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Oban, Macarthur Cave
Cave (Period Unassigned), Inhumation(S) (Period Unknown), Implement(S) (Bone)(Mesolithic), Unidentified Flint(S) (Flint)(Mesolithic)
Site Name Oban, Macarthur Cave
Classification Cave (Period Unassigned), Inhumation(S) (Period Unknown), Implement(S) (Bone)(Mesolithic), Unidentified Flint(S) (Flint)(Mesolithic)
Alternative Name(s) Mcarthur Cave
Canmore ID 23066
Site Number NM83SE 9
NGR NM 8592 3043
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/23066
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Kilmore And Kilbride
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NM83SE 9 8092 3043.
NM 8592 3043 The MacArthur Cave has come to be regarded as the type-site of the Obanian culture. It was discovered towards the end of 1894 by quarrymen and was excavated by Anderson in 1895. Removal of the talus and fallen rocks which encumbered the entrance revealed a possibly artificial, barrier of rocks, behind which the infilling reached almost to the roof. The great majority of the implements recovered were of bone, 140 of these being found. Of the stone implements recovered, only eight of flint were definable. Finds are now in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS, Accession no : HL 1-389).
During the excavation parts of the skeletons of at least four individuals were discovered. The burials, however, cannot be associated with the mesolithic material from the cave, as they were found on top of and within the thick layer of debris that sealed these deposits. Their date is not known.
A D Lacaille 1954; RCAHMS 1975; J Anderson 1895; W Turner 1895.
No traces of the cave exist.
Visited by OS (W D J) 3 December 1964.
Biserial antler barbed point (NMS HL 187) dated by radiocarbon to 4750+/- (OxA-1949), 4910-4590 cal BC.
NMRS MS/735/1.
Note (1975)
On a number of occasions, particularly in the latter part of the 19th century, prehistoric burials, some of them in cists, have been discovered in Oban. The majority have been found in the northern part of the town, broadly between Breadalbane Street and Corran Park.
(6) During the excavation of the MacArthur Cave (NM 859 304) in 1894, parts of the skeletons of at least four individuals were discovered (PSAS, xxix (1894-5), 211-30, 423-38). The burials cannot, however, be associated with the mesolithic material from the cave (see RCAHMS 1975, p.5), as they were found on top of and within the thick layer of debris that sealed these deposits; their date is not known.
RCAHMS 1975
