Stone tools from a washing-limit deposit of the highest Post-Glacial transgression, Lealt Bay, Isle of Jura

Abstract

NR 662902. Pollen analysis demonstrates that vegetation was broadly comparable in the post-glacial period along the NE coast of Jura and in mainland Argyll, while the highest post-glacial marine transgression is proved to have reached about 51ft OD on Jura early in the Atlantic period. Excavation at Lealt Bay yielded about 50,000 stone artefacts from the old marine deposit c 47ft OD; these show a variety of forms in use over a long period, and a few bear evidence of two phases of use separated by an appreciable time-gap. Microliths predominate and include the small backed blade, small crescents, triangles and quadrilaterals, and tanged and hollow-trimmed forms. The remaining material includes hafted blades, steep scrapers, thumb-nail scrapers, gravers, tanged leaf-shaped flakes, and a transverse series ranging from petit tranchet to heavy triangle types. The site is interpreted as a landing-place and camp for hunters from the mainland from before about 4250 BC and including occupation of Neolithic date (see also 70/754). A R