Iron in Iron Age Scotland : a long-term case study of production and use c.800 BC to AD 800
This thesis examines the evidence for iron production and use during the Scottish Iron Age, circa 800 BC to AD 800, and is the first attempt at synthesising this evidence for Scotland. The broad aim is to gain a better understanding of the development, organisation and scale of iron production throughout this period. Four regional case studies focussing on Orkney, Skye, the Lothians and the Moray Firth provide the opportunity to examine different aspects of this aim through analysing excavated ironworking debris, iron artefacts and their context. Proxy evidence is also examined, namely whetstones and toolmarks on bone/ antler assemblages, in order to fill in some of the gaps in the iron artefact record due to poor preservation or ancient recycling. Some 500kg of ironworking debris, over 1500 iron artefacts, around 200 whetstones and over 2000 worked bone/ antler artefacts from the four regions were examined. The regional case studies are followed by a Scotland-wide discussion will also place the Scottish evidence within its wider context. The research shows rare, sporadic early evidence for iron production and use from around 800BC in Scotland, with production sites and iron artefact assemblages noticeably
Cruickshanks, Gemma Louise
iron ; Iron Age Scotland ; ironworking ; artifacts ; archaeology ; proxy
Iron in Iron Age Scotland : a long-term case study of production and use c.800 BC to AD 800. This thesis examines the evidence for iron production and use during the Scottish Iron Age, circa 800 BC to AD 800, and is the first attempt at synthesising this evidence for Scotland. The broad aim is to gain a better understanding of the development, organisation and scale of iron production throughout this period. Four regional case studies focussing on Orkney, Skye, the Lothians and the Moray Firth provide the opportunity to examine different aspects of this aim through analysing excavated ironworking debris, iron artefacts and their context. Proxy evidence is also examined, namely whetstones and toolmarks on bone/ antler assemblages, in order to fill in some of the gaps in the iron artefact record due to poor preservation or ancient recycling. Some 500kg of ironworking debris, over 1500 iron artefacts, around 200 whetstones and over 2000 worked bone/ antler artefacts from the four regions were examined. The regional case studies are followed by a Scotland-wide discussion will also place the Scottish evidence within its wider context. The research shows rare, sporadic early evidence for iron production and use from around 800BC in Scotland, with production sites and iron artefact assemblages noticeably
iron iron_age scotland long_term case_study production_use examine evidence iron_production use scottish_iron_age circa first_attempt synthesise evidence scotland broad_aim gain well development organisation scale iron_production throughout_period regional_case study_focus orkney skye provide_opportunity examine different_aspect aim_analyse excavate debris iron_artefact context proxy evidence also_examine namely bone_antler assemblage order fill_gap iron_artefact record due poor preservation ancient debris iron_artefact work bone_antler artefact region examine regional_case study follow scotland wide discussion also place scottish evidence within_wide context show rare sporadic early_evidence iron_production use around scotland production site iron_artefact assemblage noticeably