4,000-YEAR-OLD GRAVE

Evening Star, Issue 19663, 16 September 1927, Page 4

4,000-YEAR-OLD GRAVE

AR BE DEL XSHT RE DISCOV.H KY. A stone cist, containing the remains of what are thought to be a mother and child of the late neolithic or the beginning of the Bronze Age—-about 2,000 n.c. has been found at Edit, Aberdeenshire. The discovery was made by roadmen who had reason to disturb a heap of stones known as Ordcs Cairn. The cairn has also been known locally at different times as the Queen's, King’s, and .Macbeth’s Cairn. When tho stones of tho cairn were removed, a cist was exposed on the ground level about 4ft to tho west and 12ft to the north of the centre of tho floor of tho cairn.

Mr Alexander Robertson, a foreman on tbo estate, and himself keenly interested in these prc-historic interments, was in charge of tho workmen, and made tho discovery known to Mr Morris, the factor of tho estate of Dnnccht.

Dr Robert Reid, Emeritus Professor of Anatomy, Aberdeen University, was informed, and visited tho sight, and, after a long and careful inspection, advised further examination in view of the possible discovery of other interments. Throughout tho sandy soil which tilled the cavity were strewn small pieces of partially-burned human bones, many of which were so fragmentary as to defy identification.

Similar discoveries nave been made from time to time in the north-east of Scotland.