Scotland's First Settlers

Scotland's First Settlers comprised a survey project to locate and examine sites relating to the earliest, Mesolithic, settlement of the Inner Sound, along the coastlands between Skye and the west coast of Scotland. Particular foci of interest included the existence and nature of midden sites, the use of rockshelters and caves, and the different types of lithic raw material in use. In addition, information relating to the human use of the area up to the present day was recorded. Fieldwork took place over five years between 1999 and 2004: the entire coastline of the Inner Sound together with its islands was walked; 129 new archaeological sites were recorded; 36 sites were shovel pitted; 44 test pitted; and one major excavation took place. This archive consists of the results of survey and excavation work as well as detailed artefact reports, full information on ecofacts such as shell, and bone, and information on the development of the landscape and environment, including sea level change.

"苏格兰首批定居者"考古调查项目旨在定位并考察斯凯岛与苏格兰西海岸之间的内海峡（Inner Sound）沿岸地区的最早中石器时代（Mesolithic）定居点遗址。本次调查的核心关注方向包括贝丘遗址（midden sites）的存在状况与遗存性质、岩棚与洞穴的利用情况，以及当时使用的各类石质原料（lithic raw material）类型。此外，项目还记录了该区域直至当代的人类活动相关信息。野外工作于1999年至2004年间历时五年完成：对整个内海峡沿岸及其所属岛屿开展了徒步考古调查；新记录考古遗址129处；对36处遗址进行了铲探；对44处遗址开展了试掘；并完成1处大型考古发掘。本档案库涵盖本次考古调查与发掘的全部成果，包括详细的人工制品研究报告、贝壳与骨骼等生态遗存（ecofacts）的完整资料，以及区域地貌与环境演变（含海平面变化）的相关信息。