27 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Rare 3,500-Year-Old Chariot Wheel Discovered at Inverness Golf Course

Archaeologists have discovered a rare prehistoric chariot wheel at the site of a future golf course near Inverness. The discovery sheds light on ancient ceremonial practices and the lives of those who inhabited the Highlands thousands of years ago.

This extraordinary discovery, unearthed during the excavations for the Old Petty Championship Golf Course, underscores the profound historical significance of the region and beautifully intertwines the threads of modern development with the echoes of its ancient past.

The chariot wheel was discovered in a cremation burial pit, believed to date back thousands of years. Alongside this significant find, archaeologists also unearthed a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age cremation urn, flint tools, quern stones, and evidence of at least 25 Neolithic wooden buildings. These artifacts collectively paint a vivid picture of life in the Highlands from approximately 6,000 years ago through to the Middle Ages.

Andy Young, Principal Archaeologist at Avon Archaeology Highland, emphasized the importance of the chariot wheel, stating, “They are such a rare thing. None of us had really seen one before in terms of physically excavating one.” Initially, Young was skeptical about the find, mistaking it for a more modern piece of equipment. However, further investigation revealed its historical significance, marking it as potentially the first chariot component discovered in the Highlands and one of only five known in Scotland.

Archaeologists described the chariot wheel as a rare find. Credit: Avon Archaeology Highland / SWNS
Archaeologists described the chariot wheel as a rare find. Credit: Avon Archaeology Highland / SWNS

The excavation site, which is being developed into a championship golf course by Cabot, has been a treasure trove of historical artifacts. The discoveries not only highlight the ceremonial practices of ancient peoples but also their agricultural innovations. Stuart McColm, Vice-President of Golf Development at Cabot, expressed pride in the project, stating, “It’s humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground.”

In accordance with Scottish archaeological best practices, efforts are being made to preserve key features of the site, including a prehistoric ceremonial circle, which has been carefully reburied in its original location. The collaboration between Cabot and Avon Archaeology Highland has been praised as a model for responsible development, balancing the preservation of heritage with modern construction.

The findings from the excavation will be meticulously documented and radiocarbon dated, with final reports expected to coincide with the official opening of the golf course in 2025. The artifacts will eventually be handed over to museums in Inverness and Edinburgh, ensuring that this glimpse into the past is preserved for future generations.

As the Old Petty Championship Golf Course takes shape, it stands as a testament to the rich history of the Highlands, inviting both golf enthusiasts and history buffs to appreciate the ancient stories that lie beneath the surface.

Cover Image Credit: Area PS5 Prehistoric palisade enclosure. Credit: Avon Archaeology Highland / SWNS

Related Articles

First Major Iron Age Cemetery Discovered in the UAE: A 3,000-Year-Old Burial Site in Al Ain Region

22 April 2025

22 April 2025

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery has emerged from the Al Ain Region of the United Arab Emirates, revealing a 3,000-year-old necropolis...

Archaeologists found gold coins from the time of Justinian the Great in Northern Bulgaria

3 September 2024

3 September 2024

Archaeologists have discovered five gold coins dating from the reign of Justinian the Great (483-565) in Debnevo, the largest village...

World’s Only Ancient Wooden Twin-Hulled Boats Unearthed in Vietnam

20 May 2025

20 May 2025

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery in Bac Ninh province, northern Vietnam, has brought to light two remarkably well-preserved ancient wooden boats,...

A woman who had brain surgery 9500 years ago will be brought revived

12 September 2021

12 September 2021

A “revival” effort is underway on a woman’s skull unearthed in 1989 during archaeological digs at the Aşıklı Mound in...

A Gold Belt Weighing 432 Grams Unearthed During Excavations in Ani Ruins is on Display

2 July 2024

2 July 2024

The gold belt discovered 22 years ago during excavations in the ancient city of Ani, often referred to as the...

The bronze age village Afragola buried by the Plinian eruption of mount Vesuvius 4,000 Years Ago

30 September 2022

30 September 2022

Mount Vesuvius’ Plinian eruption about 4,000 years ago—2,000 years before it buried the Roman city of Pompeii—left remarkable preservation of...

Archaeologists identify a sunken Nabataean temple dedicated to the God Dusares at Pozzuoli

12 April 2023

12 April 2023

Off the coast of Pozzuoli on the Phlegrean Peninsula in Campania, Italy, underwater archaeologists have identified a sunken Nabataeans temple...

Archeologists discover 2000-year-old Roman coins on the deserted Swedish island of Gotska Sandön

14 April 2023

14 April 2023

Archaeologists found 2,000-year-old Roman coins on the Swedish deserted island of Gotska Sandön. Previously, ancient Roman coins were discovered on...

Bone workshop and oil lamp shop unearthed in Aizanoi ancient city in western Turkey

13 November 2021

13 November 2021

Archaeologists have unearthed a bone workshop and an oil lamp shop in an Aizanoi ancient city in the Çavdarhisar district...

The discovery that surprised archaeologists; a Rare glass cup adorning the table of rich Romans in Crimea

2 April 2022

2 April 2022

A discovery made in Frontovoye-3 necropolis in Crimea shows that during the Roman Empire there were more centers of glass...

3000-year-old clay figurine discovered in Germany may be a prehistoric water goddess

14 July 2022

14 July 2022

Archaeologists have discovered a rare clay figurine thought to represent a prehistoric water goddess in the Schweinfurt region of Germany....

A 130,000-year-old Stingray Sand Sculpture on South Africa’s Coast May Be the World’s Oldest Animal Art

4 April 2024

4 April 2024

Analyzing this object, which at first glance looks like a symmetrical rock, the research team speculated that it could be...

A New Picene Prince Tomb Dating to the 7th Century BC with Two Chariots Discovered in Corinaldo, Italy

29 July 2024

29 July 2024

Following the discovery of the so-called ‘Prince of Corinaldo’ in 2018, archaeologists from the University of Bologna have discovered a...

Marble inlay floors found in a Sunken Roman villa in Baia, the Las Vegas of the ancient world

9 April 2023

9 April 2023

Expansion of research activities in the Terme del Lacus area in the sunken Baia park, known as the ‘Las Vegas’...

1,400-year-old temple from the time of the East Anglian Kings discovered at Suffolk royal settlement

21 November 2023

21 November 2023

Archaeologists have uncovered a possibly pre-Christian temple from the time of the East Anglian Kings at Rendlesham, near Sutton Hoo...