Call for help to track down the people behind the discovery of Ava
PRECIOUS little is known about “Ava”, other than she was probably well-to-do and aged about 20 when she met her end in her native Caithness.
All that remains of her is her skull, which was recovered after her ancient burial site was dug up almost 30 years ago.
Now an archaeologist is appealing for help to find out more about the woman, who has been nicknamed Ava after the site she was found at Achavanich on the Causewaymire.
Maya Hoole is keen to track down local people, including a group of schoolchildren, who were present when the 3500-year-old site was unearthed in 1987.
The early Bronze Age find attracted a lot of interest in the archaeological world as Ava was buried in a pit made of solid rock of which only a few exist in the UK.
Edinburgh-based Miss Hoole launched the Achavanich Beaker Burial Project two years ago in a bid to find out why Ava was buried at the site along with a beaker made of flint.
Highland Council archaeologist Robert Gourlay, who spearheaded the excavation, has since died. Twenty-six-year-old Miss Hoole wants to speak to four others who took part, Gemma Corcoran, Graham Ganson, William Ganson and Sarah Hargreaves.
She is also aware pupils from Lybster school were working at the site when the skull was discovered.
“It has been a challenge to find out what happened during the excavation as a lot of those who took part are untraceable,” she said.
“I have tried to get in touch with them but have had no success.
“It would be great to speak to anyone who was involved when Ava was first discovered.
“If anyone in Caithness can remember anything from the excavation to help the project that would be fantastic.”
Miss Hoole first became interested in the discovery when she was working with the council’s historic environment team in Inverness.
Laboratory tests have aged Ava between 18 and 22 with the circumstances of her burial meaning she was considered to have been important.
“She must have been someone significant in society but for what reason I don’t know,” she said.
“But people have gone to an awful lot of effort to create this burial, especially as they have cut through solid rock to create her resting place.”
When Ava’s head was found, archaeologists also discovered a decorated beaker made of flint beside her along with spine bone from an ox.
Miss Hoole said: “Flint is a rare resource in Scotland as it does not form naturally here and the only place it would have been found would be on beaches and she has been buried with three pieces of flint.”
Her short, round skull and the manner of her burial would indicate she was within a tribe known as the Beaker People.
Ava’s skull and the other remains can be seen in Caithness Horizons centre in Thurso and staff there have been helping Miss Hoole with her project.
She recently launched a website dedicated to the discovery.
Anyone with information about the excavation can contact Miss Hoole at mayahoole@googlemail.com or visit the The Achavanich Beaker Burial Project Facebook site.