Arran pitchstone (Scottish volcanic glass): New dating evidence
Keywords:
pitchstone, volcanic glass, Neolithic, radiocarbon dating, contextual dating, pits, prehistoric exchange
Abstract
In the present paper, the author offers new absolute and contextual dating evidence for Scottish archaeological pitchstone. Much archaeological pitchstone from the Scottish mainland is recovered from unsealed contexts of multi-period or palimpsest sites, and pitchstone artefacts from radiocarbon-dated pits therefore provide important dating evidence for this material group and its associated exchange network. In Scotland, all archaeological pitchstone derives from outcrops on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, and on the source island pitchstone-bearing assemblages include diagnostic types from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age period. Off Arran, pitchstone-bearing assemblages never include Mesolithic types, such as microliths, suggesting a post Mesolithic date. This suggestion is supported by worked pitchstone from radiocarbon-dated pits, where all presently available dates indicate that, on the Scottish mainland, Arran pitchstone was traded and used after the Mesolithic period, and in particular during the Early Neolithic period.
References
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Ballin, T.B. 2011b, Overhowden and Airhouse, Scottish Borders : characterization and interpretation of two spectacular lithic assemblages from sites near the Overhowden henge. BAR British series Vol. 539. Archaeopress, Oxford, 74 p.
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Dickson, A. (in press), The Pitchstone. In: The archaeology of the Carlisle Northern Development Route (Brown, F., Dickson, A., Clark, P., Gregory, R. & Zant, J., Eds.), Lancaster Imprints, Lancaster.
Finlay, N. 1997, Various entries. In: The Archaeological investigation of a prehistoric landscape : excavations on Arran 1978-1981 (Barber, J., Ed.) STAR Monograph Vol. 2, Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research, Edinburgh.
Haggarty, A., Henshall, A., Grove, R., Cowie, T., Foyon, A., McCullagh, R., Jordan, D., Moffat, B. & Lehane-Magee, D. 1991, Machrie Moor, Arran: recent excavations at two stone circles. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 121: 51-94. URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_121/121_051_094.pdf
Le Maitre, R.W., (Ed), 2002, Igneous rocks a classification and glossary of terms : recommendations of the International Union of Geological Sciences, Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks, (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 236 p.
MacGregor, G. 2007, Prehistoric pottery. In: Elginhaugh : a Flavian fort and its annexe (Hanson, W.S., Speller, K., Yeoman, P.A. & Terry, J., Eds.) Britannia monograph series Vol. 23, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London: p. 515-536.
Marshall, D.N. 1978, Excavations at Auchategan, Glendaruel, Argyll. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 109: 36-74. URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_109/109_036_074.pdf
Maynard, D. 1993, Neolithic pit at Carzield, Kirkton, Dumfriesshire. Transactions of the Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society, 68: 25-32. URL: http://www.dgnhas.org.uk/transonline/SerIII-Vol68.pdf#page=30
O'Brien, L., Clements, V., Roy, M. & Macnab, N. 2009, Neolithic Pits, a Bronze Age Cremation and an Early Iron Age Ring-Ditch at Newton Farm, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. Scottish Archaeological Journal, 31(1-2): 1-31. doi:10.3366/saj.2010.0002
Pellant, C. 1992, Rocks and minerals: The visual guide to over 500 rock and mineral specimens from around the world. Eyewitness handbooks Vol. 1. Dorling Kindersley, London, 256 p.
Preston, J., Meighan, I., Simpson, D. & Hole, M. 2002, Mineral chemical provenance of Neolithic pitchstone artefacts from Ballygalley, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Geoarchaeology, 17(3): 219-236. doi:10.1002/gea.10011
Preston, R.J., Hole, M.J., Still, J. & Patton, H. 1998, The mineral chemistry and petrology of Tertiary pitchstones from Scotland. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, 89(2): 95-111. doi:10.1017/S0263593300007033
Richards, C., (Ed), 2005, Dwelling among the monuments : the Neolithic village of Barnhouse, Maeshowe passage grave and surrounding monuments at Stenness, Orkney, McDonald Institute monographs. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, 397 p.
Sheridan, A. 2007, From Picardie to Pickering and Pencraig Hill? New information on the ‘Carinated Bowl Neolithic’ in northern Britain. Proceedings of the British Academy, 144: 441-492. doi:10.5871/bacad/9780197264140.003.0023
Sheridan, J.A. 2004, Going round in circles? Understanding the Irish Grooved Ware ‘complex’ in its wider context. In: From megaliths to metal : essays in honour of George Eogan (Roche, H., Grogan, E., Bradley, J., Coles, J. & Raftery, B., Eds.), Oxbow Books, Oxford: p. 26–37.
