Forteviot Bronze Age tomb facts for kids

The Forteviot Bronze Age tomb is an ancient burial place. It was found in 2009 near Forteviot in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. This special tomb dates back to the Bronze Age, a time long before written history. It is one of many exciting discoveries made by archaeologists working in the area. Experts from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Glasgow are leading these important digs.

The work at Forteviot is part of a big project. It's called the Strathearn Environs and Royal Forteviot (SERF) project. This project studies the history of the area. This region was once a royal center for the Picts. The Picts were an ancient people of Scotland.

Uncovering the Ancient Tomb

In 2009, archaeologists made an amazing discovery. They found a huge stone slab, weighing four tons. It was 40 centimeters thick and measured two meters by two meters. This giant stone was a capstone, like a lid for a tomb.

A large crane was needed to lift the capstone. Beneath it, they found a burial chamber. Inside, there were small remains of a Bronze Age person. There were also many grave goods. These are items buried with the dead.

What Was Found Inside?

The underside of the capstone had cool engravings. There was a spiral shape and an axe shape carved into it. The tomb itself was a cist, built with big sandstone slabs. It was shaped like a rectangle.

More axe and weapon carvings were found inside the cist. These were near where the person's head would have been. Such carvings are very rare in Scotland. Similar ones can be seen at Kilmartin Glen in Argyll.

The person buried here was likely very important. They were laid on a bed of white quartz pebbles. There was also a woven mat made of birch bark. Among the grave goods were about a dozen personal items. These included a leather bag and wooden objects. There was also a bronze dagger. This dagger had a fancy gold band around its handle.

Archaeologists also found plant matter with the remains. Later, they found out these were flowers, possibly meadowsweet. This was the first time anyone found evidence of Bronze Age people placing flowers with their dead.

How Old is the Tomb?

Scientists used radiocarbon tests to find out the tomb's age. The style of the metalwork also helped. These tests showed the tomb dates from between 1950 BC and 2100 BC. That's over 4,000 years ago!

Dr. Gordon Noble, one of the project directors, was very excited. He said the tomb is super important. This is because of the huge stones used. Also, the rare rock carvings and the well-preserved items like leather and wood make it special. Its important location also adds to its value.

Exploring the Forteviot Site

The place where this tomb was found is very special. Dr. Noel Fojut from Historic Scotland said something interesting. He noted that this important person was buried in a place that became a major power center much later. This was almost 3,000 years after the tomb was built. It's a mystery if this is just a coincidence or if the area was always important.

This same location is thought to have been a palace site. About 3,000 years later, a famous king lived there. This was Kenneth MacAlpin. He was a King of the Picts and the first King of Scotland. He died and was buried there in AD 858. His family continued to rule a united Scotland.

Other Discoveries at Forteviot

Many other exciting things have been found at Forteviot.

• An early historic cemetery was uncovered. This cemetery would have been linked to the royal center at Forteviot.
• A Neolithic Henge made of timber was found. This dates back to 2600 BC. Dr. Kenneth Brophy, another project director, said it would have been huge. He even said it would "dwarf Stonehenge" in size.
• A major prehistoric monument was also discovered. This revealed the entrance to a massive timber enclosure. It dates to the late Neolithic period, about 5,000 years ago.
• Archaeologists also dug up a nearby hill fort.
• They also surveyed an early Christian chapel.

All these finds show that Forteviot has been an important place for thousands of years!