The Dunbar Iron Age Warrior Grave
In September and October 2005 AOC Archaeology Group began the excavation of a former medieval burgage plot on the site of the former Empire Cinema, in the centre of Dunbar, East Lothian. Dunbar has been an important settlement since the 7th century AD and following previous evaluations in 2002 and in early 2005, in which a number of medieval features had been encountered, it was expected that the excavation would reveal more medieval remains. It was therefore quite unexpected when a well preserved Iron Age warrior grave was discovered amongst the various medieval and post-medieval pits, ditches and walls during the excavation.
The archaeological excavation was commissioned by Smith Architects on behalf of the Castle Rock Housing Association Ltd in order to determine the nature and significance of any archaeological remains within part of a proposed redevelopment area where destructive piling was to occur. The extent of this archaeological excavation was determined by Biddy Simpson, East Lothian Council Archaeologist.
The Empire Site is situated between the medieval High Street and the western boundary of the medieval burgh. While Dunbar was an important medieval settlement, becoming a royal burgh in 1445, the earliest known archaeology within the town dates to the Early Bronze Age (c2000 BC). There are also numerous Iron Age sites in the surrounding landscape, the most prominent of these being the hillfort of Traprain Law to the west, which is visible from the site. An Iron Age promontory fort also lies on the headland at Dunbar. The town itself follows the classic medieval ‘herring bone’ layout of Scottish medieval towns, with linear burgage plots laid out at right angles from the main thoroughfare. The development site comprised two linear plots of land behind properties fronting on the High Street, reflecting the earlier medieval burgage plots.
The cist grave was cut into a buried prehistoric soil layer and was defined by large irregular sandstone slabs. Examination of the cist structure revealed that construction had apparently begun with the east end, followed by the south side, then west and finally north. In the south side of the cist the side slabs were topped by smaller sandstone blocks in a drystone construction. The cist contained evidence for two burials. At the east end of the cist lay the largely disarticulated remains of an adult skeleton, associated with a small pin. The arrangement of the ribs and vertebrae suggested that this skeleton may have been partially articulated when moved from the centre of the cist to make room for the secondary inhumation. The secondary skeleton lay in the western part of the cist structure in a crouched position on its left side with flexed arms and legs and the head to the east. This secondary inhumation was associated with several artefacts; an iron spearhead, an iron sword and a pin. The sword lay underneath the body, roughly along the line of the backbone. The cist was covered by three large flat sandstone slabs.
This Iron Age cist burial is of national importance as such graves in Scotland can be counted on one hand. The author is only aware of two other examples. In 2003 an Iron Age warrior burial was discovered at Alloa, Clackmannanshire. There AOC Archaeology Group Conservators were summoned on site to assist GUARD archaeologists to remove the artefacts and bring them to AOC Archaeology Group’s laboratory for x-raying, investigation and conservation. The Alloa stone cist contained an inhumation, buried with a copper alloy pin, a glass bead and two matching toe rings for personal adornment. The conservation of the artefacts revealed that a garment or shroud of white or cream linen was secured with the copper alloy pin.
Another such grave was the double cist burial at Camelon, Falkirk. While unfortunately this was badly damaged prior to archaeological investigation in 1975, a sword, two spearheads and a shield boss were recovered from the cist along with the partial remains of two inhumations. There is doubt as to whether this burial contained Roman auxiliary soldiers or native warrior, given the nature of the finds, the number of other weapons found nearby and the proximity of both a Roman Fort and an Iron Age homestead to the grave. However, it is hoped that comparison with the Dunbar and Alloa burials may clarify this.
While there are other Iron burials in south-east Scotland, including double inhumations, the Dunbar grave is particularly significant as not only did it contain rich grave goods but the osteoarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains may be able to define more than simply the age and sex of the individuals but hopefully their relationship and origin. Given that the first skeleton had not fully decomposed before it was moved to make way for the second burial, the time between each burial can perhaps be considered in terms of years or at most maybe a couple of decades rather than centuries. Was it two generations of the same family buried in the grave?
A programme of post-excavation work is now to be carried out that may answer these questions. The spearhead, sword and pins require conservation and analysis. Post-excavation analyses may yet discover whether organic remains will be recovered from these objects and the fills of the cist, as was discovered from the Alloa grave. Radiocarbon dating may determine not only when the burials took place but also how long after the first one the warrior was buried.
AOC Excavation Director: Michael Roy
Client: Smith Architects on behalf of the Castle Rock Housing Association Ltd
