Leven Bronze Age Cemetery

The excavations resulted in the discovery of 4 complete and 2 broken prehistoric food vessels
(rare Yorkshire vase types). This is the largest and most important collection of this type of early
prehistoric pottery so far excavated in a single cemetery context.

Background
Early in 2001 a building developer submitted a planning application to develop Phase I of an
intended three-phase development project at a site off of Holly Road, Leven. When this
application was assessed, it was the considered that Phase I did not have any archaeological
implications. However, it was recognised that the subsequent development phases might well
have considerable archaeological implications.
The main concern was that there was a record of the discovery of a Bronze Age grave in this
field in 1944. Almost no record of this discovery was made at the time and with the exception of
one single jet bead, the whereabouts of the artefacts from this grave are now lost. However, a
field survey conducted by the Council’s Archaeologist indicated that further archaeological
deposits almost certainly yet existed on this site.

The archaeological evaluation of this site involved the stripping off of top soil from key areas in
an attempt to identify any underlying archaeological features that may exist. The results of the
evaluation were positive and in equal measures of amazement and alarm, it quickly became
apparent that a sizeable cemetery of probable early Bronze Age date (c.4,000 years old) existed
within the area proposed for development. Indeed, a number of stone-lined graves, known as
cists, were uncovered during the evaluation along with a quantity of broken prehistoric pottery.

The implications of this discovery were immediately apparent. The evaluation had identified a
previously unknown early Bronze Age cemetery of national importance. This was an
extraordinarily important archaeological discovery and the results attracted the immediate
attention of Historic Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland.

A package was put together that allowed for the excavation of this site. This package included
generous funding from the Levenmouth Area Capital Budget, match funding from the Planning
and Building Control Service budget and support in kind from Boyack Homes Ltd, Historic
Scotland, Stirling University (Environmental History Unit), the Council for Scottish
Archaeology and the National Museums of Scotland. Further assistance, support and funded
specialist techniques were supplied by Channel Four’s Time Team programme in return for
permission to participate in, and film the excavations

Interim Interpretation
Early indications suggest that the first use of this site may have occurred during the Neolithic
period, some 5,000 – 6,000 years ago. This earliest phase of activity is represented by a single
cremation deposit (a small pit containing cremated human skeletal remains) which was deposited
on a slight raised hillock in the landscape.

Some time later, probably as much as 1,000 years later (c. 2,000BC), a richly endowed single
burial chamber was constructed on this slight natural knoll (cist L on plan, see end of this update
note). A single young male (c.10-15 years old) was buried in this stone-lined chamber, and the
whole structure was enclosed with a boundary ditch (it is possible that the grave was then
covered by a massive earthen mound).
We know about this primary burial only from historic records and from the excavation evidence
of a robbed out grave. Essentially, it appears that in 1944, a grave was accidentally discovered on
this site during deep ploughing. No serious attempt was made to excavate or to examine the
grave upon discovery and the site was left open for the curious to come and examine it for
themselves. As a result, the grave site was essentially looted. Indeed, when, almost six months
after discovery, a team of antiquarian/archaeologists from the National Museum of Antiquities
(Edinburgh) came to visit the site, all that was found was a single fusiform jet bead and some
fragments of disarticulated human bone.

Holly Road PSAS article

Holly Road 1944 bone report

This unfortunate situation came about despite the then landowner’s (Mr Christie of Durie House)
determined attempts to have the site protected and properly excavated. Indeed, our only
knowledge of this original discovery all due to Mr RL Christie’s diligent and responsible estate
and record keeping and the preservation of his notes by his son and heir, Mr Peter Christie, who
kindly relayed the details of the 1944 discovery to the Council’s Archaeological Unit.

Leven Cemetery letter

Some time after the construction of the primary grave chamber on this site, a further five well
constructed and richly endowed burials were placed surrounding the central grave. However,
these were still all contained within the enclosure ditch .

At a slightly later period, but probably not later than 1,500BC, another four burials were interred
just outside (and to the south) of the cemetery enclosure . The quality of the construction of these
grave chambers and the quality and number of grave goods was significantly lower than the early
earlier burials on this site. However, the fact that these individuals had still been marked out for
burial within a stone chamber and within a cemetery complex, still means that these individuals
must have been exceptionally important people within their Bronze Age communities.

Excavations
The excavation of the site, directed by the Council’s Archaeologist, Douglas Speirs, commenced
on Saturday 27th July 2002 with the assistance of archaeological contracting firm, Scotia
Archaeology Ltd, a private company based in Crieff, Perthshire. The Time Team then joined the
project for 5 days from Sunday 28th July to Thursday 1st August 2002. However, the
excavations were continued for a further two weeks after the Time Team’s departure.

