The Early Medieval Origin of Perth, Scotland

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The radiocarbon results (and Bayesian modeling) of 15 samples of carbonized food residues removed from the external surface of rim sherds of cooking pots indicate that shellyware pottery first appeared in Perth, Scotland, around cal AD 910-1020 (95% probability) and that it had disappeared by cal AD 1020-1140 (95% probability). Previously, it had been suggested that this pottery could not date to before AD 1150. These data, together with l4 C analyses carried out on leather artifacts and a sample of wattle from a ditch lining, also demonstrate that there was occupation in Perth about 100 yr or more prior to the granting of royal burgh status to Perth in the 1120s.

New Dating Evidence for North Sea Trade Between England, Scotland, and Norway in the 11th Century AD

“…The 15 samples from Perth were measured and reported as previously described in Hall et al (2007). The Billingsgate samples were prepared in 2006 and measured at the SUERC AMS facility using the NEC 5MV terminal voltage instrument, with carbon in the 4+ charge state (terminal voltage for C 4+ = 4.5 MV).…”

“…We discounted the possibility of a reservoir effect (either from freshwater or marine resources) giving anomalously old ages on 2 accounts: 1) We also dated leather samples from the same contexts at Perth and produced entirely comparable ages (Hall et al 2007).…”

“…The chronological model for Sandy Shellyware in Perth is as previously described in Hall et al (2007). It is composed of the 14 C measurements on 15 carbonized residues from 11 different archaeological contexts.…”

“…However, that being the case, there is a strong possibility that the sherds originate from earlier deposits. A full discussion of this is contained in Hall et al (2007). The most obvious way to help settle this issue of the Sandy Shellyware chronology was to date food residues from the same Sandy Shellyware pottery derived from the excavations at Billingsgate and also from Bryggen Wharf in Bergen, Norway (excavated in the late 1950s and early 1960s), where this pottery from London has also been identified (Blackmore and Vince 1994).…”

“…The modeling undertaken in our previous research (Hall et al 2007) on dating food residues from the external surfaces of rim sherds of cooking pots indicated that Sandy Shellyware pottery first appeared in Perth, Scotland, around cal AD 910-1020 (95% probability). This is contrary to expert opinion (A Vince, personal communication), which places these imported wares at no earlier than AD 1150.…”