In 2013, archaeologists made an exciting discovery at Kilmagadwood. Piece by piece, a prehistoric cemetery was discovered, with excavation revealing 23 urns containing cremated human remains along with similar but un-urned deposits, thought to be 3,500 to 3,900 years old. Not only is the discovery of an Early Bronze Age cemetery of this size rare; these urns were surprisingly well preserved.

The preliminary work of excavating the contents of the urns has been carried out by archaeological bone specialists from the University of Edinburgh School of History, Classics and Archaeology, supervised by osteologist Dr Kathleen McSweeney and working in collaboration with Dr Alison Sheridan of National Museums Scotland.

The interim results of this work are presented here today. This is only the initial part of a much larger post-excavation programme that requires funding and putting in place.

The Kilmagadwood Bronze Age Fair has been organised by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust as part of Perth and Kinross Archaeology Month 2016. It is funded by the Gannochy Trust and the Living Lomonds Landscape Partnership. The event is supported by the following organisations: Derek Hall Archaeological Consultant; Culture Perth and Kinross; Kinross-shire Civic Trust; Kinross (Marshall) Museum; National Museums Scotland; University of Edinburgh School of History, Classics and Archaeology; Kinnesswood in Bloom; Tayside and Fife Archaeological Committee and Treasure Trove.

Welcome to the Kilmagadwood Bronze Age Fair

The Kilmagadwood Bronze Age cemetery was found in what is now the garden of the white house in the picture.

Photo: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust

The cemetery was found a little way from where you are standing. It was discovered during an archaeological evaluation before two new houses were built on the northern edge of the small settlement of Kilmagadwood.

Archaeologists from Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust suspected this greenfield site could hide significant archaeology. In the 1940s, a large and elaborately-decorated Early Bronze Age urn was discovered by a farmer ploughing in another part of the field, quite close to the location of the new houses.

This urn is now held in the collections of National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh. It is on display today along with a replica made for the Kilmagadwood Bronze Age Fair by potter Graham Taylor.

Replica of the ‘original’ Kilmagadwood Bronze Age Urn. Photo: Graham Taylor, Potted History

To meet planning requirements for the new houses, the site was assessed by Derek Hall (of Derek Hall Archaeological Consultant company) and the discovery of this remarkable collection of urns was made. The decision was taken to excavate the Early Bronze Age cemetery prior to the construction of the new houses.

In total, 23 urns were discovered along with a smaller number of deposits of cremated remains that were not interred in ceramic vessels. The urns had survived fairly well, with the main damage being that ploughing in the relatively recent past had removed the bases from many of them. But the pots are fragile and many are cracked. They need to be conserved by a specialist pottery conservator.

The scale of the cemetery is remarkable – a first for Kinross-shire, and an important addition to the archaeological record for the wider Tayside and Fife region.

The cremation cemetery under excavation in April 2013. Photo: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust

Urn 7 during excavation. Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

The urns range in their surviving height from 10cm to 38cm. Some are quite plain, others feature decoration on the upper part of their body.

Cremation was the main way of dealing with the dead from around 2000 BC, and people would be buried in cemeteries, reflecting their membership of a community. They may have lived not far from the cemetery. A ton of wood would have been needed for the funeral pyre of an adult. People would have been cremated wearing some kind of funeral garment, and in some cases accompanied by one or two possessions. After cremation, the

remains were carefully gathered and placed in an urn or other container. Something – possibly a piece of fabric or animal skin – would be tied around the mouth of the urn to close it.

Each urn was then buried, usually upside down, or inverted, and sometimes placed on a stone slab. There was no trace of any mound above the urn-pits but it may be that their position had been marked in some way. In a few cases, it was clear that one urn had been buried after another.

Urn 23 – one of the largest in the Kilmagadwood assemblage at 34cm high. Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

This urn contained fragments of metal, including a copper alloy razor, and animal bone.

Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

The post-excavation analysis of the Kilmagadwood urns was begun in early 2016. Under close supervision by Dr Kath McSweeney, a team of Human Osteoarchaeology MSc students from the University of Edinburgh excavated the urns.

Working in teams of two in the laboratory, this painstaking process involved excavating the contents of each urn in bands 2cm thick. These bands are called spits. The removed contents from each spit were separated out into bone, soil, charcoal, potsherd and other artefacts and bagged carefully in preparation for further analysis and conservation.

The post-excavation analysis of the Kilmagadwood cremation cemetery is still in its infancy. The analysis of the cremated remains will be carried out this year by the University of Edinburgh. This has been funded by the developer and Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.

However much more research and analysis is required to tell the whole story of the individuals buried here and the artefacts with which they were buried, including the 23 ceramic vessels. Radiocarbon dating of the cremated remains will cost around £10,000 and expensive conservation work also needs to be carried out. Unfortunately, the funding for this work has not yet been secured.

Wrapped and ready for lifting from the ground. Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

Urn 1 arrives at the laboratory. Photo: Kath McSweeney, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

A surprising amount of information can be gleaned from cremated remains. Analysis of the cremated bone will address questions such as the number of individuals buried in each urn and in the cemetery as a whole, along with their gender and age. It will give insight into funerary practices, ritual and belief, and the health of the community that lived here.

Cremated remains including the head of a femur. Photo: Kath McSweeney, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

The decorated upper part of Urn 7. Photo: Kath McSweeney, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

Urn 14 during excavation. Photo: Kath McSweeney, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh

The laboratory excavation has revealed the contents of the urns, including bone beads and toggles, beads of faience and bronze, and metal razors and awls, that accompanied the deceased individual.

Fragments of burnt bone beads from Urn 12.

Photo: Alison Sheridan, National Museums Scotland

Burnt bone toggle, for fastening the deceased person’s funeral garment, from Urn 7. Photo: Alison Sheridan, National Museums Scotland

These artefacts would probably have been worn by the deceased on the funeral pyre, and then collected along with the cremated remains of the individual.

A copper alloy awl from Urn 20. Photo: Alison Sheridan,

National Museums Scotland

Faience bead from Urn 18. Photo: Alison Sheridan, National Museums Scotland

Fragments of a copper alloy bead from Urn 3. Photo: Alison Sheridan, National Museums Scotland

A copper alloy razor from Urn 15. Photo: Alison Sheridan, National Museums Scotland

Fragments of charcoal from the pyre, and of seed pods and insect remains have also been recovered from the urns. Study of such evidence will help to build a picture of the local environment.

Mix of deposits within Urn 20. Photo: Kath McSweeney, School of History, Classics and Archaeology,

University of Edinburgh

Insect pupa from Urn 9. Photo: Alison Sheridan, National Museums Scotland

Making an urn. Photo: Graham Taylor, Potted History

The urns from Kilmagadwood represent a remarkable assemblage. How were they made?

Making an urn. Photo: Graham Taylor, Potted History

Photo: Graham Taylor, Potted History

Photo: Graham Taylor, Potted History

Urn 12 and 13. Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

Site plan – red (inverted urns), green (upright urns), blue (broken urns).

Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

Scale - 1:20

Urn 5. Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultan

Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

Photo: Derek Hall, Archaeological Consultant

• Browsethestallsandchattothearchaeologists

• Minidigandpottyface-painting

• Thestorysofar…10-minutepresentationsfromthose involved

• Demos–ceramicsintheHallandmetalworkingat the Green

• Findsidentificationandmoreprehistorictechnology experts at the Green

Parking is limited in Scotlandwell – please enjoy the short walk down to the Green and leave your car at Kilmagadwood!

What’s On at the Kilmagadwood Bronze Age Fair