Did anyone else notice the BBC has launched a new Comedy Archaelogy programme? "Digging For Britain". The part that had me laughing most this week was the dig of a Neolithic tomb on Orkney. Not yer usual Scara Brae, but a less-well known one at Tree Ness on Sanday's south coast.
https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/59. ... 2.52021,15Commentator: They're excavating a chamber that's being eroded by the sea
Expert Archeo: It's a tomb
Commentator: They've not found any human remains or burial goods
Expert Archeo: It's a tomb
Commentator: They've found hundreds of scale knive tools (sharpened flints)
Expert Archeo: It's a tomb
Commentator: They've found a hearth inside the entrance with evidence of lots of ash and pottery
Expert Archeo: It's a tomb
Commentator: Vicky has found some curious artefacts, polished round balls
Expert Archeo: They're weapons
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... -episode-3Regular readers may recall we've been through this "load of balls" before.
These are up to 5,000 years old, found mostly in the north-east of Scotland, the Orkneys, and a few on the Western Isles (on Iona, Skye, Harris, Uist, Lewis, Arran, etc). Most are about 70mm in diameter, about the size of a tennis ball. As for their purpose, various suggestions have been made e.g. weapons, weights, working of hides, etc. To my mind, these are all nonsense, as the stone spheres are all far too intricately made, with a detail of craftmanship far beyond what would be needed for "ordinary" items like weapons, weights, and leather-working tools. But consider this - within recorded history, it has been part of the tradition of apprenticeships and technical colleges for hundreds of years that all students should produce models that demonstrated their abilities and skills. What better way of letting apprentice stoneworkers prove the quality of their skills?
by Mick Harper » 7:32 am