Skara Brae

HY21NW 12.03 230 187.

Fragments of a human skull, from an adult individual (possibly male), were found eroding from the wave-cut bank SW of Skara Brae during a University of Glasgow field trip on 24 March 1994. The fragments were directly associated with a lens of midden material of variable thickness (c 10cm maximum) which was visible for c 4m in the exposed section. Both midden lens and skull lay immediately under an irregular layer of flat stones of uncertain origin. Building rubble, poor quality paving, a heavily robbed cairn, and a storm beach are all possibilities. The midden and stones were overlain by c 1m (maximum) of sterile sand and underlain by similar material which merged with the cobble beach.

The position of the skull could not be ascertained due to its fragmented state. However, the absence of associated vertebrae or other bones of the upper body suggests that - if the skull fragments represent an in situ inhumation - the remaining portion of the body had lay seaward and has been lost. Alternatively, the association of the skull with a single human metatarsal suggests that these remains represent disturbed secondary deposition. This interpretation is supported by their direct association with midden material and the lack of evidence of a grave cut. Faunal material recovered from immediately adjacent to the skull included bones of cattle, sheep or goats, cod and unidentified birds.

J Barrett et al. 1994.