Kilmartin Museum houses thousands of prehistoric artefacts

The Kilmartin Museum

The Kilmartin Museum, which has reopened following a redevelopment work, acts as a custodian of the artefacts that come from Kilmartin Glen, one of Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscapes. 

The Museum houses a collection of some 11,000 prehistoric artefacts that offers a fascinating insight into the lives those inhabiting the area over the last 12,000 years. 

Highlights include: 

• the remains of a Bronze Age woman found in Kilmartin Glen, displayed alongside a reconstruction of her face, allowing visitors to look into the eyes of their ancestor 
• Mesolithic flint core, 12,000 years old, one of few artefacts representing some of the first evidence of human presence in Kilmartin Glen 
• Axe heads, possibly buried as part of a ceremony, one has stylistic qualities the are traditionally Irish and the other typically Scottish, and 
• three Beaker pots, from a grave of a person who originated on the continent. 

The Museum also showcases over 60 loans from National Museums Scotland including: 

• the Poltalloch jet necklace – a piece of internationally important Bronze Age jewellery from Kilmartin Glen, and 
• the Glebe Cairn vessel, with a view towards the Bronze Age cairn it was found in. 

Paul Campbell Near to the Museum are several prehistoric sites including: 

• Kilmichael Glassary Rock Art - Rock art some 5,000-year-old featuring motifs such as cup and ring marks. 
• Linear cemetery - A 2km long line of five cairns, dating about 5,000 to 3,500 years ago. 

Temple Wood Stone Circle - A complex ritual and funerary site which was in use for more than 2,000 years (before 3000 BC and continued into the Bronze Age, ending about 1000 BC), with 13 standing stones. 
* www.kilmartin.org 

* Hannah at hannahk@thecornershoppr.com