Trump, D. 1958, Notes on Excavations in Eire, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, during 1956. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society (New Series), 23: 220-230. doi:10.1017/s0079497x00017011
Ward, T. 2014, Biggar Archaeology Group List of radiocarbon dates. URL: http://www.biggararchaeology.org.uk/pdf_reports/BAG_RadiocarbonDates.pdf
Williams-Thorpe, O. & Thorpe, R.S. 1984, The distribution and sources of archaeological pitchstone in Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science, 11(1): 1-34. doi:10.1016/0305-4403(84)90039-6
Atkinson, J. 2002, Excavation of a Neolithic occupation site at Chapelfield, Cowie, Stirling. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 132: 139-192. URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_132/132_139_192.pdf
Ballin, T.B. 1996, Klassifikationssystem for stenartefakter. Varia Vol. 36. Universitetets oldsaksamling, Oslo, 83 p. (in Norwegian) ("Classification of Lithic and Stone Artefacts")
Ballin, T.B. 2000, Classification and description of lithic artefacts. A discussion of the basic lithic terminology. Lithics, 21: 9-15. URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14836110/LithicsPDFs/Lithics%2021/lithics_21_2000_Bal_9-15.pdf
Ballin, T.B. 2006, Re-examination of the Early Neolithic pitchstone-bearing assemblage from Auchategan, Argyll, Scotland. Lithics, 27: 12-32. URL: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~drus105/LithicsPDFs/Lithics%2027/Lithics_27_2006_Ballin_12_32.pdf
Ballin, T.B. 2008, The distribution of Arran pitchstone: territories, exchange and the ‘English problem’. PAST, 60: 10-13. URL: http://www.le.ac.uk/has/ps/past/past060.pdf
Ballin, T.B. 2009a, Archaeological pitchstone in northern Britain : characterization and interpretation of an important prehistoric source. BAR British series Vol. 476. Archaeopress, Oxford, 108 p. (in English)
Ballin, T.B. 2009b, The lithic assemblage from Doon Hill, Dunbar, East Lothian. Unpublished report
Ballin, T.B. 2011a, The Levallois-like approach of Late Neolithic Britain: a discussion based on finds from the Stoneyhill Project, Aberdeenshire. In: Flint and stone in the neolithic period (Saville, A., Ed.) Neolithic Studies Group seminar papers Vol. 11, Oxbow Books, Oxford: p. 37-61.
Ballin, T.B. 2011b, Overhowden and Airhouse, Scottish Borders : characterization and interpretation of two spectacular lithic assemblages from sites near the Overhowden henge. BAR British series Vol. 539. Archaeopress, Oxford, 74 p.
Ballin, T.B. 2011c, The post-glacial colonization of Shetland – integration or isolation? Evidence from lithic and stone assemblages. In: Farming on the edge - cultural landscapes of the North : some features of the Neolithic of Shetland : short papers from the network meeting in Lerwick, Shetland, September 7th-10th 2010 (Mahler, D.L. & Andersen, C., Eds.), National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen: p. 32-43.
Ballin, T.B. 2014, Pitchstone: The poor cousin of obsidian? IAOS (International Association for Obsidian Studies) Bulletin, 52: 14-17. URL: http://members.peak.org/~obsidian/iaos_bulletin_52.pdf
Ballin, T.B. & Faithfull, J. 2009, Gazetteer of Arran Pitchstone Sources. Presentation of exposed pitchstone dykes and sills across the Isle of Arran, and discussion of the possible archaeological relevance of these outcrops. Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports Vol. 38 p. 39 URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/sair/contents.cfm?vol=38
Becket, A. & MacGregor, G. 2012, Big pit, little pit, big pit, little pit ...: pit practices in western Scotland in the 4th millennium BC. In: Regional perspectives on Neolithic pit deposition : beyond the mundane (Anderson-Whymark, H. & Thomas, J., Eds.) Neolithic Studies Group seminar papers Vol. 12, Oxbow Books, Oxford: p. 51-62.
Becket, A., MacGregor, G., Clarke, A., Duffy, P., Finlay, N., Miller, J. & Sheridan, A. 2009, Forest grazing and seaweed foddering: early Neolithic occupation at Maybole, South Ayrshire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 139: 105-122. URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_139/139_105_122.pdf
Bradley, R. & Edmonds, M.R. 1993, Interpreting the axe trade : production and exchange in Neolithic Britain. New studies in archaeology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 236 p.
Brophy, K. & Sheridan, A., (Eds) 2012, Neolithic Scotland. ScARF Panel Report. ScARF Summary Neolithic Panel Document. Scottish Archaeological Research Framework, Edinburgh, 147 p.
