east-lothian-1924/05-088

Transcription

DIRLETON.] -- HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION. -- [DIRLETON.

of an opaque white colour and the other of a
clear greenish glass with a twisted blue and
white moulding running round it. Deer-horn
picks, a ringheaded pin of bronze, the end of a
pin, a whorl, and a dumb-bell shaped object
[marginal note]
* See Curle, Newstead,
p. 150.
of bone, some fragments of iron including a
tanged knife, and the upper half of a rotatory
quern were also found.
Cf. Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. xliii., p. 243 plans
and figs.

ii. N.W. 11 November 1913.

CAIRNS.

30. Cairns, Black Rocks, Gullane.-For
about 2 miles north-east of Gullane the links
bordering the sea-shore are broken up by
numerous gullies excavated down to the under-
lying 20 feet raised beach by the prevailing
westerly winds, which have piled up ridges
of high sand dunes on either side of the hollows.
Opposite the black rocks, and immediately to
the south-east of the poles marking the eastern
extremity of the " measured mile " for steam-
ship trials, is one of the largest of these hollows
running in an easterly direction. In the centre
of this gully is a ridge 20 to 30 yards in width,
extending from the edge of the raised beach,
which is here some 100 yards from the high
water mark, for a considerable distance inland.
Across the whole width of the hollow and for
more than 100 yards eastwards are numerous
small cairns, as many as forty being visible,
many of which, measuring from 9 to 15 feet
in diameter, impinge on one another. Some
of the cairns are oval on plan, and one of the
largest, which lies about 60 yards from high
water mark and below the 20 feet beach,
measures 20 feet by 13 feet. When this cairn
was excavated in March 1908 it was found to
contain five human skeletons. A spiral finger
ring of bronze and a knife dagger of iron,
7 inches in length, betokening an Early Iron
Age date were also recovered. The majority
of the cairns were destroyed by a crowd sub-
sequent to the excavation of the first cairn.
In an adjoining gully to the north-east are
groups of similar cairns.
Cf. Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. xlii., p. 332.

ii. S.W. 13 November 1913.

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31. Cairns, West Links, Gullane.-About
600 yards south of Eyebroughy, in a wind-
swept gully bordered by sand dunes , is a group
of small cairns on the 20 feet raised beach, the
nearest being about 50 yards from high water
mark. Two roughly parallel rows of these
cairns stretch in an easterly direction for 20
yards, the rows being in no place more than
3 feet apart. Five cairns at least are seen
in the southern row and six in the adjoining
row. Several more appear to the south-west,
but many of these have been disturbed.

Farther to the east in the same gully a dry
stone wall is built in a tortuous line dis-
appearing into and reappearing from the base
of the sand dunes. Probably it may have been
a wall enclosing the point of land opposite
Eyebroughy, as the end of a similar wall is
seen on a sand-hill some distance eastward on
the shore. To the south-east of the wall
numerous fragments of green glazed pottery
(? mediaeval) have been found.

In a hollow to the south-west is a small
circular cairn chiefly composed of small stones
with a few of larger size intermixed, 12 feet
in diameter and 1 foot in height. It has a
small hollow on the summit and probably has
been robbed.

Some distance to the west are the remains
of other small cairns, which were excavated
in 1902. Some of these contained a cist, in
which fragments of pottery were found ; but
apparently they had been previously distributed.
One undisturbed cairn was found to cover an
oval-shaped grave about 4 feet in length, 3 feet
in breadth and 3 feet in depth, built of moder-
ately sized stones. Three adult human skeletons
were found on the floor. Outside the northern
end of the grave but under the cairn four
human skulls and other skeletal remains were
found.

About 300 yards south-west of this place a
kitchen midden was examined in 1908. Many
fragments of pottery, apparently of the Bronze
Age, were found, as well as a few implements
of flint and bone. Portions of red deer horns,
fragments of bones of various animals, pieces
of crab-claws and many shells were recovered.
Whelks and limpets greatly predominated, but
oysters and mussels were well represented.