Mysterious stone circles discovered on the Isle of Skye could be evidence of the earliest human occupation of Scotland's frigid northwest, according to a new study.
The research from the University of Glasgow sheds light on what archaeologists describe as the "ultimate adventure" undertaken by early humans to reach the "far end" of Scotland.
The stone circles, each measuring between 3 and 5 metres in size, have been dated to approximately 11,000 years ago.
Stone tools found at the site also date to this Late Upper Palaeolithic period.
The stone circles, each measuring between 3 and 5 metres in size, have been dated to approximately 11,000 years ago
University of Glasgow
The findings, published in The Journal of Quaternary Science, indicate early humans ventured much further north than previously believed.
"This is a hugely significant discovery which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known, of north-west Scotland," said archaeologist Karen Hardy, who led the study.
The site appears to be below modern sea level.
During this period, much of west Scotland was buried under ice. Nomadic hunter-gatherers from northern Europe crossed Doggerland, an area now covered by the North Sea, to occupy Skye.
MORE ARCHAEOLOGY BREATHROUGHS:
"The journey made by these pioneering people who left their lowland territories in mainland Europe to travel northwards into the unknown, is the ultimate adventure story," Dr Hardy said.
"As they journeyed northwards, most likely following animal herds, they eventually reached Scotland, where the western landscape was dramatically changing as glaciers melted," she added.
Upon reaching the Isle of Skye, these early people crafted tools from locally found stone.
They settled in the area due to its good access to coastal and riverine resources.
Stone tools found at the site also date to this Late Upper Palaeolithic period
University of Glasgow
Natural materials like ochre, highly valued by ancient cultures, were also available.
The study reveals an early human presence in the extreme northwest of Europe, pushing boundaries of survival in frigid conditions.
These pioneers lived in a fragmented, fluctuating environment amid melting glaciers, mountains, and oceans vastly different from the low-lying environments of northwestern Europe.
The island's early population likely originated in mainland northwest Europe, crossed Doggerland into Britain, and eventually reached the far north of Skye.
Scientists note that "together with the new stone alignments and several other nearby sites, this region now contains more evidence for the LUP than anywhere else in Scotland".
This concentration of archaeological findings suggests a significant pioneer human population once thrived in this remote Scottish location.
