Icelandic volcanic ash in Scotland

Abstract

A discrete layer of Holocene volcanic ash, or tephra, has been discovered in Caithness, Scotland. Major and minor element analysis of individual glass shards indicates that the ash is of Icelandic origin, and that it was probably produced by the ‘Hekla 4’ eruption of ca. 4000 b.p. This discovery identifies a valuable isochrone, and introduces to the British mainland the possibility of usingteprochronology in archaeology. Furthermore, it islikely that a number of other Icelandic ashes are also present in Scotland.