Travellers on the Garmouth to Elginhill road during mid-April must have been puzzled to see a group of people digging or standing around in a ploughed field on the east side of Bin Hill. It can now be revealed that these were a team of professional archaeologists excavating a Bronze age burial site. The 4,000 year old burial had gradually been exposed...

A few days later a team of three archaeologists from AOC Archaeology Group arrived on site and started a proper excavation. Detailed drawings were made of each phase of the dig, careful measurements taken, samples bagged and eventually a skeleton appeared. The cist had been well made with an outer wall of large stones and an inner cobbled platform upon which the body lay. Also in the grave were fragments of a beaker and a beautifully made flint knife. It is probable that the beaker would have contained food and there may well have been other grave goods of cloth or hide which have not survived. The cist was well made and originally had a cap stone which was probably removed about ten years ago. When you think that this grave would have had to be dug without benefit of modern spades and the largest stones carried over rough ground for at least several miles by a group of men then you realise that the body was of an important person respected by their family and tribe.   

A preliminary report has already been received regarding the excavation but it may well be years before detailed tests on the skeleton and cist contents are complete. Eventually a full report will be completed and we hope that some of the material may then be returned to Elgin museum along with other flint tools from the area. This brings to ten the number of prehistoric funerary remains found in the Garmouth area and demonstrates that the popularity of this lovely area is long standing.