Record

Urn and grave goods

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from Sandmill Farm, Stranraer, Wigtownshire

Postcard of Urn and grave goods.
000-190-004-064-C
© National Museums Scotland

Urn and grave goods

This ceramic urn was found inverted in a pit at Sandmill Farm at Stranraer in Wigtownshire. It contained human bones, ashes, the grave goods pictured here and a burnt bone pin. The burial dates from sometime between 1900 and 1600 BC.

The grave goods comprised a polished stone battle axe, one whetstone and two further whetstones or metalworker's cushion stones, a blade from a bronze razor and a bone pin. The collared urn is decorated with pitting, perhaps made with finger nails.

The Sandmill group represents an unusually rich set of grave goods. The items had been kept separate from the funeral pyre (except for the pin, used to fasten a funeral garment), and added to the funerary urn after the remains had cooled.


Record details

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Online ID: 000-190-004-064-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EQ 491
Date: Between 1900 and 1600 BC
Material: Bone; tubular; engraved on the surface with fine lines forming a chevron
Bronze; oval
Clay, reddish; overhanging rim; concave neck
Lava
Stone; smoothed edges
Stone; smoothed edges
Stone; smoothed edges
Dimensions: 0.88" L x 0.13" thick
17.00" approx H; mouth 12.50" ext D; collar 4.50" deep
2.50" L; 0.88" max W; 0.10" max thickness
3.25" x 2.63" x 0.63"
3.50" x 2.50" x 0.63"
4.25" x 2.00" x 0.88"
4.63" L; waist 1.25" W; 2.75" across cutting edge
What: Axe, battle
Pin / fragment
Pottery / cinerary urn
Razor
Stone / whetstone
Stone / whetstone
Stone / whetstone
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Scotland, Wigtownshire, Stranraer, Sandmill Farm
Event:
Description: Cinerary urn of reddish-coloured clay with overhanging rim and concave neck, from Sandmill Farm, Wigtownshire
Battle-axe of lava from Sandmill Farm, Stranraer, Wigtownshire
Middle Bronze Age razor from Sandmill Farm, Wigtownshire
Fragment of pin shaft with a single line of zigzag decoration, from Sandmill Farm, Stranraer, Wigtownshire
Stone with smoothed edges, possibly a whetstone, from Sandmill Farm, Wigtownshire
Stone with smoothed edges, possibly a whetstone, from Sandmill Farm, Wigtownshire
Stone with smoothed edges, possibly a whetstone, from Sandmill Farm, Wigtownshire
References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Cowie, T.G., & Foxon, Andrew (eds). Symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge. Edinburgh: National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland, 1985, p 296. 
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