Research Items

Abstract

Beakers from the Is1e of Skye.—In Man for October, Mr. W. Lindsay Scott figures and describes two beakers discovered in the recent excavation of a cairn at Kraiknish, Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye. The cairn is circular and now some 27 ft. in diameter and 4 ft. in height. The cover stone, which has been laid bare, is of irregular shape, measuring 5 ft. 6 in. in length, 3 ft. in breadth, and 1 ft. in thickness. There are no traces of an entrance. The chamber was found to be filled with earth and stones to within 15 in. of the cover stone. The contents consisted of several distinct layers of material—bones brought in by crows, peaty earth, blackened and burned matter also containing charcoal, and red-brown earth. The floor was practically covered with water-worn pebbles which also occurred throughout the layers. In the lowest layer were found fragments of one of the beakers, which has now been reconstructed, a second beaker complete except for a hole in the upper surface, and a tiny flint button scraper. No traces of human bones were found. The second beaker was tightly wedged in with water-worn pebbles around and below it. Beaker A is of thick gritty paste, light brown with black core, flat base, tall, slightly rounded body, faintly constricted neck, and short upright rim with lip bevelled inside. The whole of the exterior is ornamented with a broad belt of irregular chevrons, with narrow cross-hatched zones on neck and shoulder separated by bands of horizontal lines. Beaker B is of similar paste, but the exterior is of a darker brown and the interior blackened on one side. It has a flat base with a distinct foot. The body is short and rounded with a constricted neck. It is ornamented on the body and rim by broad zones of open lozenge pattern. The lower zone has no margin below and finishes in short double strokes hanging vertically. When completely excavated the chamber was found to be pentagonal and formed of six vertical slabs at a height of about 2 ft. from the floor. The floor was composed of small slabs of irregular shape neatly fitted together.