24 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Scotland’s Giant Neolithic Timber Hall Discovered—Built 1,000 Years Before Stonehenge

Archaeologists uncover one of the largest Neolithic timber halls in Scotland, revealing a long-lost site of prehistoric gatherings, rituals, and Bronze Age wealth.

In a discovery hailed as one of the most significant in recent Scottish archaeology, researchers from GUARD Archaeology have unearthed a vast Neolithic timber hall near Carnoustie, Angus, believed to have served as a ceremonial and communal gathering place for some of Scotland’s earliest farming communities around 4000 BC—over a thousand years before Stonehenge was constructed.

The excavation, carried out in advance of a football pitch development near Carnoustie High School and funded by Angus Council, revealed the remains of a 35-metre-long and 9-metre-wide timber hall—the largest of its kind ever found in Scotland. The monumental structure, built using massive oak timbers with complex internal divisions and thick daubed walls, points to a highly sophisticated and organized Neolithic society.

“This monumental timber hall was fully formed, architecturally advanced, and entirely alien to the Mesolithic traditions that preceded it,” explained Beverley Ballin Smith, co-author of the newly published excavation report.

Different sides of the Carnoustie Neolithic polished axe. Credit: GUARD Archaeology
Different sides of the Carnoustie Neolithic polished axe. Credit: GUARD Archaeology

Unlike other isolated Neolithic halls found across Scotland, the Carnoustie site features a smaller adjacent hall, measuring nearly 20 metres in length, likely used for domestic purposes. Charred cereal grains and hazelnut shells found in its large hearth suggest daily living activities. However, the larger hall was more symbolic: archaeologists uncovered deliberately buried stone tools and rare artifacts, indicating ceremonial or ritualistic functions.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The elevated location of the timber halls near natural routeways suggests they were seasonal gathering spots—possibly the center of autumn feasts when hazelnuts were plentiful. Artifacts recovered from as far afield as the Highlands and Isle of Arran—including pitchstone, smoky quartz, and a rare garnet-albite-schist axe—highlight the wide-reaching cultural and trade connections of the community.

The site saw continued activity for centuries. Around 3800–3700 BC, a smaller hall was constructed within the original structure’s footprint and continued to receive ritual deposits until approximately 3600 BC. Seasonal visits and gatherings persisted at the location until about 2500 BC.

The Carnoustie gold decorated bronze spearhead. Credit: GUARD Archaeology
The Carnoustie gold decorated bronze spearhead. Credit: GUARD Archaeology

Bronze Age Legacy: A Hidden Hoard of Weapons and Wealth

Even more remarkably, archaeologists uncovered a Late Bronze Age metalwork hoard, buried centuries later—between 1118 and 924 BC—within the footprint of a much later roundhouse. The hoard included a bronze sword in its original wooden scabbard, a gold-banded spearhead, and a sunflower-headed swan-neck pin, all carefully wrapped in woollen cloth and sheepskin. This preservation is credited to copper’s antimicrobial properties.

“The bronze objects were likely crafted in Scotland using materials imported from eastern England and possibly the Irish Sea area,” said Warren Bailie, co-author of the excavation report.

The sword bears combat damage, while the spearhead shows structural weaknesses—indicating both ceremonial and practical use. A shale bangle found nearby, along with the hoard, suggests the settlement’s occupants were of high status, even though the roundhouse itself appeared modest.

Such hoards are extremely rare, and a similar discovery from the 1960s north of Dundee points to a regional tradition of burying wealth for safekeeping—perhaps during uncertain times.

In a whimsical twist, the final “inhabitant” of the site was a field mouse, discovered through traces of grass and copper staining inside the spearhead socket.

The Carnoustie bronze sword. Credit: GUARD Archaeology
The Carnoustie bronze sword. Credit: GUARD Archaeology

Modern Development, Ancient Past

This world-class archaeological site was uncovered thanks to standard pre-construction assessments. Angus Council required an archaeological survey before the development of sports pitches—a move that unexpectedly revealed over 6,000 years of history beneath the turf.

