The identification of prehistoric dairying activities in the Western Isles of Scotland: An integrated biomolecular approach

TY - JOUR

T1 - The identification of prehistoric dairying activities in the Western Isles of Scotland

T2 - An integrated biomolecular approach

AU - Craig, O. E.

AU - Taylor, G.

AU - Mulville, J.

AU - Collins, M. J.

AU - Pearson, M. Parker

PY - 2005/1

Y1 - 2005/1

N2 - The antiquity of dairying in regions considered to be marginal, such as the Western Isles of Scotland, has generated considerable debate. Complementary biomolecular methods are now available for identifying milk residues on ceramic vessels, which provides direct evidence for this practice in the past. A range of late Bronze Age and Iron Age ceramic cooking vessels were selected from two sites on South Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides. The presence of milk proteins and lipids on a high proportion of potsherds confirms that these vessels were originally used to process dairy products. These data were integrated with evidence from the faunal remains and ethnographic accounts, in order to examine the wider significance and implications of dairy production in the Western Isles of Scotland during the first millennium BC. Further evidence from the pottery typologies and their depositional contexts were considered in order to comment on preparation and consumption practices.

AB - The antiquity of dairying in regions considered to be marginal, such as the Western Isles of Scotland, has generated considerable debate. Complementary biomolecular methods are now available for identifying milk residues on ceramic vessels, which provides direct evidence for this practice in the past. A range of late Bronze Age and Iron Age ceramic cooking vessels were selected from two sites on South Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides. The presence of milk proteins and lipids on a high proportion of potsherds confirms that these vessels were originally used to process dairy products. These data were integrated with evidence from the faunal remains and ethnographic accounts, in order to examine the wider significance and implications of dairy production in the Western Isles of Scotland during the first millennium BC. Further evidence from the pottery typologies and their depositional contexts were considered in order to comment on preparation and consumption practices.

KW - Dairying

KW - Food residues

KW - Lipids

KW - Milk

KW - Prehistory

KW - Proteins

KW - Scotland

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10244234117&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2004.06.009

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2004.06.009

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:10244234117

SN - 0305-4403

VL - 32

SP - 91

EP - 103

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

IS - 1

ER -