Flint tool illustration – Female cist burial, Dalmore Quarry, Halkirk, Caithness

Seven and a half kilometres to the north-west of the Achavanich cist burial was another bronze age burial ground. Only here, four cists were uncovered opposed to one. They included what is believed to be three male burials and possibly one female. A stunningly decorated food vessel and a flint cutting tool was buried with the female. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting the archaeological assemblage at the University of Aberdeen Museum. Among the many things I was lucky to see, was the flint cutting tool. Although thought to be an arrowhead (because of the shape) the tool is just under 4cm in length, and 1.5cm in thickness which would have been too large to be used as an arrow and was instead more likely to have been a cutting tool or saw (thanks to James Dilley @ancientcraftUK for his thoughts on this).

I have prepared an illustration of the tool to help highlight the shape and retouching (resharpening after original blunting).

Cutting tool found in cist 1, Dalemore quarry, Halkirk (c) M Hoole

Map showing location of Dalemore quarry cists in comparison to Acharole and Achavanich individual cist burials (c) M Hoole