Analysis of the lithic assemblage from the excavations  of the kerbed cairn at Millhaugh undertaken in 2014, and fieldwalking in 2016

Wright, Dene

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MH14: SERF Archive Report: Lithics Introduction There are 15 lithics recovered from the MH14 excavations at Millhaugh cairn (cf. Brophy 2014) in 2014, and 39 from fieldwalking undertaken in 2016.  Methodology The methodology, type and attribute terminologies employed for the analysis of the primary and secondary technologies follows the format devised and adopted for the Southern Hebrides Mesolithic Project (Finlayson et al. 2000). This augmented the research design used for the analysis of the lithic assemblage from the site at Kinloch on Rùm (Wickham-Jones 1990), derived from earlier terminologies and technological classifications (Tixier et al. 1980), and subsequently enhanced (Inizan et al. 1999). This format lends itself to the incorporation of later prehistoric forms such as projectile points, ‘knives’, certain types of scrapers and Post-Medieval gunflints (cf. Wright 2012b). The database for the typological and technological analysis of the lithics uses Access™ 2016.  Primary Technology speaks to those initial procedures of the chaîne opératoire relating to the choices made in the selection and the obtaining of appropriate raw material, the reduction strategies, the production of blanks, e.g. flakes and blades through to the discard of cores. The knapping reduction strategies undertaken in the past are determined by reference to the detailed analysis of the characteristics and attributes of the cores and debitage products recovered during archaeological fieldwork (Finlay et al. 2000a, 553; Woodman et al. 2006, 78).  Secondary Technology refers to the later stages of the chaîne opératoire, which considers the process of the modification of blanks, their utilisation and discard. Following the removal of a blank from a core, modification is generally achieved by the application of pressure to the edge of the blank. In the case of scrapers, the modified edge functions as the working edge. However, that may not be the case for all retouched artefacts. For example, the modification may be undertaken to facilitate hafting (Finlay et al. 2000b, 571; Wickham-Jones and McCartan 1990, 87). Invasive and inverse retouch are generally particular features of secondary modification during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods (Ballin 1999 and others).  For individual lithics, the first number is the catalogue reference followed by the small finds number. Raw Materials The solid geology comprises Sheriffmuir Sandstone. The drift geology underlying Millhaugh is glaciofluvial sheet deposits, comprising glacial till (sands and gravels) [Figure 1].  Figure 1: Drift geology in environs of Millhaugh cairn (Digimap® EDiNA Geology Roam online resource; © NERC/Crown copyright database right). There is a greater percentage frequency of flint and agate from the excavations in comparison to the fieldwalking assemblage (Figure 2).   Figure 2: Percentage frequency of raw materials in total and from the excavation and fieldwalking. There are no known local sources of chert (Wickham-Jones and Collins 1977, Figure 2). The British Geological Survey for the Midland Valley notes the occurrence of quartz, chert and andesitic tuff in the Scone Sandstone Formation, i.e. parent unit of Sheriffmuir Sandstone (after Phillips 2007, 8-9). There are nodules of chert in dressed sandstone, e.g. the dovecote at Green of Invermay and at Invermay House on the Invermay Estate. It is possible that flint, quartz, chert, agate and quartzite eroded out of the solid geology and/or glacial till (after Wickham-Jones and Collins 0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%Chert Quartz Flint Tuff Agate QuartzitePercentage frequencyRaw MaterialTotal n=54 Fieldwalking n=39 Excavation n=151977, 7). 21 lithics present with cortex, of these six are flint. The cortex variants are pitted (76.19%) and smooth/hard (23.81%), which suggests that the raw materials derive from fluvio-glacial riverine deposits. Character Table 1 shows the character of the assemblage. Other than flakes and modified pieces none of the other lithic types associated with stonecraft are present in the excavated assemblage (Figure 3).  There are six primary pieces comprising four flakes, a tested split pebble and a scraper (1118). The majority of flakes and blades are tertiary (71.05%); secondary 18.42%. All of the blanks are irregular. There is a pattern between the excavated and fieldwalking assemblages in the fragmentation analysis of the blanks where relatively few are complete (Table 2). In addition, there are broad common differences in the percentage frequency for evidence of anvil support across the two modes of recovery (excavation 50.00% and fieldwalking 40.00%). The four non-specific platform cores are from fieldwalking: two chert and one each of flint and quartz. The modified pieces comprise:  • five scrapers, three of flint (1101/14702; 1110/14711; 1114) and one each of quartz (1118) and tuff (1122);  • one flint ‘knife’ (1113/14716); and • one fragment of a Group VI polished stone axe.     Table 1: Character of the assemblage.  Figure 3: Analysis of the lithic assemblage by type and mode of recovery.  