“No one imagined the construction of football pitches would lead to the discovery of one of Scotland’s most important archaeological finds,” said Kathryn Lindsay, Chief Executive of Angus Council. “This has given us a rare and valuable insight into life in Angus during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.”

The full report, ARO60: Neolithic timber halls and a Bronze Age settlement with hoard at Carnoustie, Angus, by Beverley Ballin Smith, Alan Hunter Blair, and Warren Bailie, is now available through Archaeology Reports Online.

GUARD Archaeology

Cover Image Credit: GUARD Archaeologists excavating the long Neolithic Hall at Carnoustie. Credit: GUARD Archaeology

Related Articles

The World’s Oldest Smiling Water Flask with Emoji will be on display

4 July 2021

4 July 2021

After the collapse of the Hittite Empire, the Late Hittite States was established in Anatolia and Syria. One of these...

“Important discovery” showing that the Hittite city of Büklükale close ties with the Hurrian society

21 October 2022

21 October 2022

According to Japanese archaeologists, an ancient clay tablet discovered at the Büklükale ruins in central Turkey suggests that a little-known...

One of the earliest water channels in history dating back 8,200 years was discovered in western Türkiye

27 August 2023

27 August 2023

One of the earliest water channels in history dating back 8,200 years was found during the excavation work carried out...

Severe drought in Italy unearths remains of an ancient bridge in Rome

15 July 2022

15 July 2022

Continued severe heat in Italy has uncovered an archaeological treasure in Rome: a bridge reportedly built by the Roman emperor...

A First! This Study on Pregnancy in the Viking Age Illuminates Warrior Women and the Fate of Babies

14 May 2025

14 May 2025

A groundbreaking interdisciplinary study by Viking experts from the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester has shed new light on the...

The New Study, Reveals Invisible Stews

25 November 2022

25 November 2022

New Results of Organic Residue Analyzes of Beveled Rim Bowls in Mesopotamia Reveal Invisible Stews. The world’s first urban state...

Remains of 14th-century Synagogue thought to be one of largest in region discovered in Poland

14 August 2023

14 August 2023

The remains of what is thought to be a sizeable 14th-century synagogue complex, including a mikvah, have been discovered during...

Three Strange Skull Modifications Discovered in Viking Women

31 March 2024

31 March 2024

In recent years, research has provided evidence for permanent body modification in the Viking Age. The latest of these investigations...

Excavations at the site in the coastal city of São Luís, Brazil uncovered thousands of artifacts left by ancient peoples up to 9,000 years ago

4 February 2024

4 February 2024

Archaeologists unearthed 43 human skeletons and more than 100,000 artifacts at an excavation site in the coastal city of São...

46 Eagles in vivid color revealed on Ancient Egyptian temple ceiling

15 May 2022

15 May 2022

A joint German/Egyptian archaeological mission at the Temple of Esna on the west bank of the Nile, 35 miles south...

‘Dinosaur dance floor’ dating back 80 million years found in China

20 April 2021

20 April 2021

In China, researchers have found many dinosaur footprints in an area of 1,600 square meters described in the literature as...

‘Nano lime’ protects Nemrut: Throne of the Gods

24 October 2023

24 October 2023

Last year, “nano lime” was filled with syringes to protect the tiny cracks on the large stone statues on Mount...

Khirbet Midras pyramid and  Archaeological Site in Israel

28 November 2022

28 November 2022

Khirbet Midras (Arabic) or Horvat Midras (Hebrew) is one of several antiquities sites located within the Adullam Grove National Park,...

Ancient tomb discovered under parking lot greenery in Japan

16 September 2023

16 September 2023

Shrubbery intended to illuminate a corner of a nondescript parking lot in Japan’s Nara prefecture turned out to be hiding...

Archaeologists discover ‘exceptional’ ancient Roman sanctuary in near intact condition in Netherlands

23 June 2022

23 June 2022

Archaeologists have unearthed a relatively intact 1st-century Roman sanctuary in the town of Herwen-Hemeling in the province of Gelderland in...