visible. <1> <2> <3> <4> <5> <6> <7> <8> <9> <10> <11> <12> <13> <14> <15> <16> <17> <18> <19> <20> <21> <22> <23> <24> <25> <26> <27> <28> <29> <30> <31> <32> <33> <34> <35> <36> <37> <38> <39> <40>

The human remains were examined by Mary Harman who summarised that this was the skeleton of a young woman aged between 18 and 22 years of age who was approximately 5’ 5½” (1.67m) tall. The surviving cranium was noted as exceptionally short and broad with a very high cranial index. <41>

The contents of the beaker were analysed by Dr Brian Moffat of SHARP who, from a preliminary examination, suggested that it contained: prepared cereal grain, honey, added flowers and fruit (including meadowsweet, bramble & wood sage), and the sap of birch and alder trees.

The skeleton was radiocarbon dated to 3700±50 BP (collagen from femur: BM-2590, 2200-2020 cal BC at 68.2%, 2280-1940 cal BC at 95.4% probability), as part of the British Museum Beaker dating project.