Small ceramic urn

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This unusually small ceramic urn was found under a cemetery cairn at Gourlaw Farm in Midlothian. It was upside down, resting on a slab, and contained soil and pebbles. Inside the bottom of the pot was 'a soft and rather unctuous substance'.

The urn has a well-defined collar, and is decorated on and just below the collar with lines of twisted cord impressions.

Although found beside cremation burials under the cairn, this urn is unusual in not containing cremated remains. The 'unctuous substance' - organic material - cannot be identified but could have been an organ.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-035-016-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EA 165
• Date: Between 2000 and 1500 BC
  
• Material: Clay
  Pottery / urn
  
• Dimensions: 4.75" x 4.50"
  
• What: Pottery / urn
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Gourlaw, Stackyardfield
  
• Event:
• Description: Clay urn from a cairn at Gourlaw Farm, Midlothian
  
• References:
  • Coles, F.R. Notice of the exploration of the remains of a cairn of the Bronze Age at Gourlaw, Midlothian. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 39 (1904-5), pp 411-8. 
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