New research has revealed that a mysterious mass burial took place in southern Scotland around 3,300 years ago, possibly linked to a community crisis.
In 2020–2021, GUARD Archaeology carried out excavations during the construction of the access road to the Twentyshilling Hill wind farm (near Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway). The excavations uncovered a Bronze Age barrow (earthen mound burial) with five clay pots packed tightly together in a central pit containing cremated human remains.
The pots contained the remains of at least eight individuals (adults and children) who were buried in a single mass burial, between 1439 and 1287 BC.
This burial is unique in that the remains were cremated and buried almost immediately, without the lengthy rituals typical of the Bronze Age (such as prolonged exposure to the air). Researchers suggest that this may indicate a sudden disaster for the community, such as a famine or other crisis.