Brown, F. 2013, A brief discussion of the prehistoric finds from Stainton West, Carlisle, Cumbria. IfA Finds Group newsletter, Autumn 2013: 4-11. URL: http://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/node-files/Autumn-2013-IfA-Finds-Group-newsletter-V2.pdf
CANMORE 2014, The CANMORE online database. Retrieved 24 DEC 2014. URL: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk
Clarke, A. 2007, The flaked lithic assemblage. In: Elginhaugh : a Flavian fort and its annexe (Hanson, W.S., Speller, K., Yeoman, P.A. & Terry, J., Eds.) Britannia monograph series Vol. 23, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London: p. 537-565.
Dickson, A. (in press), The Pitchstone. In: The archaeology of the Carlisle Northern Development Route (Brown, F., Dickson, A., Clark, P., Gregory, R. & Zant, J., Eds.), Lancaster Imprints, Lancaster.
Finlay, N. 1997, Various entries. In: The Archaeological investigation of a prehistoric landscape : excavations on Arran 1978-1981 (Barber, J., Ed.) STAR Monograph Vol. 2, Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research, Edinburgh.
Haggarty, A., Henshall, A., Grove, R., Cowie, T., Foyon, A., McCullagh, R., Jordan, D., Moffat, B. & Lehane-Magee, D. 1991, Machrie Moor, Arran: recent excavations at two stone circles. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 121: 51-94. URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_121/121_051_094.pdf
Le Maitre, R.W., (Ed), 2002, Igneous rocks a classification and glossary of terms : recommendations of the International Union of Geological Sciences, Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks, (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 236 p.
MacGregor, G. 2007, Prehistoric pottery. In: Elginhaugh : a Flavian fort and its annexe (Hanson, W.S., Speller, K., Yeoman, P.A. & Terry, J., Eds.) Britannia monograph series Vol. 23, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London: p. 515-536.
Marshall, D.N. 1978, Excavations at Auchategan, Glendaruel, Argyll. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 109: 36-74. URL: http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_109/109_036_074.pdf
Maynard, D. 1993, Neolithic pit at Carzield, Kirkton, Dumfriesshire. Transactions of the Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society, 68: 25-32. URL: http://www.dgnhas.org.uk/transonline/SerIII-Vol68.pdf#page=30
O'Brien, L., Clements, V., Roy, M. & Macnab, N. 2009, Neolithic Pits, a Bronze Age Cremation and an Early Iron Age Ring-Ditch at Newton Farm, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. Scottish Archaeological Journal, 31(1-2): 1-31. doi:10.3366/saj.2010.0002
Pellant, C. 1992, Rocks and minerals: The visual guide to over 500 rock and mineral specimens from around the world. Eyewitness handbooks Vol. 1. Dorling Kindersley, London, 256 p.
Preston, J., Meighan, I., Simpson, D. & Hole, M. 2002, Mineral chemical provenance of Neolithic pitchstone artefacts from Ballygalley, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Geoarchaeology, 17(3): 219-236. doi:10.1002/gea.10011
Preston, R.J., Hole, M.J., Still, J. & Patton, H. 1998, The mineral chemistry and petrology of Tertiary pitchstones from Scotland. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, 89(2): 95-111. doi:10.1017/S0263593300007033
Richards, C., (Ed), 2005, Dwelling among the monuments : the Neolithic village of Barnhouse, Maeshowe passage grave and surrounding monuments at Stenness, Orkney, McDonald Institute monographs. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, 397 p.
Sheridan, A. 2007, From Picardie to Pickering and Pencraig Hill? New information on the ‘Carinated Bowl Neolithic’ in northern Britain. Proceedings of the British Academy, 144: 441-492. doi:10.5871/bacad/9780197264140.003.0023
Sheridan, J.A. 2004, Going round in circles? Understanding the Irish Grooved Ware ‘complex’ in its wider context. In: From megaliths to metal : essays in honour of George Eogan (Roche, H., Grogan, E., Bradley, J., Coles, J. & Raftery, B., Eds.), Oxbow Books, Oxford: p. 26–37.
Trump, D. 1958, Notes on Excavations in Eire, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, during 1956. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society (New Series), 23: 220-230. doi:10.1017/s0079497x00017011
Ward, T. 2014, Biggar Archaeology Group List of radiocarbon dates. URL: http://www.biggararchaeology.org.uk/pdf_reports/BAG_RadiocarbonDates.pdf
Williams-Thorpe, O. & Thorpe, R.S. 1984, The distribution and sources of archaeological pitchstone in Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science, 11(1): 1-34. doi:10.1016/0305-4403(84)90039-6
Published
15-Mar-2015
How to Cite
Ballin, T. (2015). Arran pitchstone (Scottish volcanic glass): New dating evidence. Journal of Lithic Studies, 2(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v2i1.1166
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Research Articles
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