Table 2: Numerical and percentage frequency for fragmentation analysis for flakes and blades. Condition All of the pieces within the assemblage are fresh. The absence of burnt pieces is probably miss-stated. Experimental work undertaken on flint indicated that some burnt pieces would not be classified as such due to the absence of burnt attributes (Finlayson 1990, 53). Primary technology A quartz tested split pebble and chert chunk are the product of a bipolar reduction strategy. All of the remaining blanks indicate platform reduction. Generally, bipolar blanks will be under-represented because not all debitage products will present with attributes associated with a bipolar reduction strategy (after Kuijt et al. 1995, 117). There is evidence for anvil support in the production of blanks. The practice refers to the placing of the platform core on an anvil for support to facilitate blank removals. It suggests that platform and bipolar reduction strategies may have been coeval (cf. Wright 2012a). 0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%TSP Chunks Cores Flakes Blades SFD ModifiedPercentage frequencyTypeTotal n=54 Fieldwalking n=39 Excavation n=15Two of the non-specific platform cores are flake cores (1129; 1132). Table 3 sets out the technological analysis of the cores. It is difficult to draw out meaningful analysis from such a small sample size.   Table 3: Technological analysis of the platform cores. There are 16 blanks where it is possible to determine the bulb of percussion. 11 have a diffuse bulb with one having an associated lip attribute. There are with pronounced lips and three flat bulbs with lips.  The dorsal scars on 31 blanks indicate 54.84% removals from single platform cores, 38.71% from multidirectional cores, and one each with scarring indicating opposed and crossed platforms. The cores in the assemblage represent one each of single, opposed, crossed and multidirectional forms (Table 3). The dorsal surface on 58.06% are free from step and/or hinge terminations. This indicates a reasonably low level of knapping errors in the reduction strategy, and achieved without any evidence of scrub preparation to the core prior to the detachment of the blanks.  Secondary technology Scrapers • Flint convex scraper (1101/14702) recovered from (14702). The bulb of percussion is removed. There is direct, scalar, semi-invasive retouch to the left hand side from the medial to distal end. The retouch creates a convex scraping edge. • Flint sub-angled scraper (1110/14711) recovered from (14701). Direct, scalar, semi-invasive retouch to the proximal and the right hand side creates a sub-angled scraping edge. Stepped direct, scalar, semi-invasive retouch to the left side from the median to distal end creates a convex scraping edge. • Flint concave scraper (1114) recovered from (14701). Inverse, scalar, short retouch at median of the right side creates a concave scraping edge. Inverse, scalar, semi-invasive retouch to the right and left sides below the median and the distal and creates a sub-angled scraping edge. • Quartz convex scraper (1118) recovered during fieldwalking. Inverse, scalar, short retouch to the left hand side from the proximal to the distal creates a shallow convex scraping edge. The quartz is coarse grained. • Tuff long convex scraper (1122) recovered during fieldwalking. Perfunctory, direct, scalar retouch to the proximal end a convex scraping edge. Fragment of polished stone axe (1108/14709) • A fragment of a small Group VI polished stone axe. The blade is complete and the artefact as present measures 31mm by 39mm; thickness 18mm. Flint ‘knife’ (1113/14716) • Perfunctory inverse, scalar removals to the distal end of a flake creates a cutting edge. A fine cutting edge results from the removal of the bulb of percussion. Pitted cortex at the right hand side facilitates the safe handling of the ‘knife’.  Recovery location of the lithics Fieldwalking Figure 4 details the recovery location from the fieldwalking. The majority of the finds are to the west and the east of the Millhaugh cairn.  Figure 4: Recovery locations of lithics. Distribution map prepared by Dr Tessa Poller. The darker green within the highlighted survey area shows the location of the Millhaugh cairn. Excavation Top soil (14701) • Flint concave scraper (1114). Interface of top soil (14701) and underlying turf layer (14702) • One fresh, tertiary, irregular, platform agate flake fragment with evidence for anvil support (1100/14701); and • One piece of flint small fraction debitage (1111/14714). Turf layer (14702) • Flint convex scraper (1101/14702); • One fresh, secondary, irregular, platform agate flake (1105/14706); and • One fresh, tertiary, irregular, platform quartz flake fragment with evidence for anvil support (1112/14715). Interface of turf layer (14702) and underlying deposit of boulders (14708) • One fresh, secondary, irregular, platform flint flake fragment with evidence for anvil support (1103/14704); and • One fresh, tertiary, irregular, platform quartz flake fragment with evidence for anvil support (1104/14705). Kerb (14703) • One fresh, tertiary, irregular, platform agate flake fragment (1102/14703). Cairn material: deposit of boulders (14708) • Fragment of polished stone axe (1108/14709); • Two pieces of flint small fraction debitage (1105/14707; 1109/14710); and • One fresh, secondary, irregular, platform flint flake fragment with