PRE-HISTORY OF STRATHKINNESS

There is no known prehistoric settlement at Strathkinness, but archeolo-

gists and geographers agree that there is enough evidence from known pre-

historic sites nearby and from the overall nature of the area, to indicate the

possibility of Strathkinness having been settled in prehistoric times.

Excavations made at Morton Farm, Tentsmuir, near Tayport, have revealed

that the early inhabitants there of the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age (more

than 6,000 years ago) made tools for hunting and fishing. Remains found

there, dating from around 4,000 BC, show that their diet consisted of hunted

animals, fish and shellfish, sea birds, nuts and berries.

During the Neolithic or New Stone Age (around 4,000 years ago) people

were more settled than the earlier bands of small family groups which had

roamed the country in search of food. They grew primitive strains of crops,

mainly barley.

Archeological finds from around Strathkinness include a polished stone

axe from Denhead which is over 4,000 years old, an axe from Drumcarrow of

about the same period and a very fine perforated stone axe found at St. Fort.

A socketed bronze knife, dated about 900 BC, found at Nydie Farm in 1966

has a piece of rolled linen thrust into its socket. It is one of the earliest

pieces of linen to be found in Britain. It cannot be said with any certainty

where the linen came from, but it is of interest as cloth does not survive well

and few examples remain.

The ridges of the High Road and the ‘Bishop’s Road’ were good routes

of communication, and the varied conditions of the nearby stream, the sea-

shore, the estuary and the lowlands ensured a variety of food.

Whether or not there actually were prehistoric settlements in Strathkinness

will not be known until archeologists and other interested professionals study

the area.

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