Experts date Scone Palace's mysterious mound
A silent witness to Scotland's ancient Celtic past, the origins of the mysterious mound where kings were crowned at Scone Palace had been lost in the mists of time.
A peacock's view of Moot Hill.
- By Richard Burdge
- Published in the Courier : 09.09.10
- Published online : 09.09.10 @ 06.45am
Now, in a remarkable breakthrough, archaeologists studying the famous Moot Hill have for the first time pinpointed the age of the ancient inauguration mound using scientific laboratory analysis.
Radiocarbon dating of items recovered during excavations has revealed that the mound was created over 1000 years ago -- a discovery that has been hailed as "nothing less than a birth certificate for Scotland."
The tests mean the quarry ditch for Moot Hill was completed shortly before the late-ninth to early 11th century.
These findings are particularly exciting because until now little could be said for certain about the true origins of the massive earth mound, which stands opposite the residence of the Earls of Mansfield.
Famously, one tradition recounted that the Moot Hill had been created by soil brought to Scone in the shoes of nobility who came to give homage at Robert Bruce's crowning in 1306.
Alternative theories have been put forward by historians who had speculated about the possible prehistoric origins of the mound, perhaps as a burial mound, or even a natural feature that was adapted into a garden folly in recent centuries.
Genuine antiquity
However, the new archaeological discoveries, which were made by scientists working at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre laboratories in East Kilbride, have now proven beyond doubt the genuine antiquity of Scotland's ancient inauguration mound.
They came about through an archaeological research project led by Dr Oliver O'Grady, which since 2005 has aimed to find more about the origins and development of Scone.
Following initial geophysical surveys, the last two years have seen the first excavations to uncover the lost rich medieval abbey of Scone and to demystify the Moot Hill.
Dr O'Grady said, "Scientific studies on the artefacts and samples recovered during excavations in 2008 and 2009 have been ongoing since last year.
"This has thrown up fascinating revelations about Scone's history, but the new dates from the Moot Hill are by far the most significant discovery to date.
"The radiocarbon dates confirm Scone's Moot Hill as one of Europe's extraordinary survivals, unique in Britain and the first assembly-mound in Scotland to be scientifically dated. The lab results are in a sense nothing less than a birth certificate for Scotland."
The archaeologists are now working with Scone Palace to plan further projects, which could involve larger excavations of the medieval abbey and areas of the Moot Hill.
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