In total, the contribution to the Time Team project brought with them 68 members of staff, six of
whom were supplied as permanent digging staff. The remaining members of staff included
another 8 specialist archaeological scientists; the rest were involved in the television side of
things and included cameramen, sound recordists, directors, producers. All equipment (eg cranes,
helicopters, JCBs, transport etc) used by the Time Team during the excavations was locally
sourced and all 68 team members were accommodated at the Craw’s Nest hotel in Anstruther.
Local members of the community were invited to watch the excavations in progress and many
local people actually assisted the excavations on-site, particularly after the departure of the Time
Team.

Educational visits and parties of young people were invited to the site to learn first-hand about
the techniques of archaeological investigation, and more importantly, to learn about the rich
archaeological heritage of the Levenmouth area.

Discoveries
The excavations revealed a previously unrecorded Early Bronze Age cemetery (c. 4,000 years
old) enclosed within a ditch. The cemetery contained 11 cist burials (stone graves) and at least
one unaccompanied cremation burial of possible Neolithic date (c.5,000 years old).

Cist before excavation

The acidity of the soil resulted in poor preservation of human skeletal material, however,
significant partial skeletal collections were still recovered.
 Cist after excavation

The excavations also resulted in the discovery of 4 complete and 2 broken prehistoric food
vessels (rare Yorkshire vase types). This is the largest and most important collection of this type
of early prehistoric pottery so far excavated in a single cemetery context.
A single, high quality flint blade (English origin, possibly Norfolk) and two stone amulets were
also recovered.

Post-Excavation Analysis
Since the completion of field excavations in mid-August 2002, work has continued on the post-
excavation analysis. This has involved the re-examination and interpretation of the all of the
observations made during the excavations as well as the detailed scientific analysis of all of the
finds made, and of the environmental samples taken.

Samples of bone and wood have been sent to Gronigen University (Holland) for accelerated
mass spectrosopy radiocarbon dating. This is a revolutionary new dating technique that works
well on bone.
Analysis of the environmental data gathered during excavations is on-going at Stirling University
(Dept. of Environmental Science). The analysis of pollen and seed deposits will eventually
reveal details of the environmental conditions in Bronze Age Fife.

Conservation of the pottery, flint and stone finds has been completed at the National Museums of
Scotland (Artefact Research Unit) and work has started on examining, illustrating and writing
scientific reports on these artefacts. The pottery reports are complete and the extreme importance
of this pottery assemblage has now been recognised.

Detailed research on the skeletal material recovered is on-going at the National Museums of
Scotland. Preliminary results have indicated the general age, sex and health of some of the
better-preserved skeletons. The majority of the graves appear to contain young male children,
although one young female (c. 9-13 years old) and 1 adult male (c.20-25 years old at death) have
also so far been identified.

The geophysical and remote sensing data has been collated for publication. Both magnetic
resonance and resistivity techniques were applied across the site and the results of this work has
revealed the processes of site formation that have resulted in this site’s appearance.

The final site plans, section drawings, levels and other adjusted site data has been produced and
an archive copy has been made and submitted to the National Monuments Record of Scotland
(Edinburgh) as permanent record of the work undertaken

Continued research, analysis and report-writing is on-going and it is planned that a detailed
account of the excavations will be published in 2003 in the Proceedings of the Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland. It is also planned to produce a booklet on the excavations for
dissemination throughout the Levenmouth and wider Fife area.
Summary and Conclusion
The excavations undertaken by Fife Council at Holly Road, Leven, have resulted in the
identification and preservation (by record) of one of the most important Bronze Age
archaeological sites in Scotland. Indeed, the results of this excavation will considerably extend
our understanding of life in Bronze Age Scotland.

As Dr Alison Sheridan (Keeper of Archaeology, National Museums of Scotland) recently said in

a lecture announcing the discoveries made at Holly Road, this site will “mark Leven as one of
the most significant centres of prehistoric archaeology in Scotland”.

It is hoped that upon completion of the post-excavation analysis, the artefacts and materials
excavated at this site will be awarded to Kirkcaldy Museum. However, all finds will be subject to
the standard disposal procedures operated on behalf of the Crown in Scotland by the Queen’s
and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer. That is to say that subject to the Scots laws of Trove and
bona vacantia, the Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer will allocate the artefacts
recovered from the excavations to an appropriate museum after seeking advice from the Treasure
Trove Advisory Panel.

The Archaeological Unit has already begun lobbying the Treasure Trove Advisory Panel for the
finds from this site to be awarded to Fife Museums Central (Kirkcaldy Museum) and it is hoped
that the first of a series of exhibitions in Central Fife on this site will be held shortly.

Discussions between Fife Council Planning Officers and Boyack Homes Ltd are continuing
regarding ways to record or commemorate the site of this important site. Suggestions so far
discussed include the erection of a monument or commemorative plaque on the excavation site.
Plans are also being considered for interpretation boards for the site.

photos by Douglas Spiers, County Archaeologist for Fife