Ancient 2,000-Year-Old Footprints Uncovered on Scottish Beach After Storms
Two dog walkers have made a remarkable archaeological discovery on a Scottish beach, unearthing 2,000-year-old footprints that were briefly revealed by recent severe storms. The find at Lunan Bay in Angus offers a rare glimpse into life during the height of the Roman Empire.
Discovery by Local Residents
Local residents Ivor Campbell and Jenny Snedden were walking their dogs at Lunan Bay in late January when they noticed storm damage to the dunes had exposed a fresh layer of clay. Mr Campbell spotted distinct markings in the clay that would later be identified as ancient footprints.
Archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen were called to the scene and confirmed the prints were approximately 2,000 years old, dating back to the late Iron Age. The footprints include both human and animal tracks, creating what experts describe as a unique snapshot in time with no previous record of such a site in Scotland.
Race Against Time and Elements
The archaeological team faced extreme challenges in documenting the site before it was reclaimed by the sea. Professor Kate Britton, who led the team, described working in windspeeds exceeding 55mph while the sea rapidly eroded the fragile site with each high tide.
"We had to work fast in the worst conditions I've ever encountered for archaeological fieldwork," Professor Britton explained. "The sea was coming in fast, with every high tide ripping away parts of the site, while wind-blown sand was simultaneously damaging it. We were effectively being sand-blasted and the site was too."
The team managed to capture the site within a narrow 48-hour window before the entire area was destroyed by the elements. They recorded and mapped the footprints, creating 3D models and physical casts of the prints for permanent preservation.
Scientific Analysis and Dating
Once back in the laboratory, researchers conducted radiocarbon dating on preserved plant remains found just below the footprints, confirming they were made around 2,000 years ago. Ongoing analysis has identified tracks from various animals including roe deer and red deer, alongside humans who walked barefoot on what was once muddy clay.
Professor Gordon Noble, a team member, noted the significance of the timing: "The late Iron Age dates are in keeping with what we know about the rich archaeology of nearby Lunan Valley. It's very exciting to think these prints were made by people around the time of the Roman invasions of Scotland and in the centuries leading up to the emergence of the Picts."
Documentation and Environmental Context
When weather conditions permitted, researchers flew a drone to capture aerial views of the site, enabling them to map the footprints with millimeter accuracy in 3D. Dr Will Mills explained the environmental context revealed by the discovery: "The site also tells us how this now sandy beach was once a muddy estuary and that humans were using this environment, perhaps for hunting deer or to collect wild plant foods such as samphire."
The research team included post-doctoral researchers Dr Will Mills and Dr Elinor Graham, along with PhD students Sarah Barakat, Thomas Warrington and Tayla Sanders.
Initial Reporting and Final Destruction
When Mr Campbell first spotted the markings, he contacted council archaeologist Bruce Mann, who immediately recognized the urgency and contacted university experts. Mr Mann, who serves as regional archaeologist for Aberdeenshire, Angus, Moray and Aberdeen City councils, witnessed the site's destruction.
"Standing there, watching the site being destroyed as the waves crashed over it, was heartbreaking in some ways," Mr Mann said. "But at least we got the chance to record most of it. There is nothing left now, the storms having both revealed and then destroyed the site in just over a week."
While similar footprint sites have been identified at a small number of locations in England including Formby in Merseyside, Happisburgh in Norfolk, and the Severn Estuary, this represents the first such discovery in Scotland. The temporary nature of the exposure highlights both the fragility of archaeological sites and the importance of rapid response when such discoveries occur.
