Bronze Age Discovery Made At Shetland Spaceport Site

Remains of what is believed could have been a Bronze Age ritual cremation cemetery have been found at Shetland’s planned SaxaVord spaceport.

The discovery was made during groundworks for the rocket launch site on the Lamba Ness peninsula in Unst.

Features including pits and burnt bone have been uncovered. Archaeologists think it may date from 2200-1800 BC.

The discovery is not expected to hamper development work at the spaceport, which is supporting the excavation.

Katie O’Connell, of site assessors AOC Archaeology, said: “The several deposits of burnt bone which have been found are likely associated with the remains of cremation deposits.

She added: “Though excavation is only beginning, there may be a relation between the large stones, alignments of pits, the quartz setting, and the cremation cemetery, suggesting that together these form part of a ritual complex.”