Digging Into Scotland’s Mysterious, Ancient Past | National Geographic

taught me there’s an old saying that if

taught me there’s an old saying that if you scratch the surface it bleeds

you scratch the surface it bleeds

you scratch the surface it bleeds archaeology and that is true

archaeology and that is true

archaeology and that is true there’s archeology everywhere but

there’s archeology everywhere but

there’s archeology everywhere but particularly here in the middle of the

particularly here in the middle of the

particularly here in the middle of the main island central mainland so six

main island central mainland so six

main island central mainland so six eight six eight of the stone in eight

eight six eight of the stone in eight

eight six eight of the stone in eight one all of that one of these stones are

one all of that one of these stones are

one all of that one of these stones are pretty horizontally orientate it’s

pretty horizontally orientate it’s

pretty horizontally orientate it’s another beautiful summer’s be during our

another beautiful summer’s be during our

another beautiful summer’s be during our short six weeks excavation season this

short six weeks excavation season this

short six weeks excavation season this year like all the others has been

year like all the others has been

year like all the others has been exceptionally when come the amazing

exceptionally when come the amazing

exceptionally when come the amazing structures you can just glimpse behind

structures you can just glimpse behind

structures you can just glimpse behind me we’re now getting down onto floor

me we’re now getting down onto floor

me we’re now getting down onto floor deposits and really getting an inkling

deposits and really getting an inkling

deposits and really getting an inkling about how these structures functions

archaeologists are not really after

archaeologists are not really after treasure we’re after the whole story so

treasure we’re after the whole story so

treasure we’re after the whole story so it’s the whole package that we see but I

it’s the whole package that we see but I

it’s the whole package that we see but I don’t think there’s an archaeologist

don’t think there’s an archaeologist

don’t think there’s an archaeologist here who would deny that yesterday’s

here who would deny that yesterday’s

here who would deny that yesterday’s discovery and similar ones really still

discovery and similar ones really still

discovery and similar ones really still tell you with the sense of awe and

tell you with the sense of awe and

tell you with the sense of awe and wonder first on the site this is a

wonder first on the site this is a

wonder first on the site this is a carved stone ball and this is possibly

carved stone ball and this is possibly

carved stone ball and this is possibly one of only a handful have ever been

one of only a handful have ever been

one of only a handful have ever been found they are incredibly rare that

found they are incredibly rare that

found they are incredibly rare that hen’s teeth and they’re even more rare

hen’s teeth and they’re even more rare

hen’s teeth and they’re even more rare and an archaeological context and it is

and an archaeological context and it is

and an archaeological context and it is just stunning and it’s complete nobody’s

just stunning and it’s complete nobody’s

just stunning and it’s complete nobody’s quite sure what they’re used for lots of

quite sure what they’re used for lots of

quite sure what they’re used for lots of different theories but the intricacy of

different theories but the intricacy of

different theories but the intricacy of the designs on some of them there’s very

the designs on some of them there’s very

the designs on some of them there’s very very fine spirals that cover these kind

very fine spirals that cover these kind

very fine spirals that cover these kind of raised knobs but you find them with a

of raised knobs but you find them with a

of raised knobs but you find them with a huge array of different configurations

huge array of different configurations

huge array of different configurations of knobs I kind of raised panels within

of knobs I kind of raised panels within

of knobs I kind of raised panels within it this one will be sent off for

it this one will be sent off for

it this one will be sent off for conservation and who knows what might

conservation and who knows what might

conservation and who knows what might lie lurking beneath this mud the

lie lurking beneath this mud the

lie lurking beneath this mud the theories vary from the sublime to the

theories vary from the sublime to the

theories vary from the sublime to the ridiculous but the beauty prettiest

ridiculous but the beauty prettiest

ridiculous but the beauty prettiest nature of these items and they’re kinda

nature of these items and they’re kinda

nature of these items and they’re kinda rarity value probably mean that they had

rarity value probably mean that they had

rarity value probably mean that they had quite a high status value

quite a high status value

quite a high status value and maybe these are items which were

and maybe these are items which were

and maybe these are items which were only the the upper echelons of society

only the the upper echelons of society

only the the upper echelons of society oh right you actually have one a kinda

oh right you actually have one a kinda

oh right you actually have one a kinda symbol of power that’s whenever only

symbol of power that’s whenever only

symbol of power that’s whenever only about to storm bulbs that have been

about to storm bulbs that have been

about to storm bulbs that have been found in context and where that actually

found in context and where that actually

found in context and where that actually is as well is really really important so

is as well is really really important so

is as well is really really important so it’s your absolute amazing claim

I think the archaeologists dream to

I think the archaeologists dream to actually be able to see what these

actually be able to see what these

actually be able to see what these people were thinking see how they went

people were thinking see how they went

people were thinking see how they went about their daily lives and also the

about their daily lives and also the

about their daily lives and also the rituals of the leaf systems every aspect

rituals of the leaf systems every aspect

rituals of the leaf systems every aspect of their life if we could have a time

of their life if we could have a time

of their life if we could have a time machine to take us back 5,000 years ago

machine to take us back 5,000 years ago

machine to take us back 5,000 years ago while what wonderful Christmas present

while what wonderful Christmas present

while what wonderful Christmas present that would be