Approximately 12,000 years ago, a group of early humans foraged and took shelter on Islay Island in Scotland. A team of archeologists from the University of Reading in Berkshire, United Kingdom made an astonishing discovery of Ice Age stone tools at Rubha Port an t-Seilich with the help of pigs.
The discovered Ice Age collection includes scrapers and skinning tools, probably used during hunting activities. The discovery also pushed back the timelines of early human activities in Scotland by over 2,000 years and on Islay Island by some 3,000 years.
The team was led by Dr. Karen Wicks and Professor Steve Mithen. The two archeologists were called to investigate when a gamekeeper shared what the pigs unearthed at the site. The 'swine team' was foraging in Islay coastline, helping to clear out some bracken, when they accidentally discovered the tools in 2009, which prompted the excavation.
Looking at the styles, the archeologists said the tools were probably made by early humans who belonged in the Ahrensburgian culture, which thrived during the last few years of the Ice Age. Hunting tools weren't the only items discovered. There were also animal bones, a fireplace and plant remains.
"The Ice Age tools provide the first unequivocal presence of people in Scotland about 3,000 years earlier than previously indicated. This moves the story of Islay into a new historical era, from the Mesolithic into the Palaeolithic," said Wicks.
The team did not find proof of permanent residence in the site. They theorized that the early humans hunted during the summer months and crossed the rivers using skin boats. The early humans probably foraged in Islay Island where they dwelled for short periods of time in the course of their explorations.
The volcanic ash layer found at the Rubha Port an t-Seilich excavation site covered the stone artifacts on the top and bottom. This enabled the archeologists to conclude that the stone tools are 12,000 years old.
Wicks admitted that the swine team did most of the discovery. Preparation and vigilant investigations are crucial in discovering stone artifacts. However, from time to time, luck plays a part.
Stories of creatures aiding in the discovery of stone artifacts are not new. In 1831, the Lewis chessmen were accidentally discovered by a cow in the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. These 12-century chess pieces were carved in walrus ivory.
