NMS Archaeology Object 605540: X.1995.93.22 - Human remains


Description

Summary


Cremation remains of an individual estimated at 18-25 years of age, from the short cist cemetery at West Water Reservoir, West Linton, Peeblesshire, Early Bronze Age


Accession Number


X.1995.93.22


Other references

Classification numberX.EQ 1048

Original description

Finds from excavations at West Water Reservoir, West Linton, Peeblesshire. Type of site: Short cist cemetery. Date: Early Bronze Age. Finds from the Early Bronze Age cemetery (area A). [EQ 1048]. Cremation, cist 8. Mass 1228 g. The skeletal age at death of this individual is estimated as young (18-25). All the bones used for ageing were fused (one proximal articulation seemed to be fusing), and no metaphyseal surfaces were found. The permanent teeth had erupted and the roots closed. A few fragments of the skull had split due to burning, similar to those of cist 7, and none of the sutures had begun to close, suggesting a young individual. For sexing the bones of the cranium and pelvis were used. Part of the right superciliary arch was less prominent than that of a male; the right upper orbital border was sharp (female) rather than blunt (male); and the right sacro-iliac articulation was elevated (female) rather than flat. These criteria indicate a female individual. However the vertical diameter of a femur head measured almost 46 mm (even after shrinkage in the pyre) which corresponds to a male (>45.5 mm). Furthermore the proximal fused articulation of the right radius seemed much larger than that of a female skeleton. Due to this inconsistency the sex cannot be accurately determined.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Excavated

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

West Water Reservoir, West Linton, Peeblesshire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1995

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Agent

Image

None

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