evidence for anvil support (1107/14708). Old land surface (14712) underlying cairn material • Flint sub-angled scraper (1110/14711). Old land surface (14722) underlying cairn material • Flint ‘knife’ (1113/14716). Summary Apart from the fragment of polished stone axe (1108/14709), none of the lithics are diagnostic to an archaeological period. Two modified lithics (1110/14711; 1113/14716 were recovered from the old ground surface, which was the surface upon which the cairn was constructed. There is no evidence to support structured deposition and it is most likely that the artefacts are residual swept up in the material in the construction of the cairn. However, it is possible that the axe fragment was placed within the cairn material. There are a number of instances for the structured deposition of axe fragments, e.g. Group VI fragments from a pit at Carzield, Dumfriesshire (cf. Maynard 1993, 27). Single Group VI fragments have been recovered from a number of Early Neolithic pits; Maybole, Ayrshire (3780-3650 BCE [SUERC-18866]) (Becket and MacGregor 2012, 54-56); Snabe Quarry, Drumclog, South Lanarkshire (3766-3632 BCE [SUERC-50160]) (Kilpatrick 2015, 11), and the SERF excavations at Wellhill in 2015, where carbonised residue was dated to 3766-3652 BCE [SUERC-66247] (Brophy and Wright in prep). A flake from a Graig Lwyd, Penmaenmwar Group VII polished stone axe and a scraper made from a flake from a Group VI axe were recovered from the surface at Cairnpapple, West Lothian (Piggott 1948, 102-103).  Dr Dene Wright 3 September 2018    References Ballin, T. B. 1999. The Lithic Assemblage in S. Speak and C. Burgess: Meldon Bridge: a centre of the third millennium BC in Peeblesshire. Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 129: 81-93. Becket, A. and  G. MacGregor. 2012. Pit practices in Western Scotland in the 4th  millennium BC. In H. Anderson-Whymark, and  J. Thomas (eds), Regional Perspectives on Neolithic Pit Deposition: Beyond the Mundane: 51-62. Oxford: Oxbow. Brophy, K. 2014. Millhaugh Cairn Excavations 2014: Data Structure Report. Unpublished SERF DSR: University of Glasgow. Finlay, N., B. Finlayson and  S. J. Mithen. 2000a. The Primary Technology: its Character and Inter-site Variability. In S. J. Mithen (ed.), Hunter-gatherer landscape archaeology: The Southern Hebrides Mesolithic Project 1988-98. Volume 1: Project development, palaeoenvironmental studies and archaeological fieldwork on Islay. Volume 2: Archaeological fieldwork on Colonsay, computer modelling, experimental archaeology, and final interpretations: 553-569. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Finlay, N., B. Finlayson and  S. J. Mithen. 2000b. The Secondary Technology: its Character and Inter-site Variability. In S. J. Mithen (ed.), Hunter-gatherer landscape archaeology: The Southern Hebrides Mesolithic Project 1988-98. Volume 1: Project development, palaeoenvironmental studies and archaeological fieldwork on Islay. Volume 2: Archaeological fieldwork on Colonsay, computer modelling, experimental archaeology, and final interpretations: 571-587. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Finlayson, B. 1990. The examination of surface alteration. In C. R. Wickham-Jones (ed.), Rhum, Mesolithic and later sites at Kinloch: Excavations 198-86: 53-54. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Finlayson, B., N. Finlay and  S. J. Mithen. 2000. The cataloguing and analysis of the lithic assemblages. In S. J. Mithen (ed.), Hunter-gatherer landscape archaeology: The Southern Hebrides Mesolithic Project 1988-98. 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Petrology and provenance of the Siluro-Devonian (Old Red Sandstone facies) sedimentary rocks of the Midland Valley, Scotland: British Gelogical Survey Internal Report (IR/07/040). Piggott, S. 1948. The Excavations at Cairnpapple Hill, West Lothian. Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: 68-123. Tixier, J., M.-L. Inizan and  H. Roche. 1980. Préhistoire de la pierre taillée, 1 terminologie et technologie. Valbonne: CREP. Wickham-Jones, C. R. (ed.). 1990. Rhum, Mesolithic and Later Sites at Kinloch: excavations 1984-86. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Wickham-Jones, C. R. and  G. H. Collins. 1977. The sources of flint and chert in northern Britain. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 109: 7-21. Wickham-Jones, C. R. and  S. B. McCartan. 1990. The Lithic Assemblage: Secondary Technology. In C. R. Wickham-Jones (ed.), Rhum: Mesolithic and Later sites At Kinloch: excavations 1984-86: 87-102. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Woodman, P. C., N. Finlay and  E. Anderson. 2006. The Archaeology of a Collection: The Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. Wicklow: Wordwell. Wright, A. D. 2012a. The Archaeology of Variation: a case study of repetition, difference and becoming in the Mesolithic of West Central Scotland. Unpublished PhD Thesis: University of Glasgow (Available to download from 'http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3310/'). Wright, A. D. 2012b. SERF Archive Report: Flaked Lithic Assemblages 2007-10. Unpublished SERF Report: University of Glasgow.  

SERF Archive Report: lithics from MH14

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SERF Archive Report: lithics from MH14

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