Mellerstain

The fields around Mellerstain have revealed several flint artefacts of prehistoric date. These are now held in the National Museum of Scotland.

Some of these artefacts were microliths, dating to the Mesolithic period, around 8,000 years ago. Groups of these tiny objects would have been placed in grooves cut into shafts fashioned from bone, antler, or even wood, giving a sharp cutting edge to a harpoon or spear. The finished object could then have been used to bring down a large animal like a red deer.

The Mesolithic period lasted for several thousand years. It is thought that even during this time, humans were actively managing their environment. Woodland might be burned, for instance, to encourage the growth of fresh young shoots which would be attractive food to red deer. These animals could then be hunted. By controlling resources in this way, people would know where the deer were likely to congregate, which made their supply of food more reliable and therefore reduced the risk of starvation.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NT63NW 23 647 390.

Flints from Mellerstain (Mellerstain House: NT 647 390) are in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS, (Accession nos: BMA 754-7).

NMAS Mss Accession list.

NT 653 390, 450ft OD Microliths, Mellerstain.

H Mulholland 1970.