Archaeology breakthrough as 'rare' prehistoric chariot wheel unearthed at UK golf course site

A 'rare' ancient chariot wheel was discovered in Scotland alongside another 3500-year-old item

17:38, 24 Apr 2025

A prehistoric iron chariot-wheel tyre has been unearthed at the site of a new golf course(Image: PA)

Archaeologists have unearthed a prehistoric chariot wheel ahead of construction on a new golf course in the Scottish Highlands.

The "rare" wheel was one of several discoveries found at the site of a new championship golf course near Inverness, Scotland.

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The excavations, conducted by Avon Archaeology Highland, also uncovered a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age cremation urn, flint tools, quern stones and remnants of Neolithic wooden buildings.

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Archaeologists have said the discoveries "paint a picture of ancient life in the Highlands, from ceremonial practices to agricultural innovation."

A medieval corn-dryer unearthed at the Old Petty Championship Golf Course site(Image: PA)

The findings were made at the site of the upcoming Old Petty Championship Golf Course at Cabot Highlands. Stuart McColm, Vice-President of Golf Development, Cabot, said: "This has been a remarkable journey from pre-historic times to the present, right here on our doorstep.

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"It’s humbling to think that our new championship course, Old Petty, will rest on such historically rich ground. We're proud to preserve this heritage while creating a world-class golf experience."

A Bronze Age Cordoned Urn, before reconstruction, also unearthed at the archaeological site(Image: PA)

Efforts have been made to ensure the preservation of key features, in keeping with Scottish archaeological best practice. This includes the prehistoric ceremonial circle, which has been carefully reburied.

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Andy Young, Principal Archaeologist at Avon Archaeology Highland, praised the collaboration: "The partnership with Cabot Highlands has been exemplary. Their commitment to preserving the past while shaping the future is a model for responsible development."

Iron Age quern stones were among the artefacts unearthed at the golf site(Image: PA)

Young added: "Always happy to see new archaeology emerge from the ground but some of the discoveries we have made, particularly relating to early Neolithic settlement and later prehistoric ceremonial/funerary activity, are properly exceptional."

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Asked which part of the discovery he believes is most important, he said: "Depends somewhat on your particular heritage interests, but I guess the discovery of the ceremonial/funerary prehistoric palisade circle, inside of which was a cremation pit containing the remains of a chariot wheel – not all the chariots were in East Yorkshire, it seems."

An Iron Age roundhouse enclosure uncovered at Cabot, near Inverness(Image: PA)

The findings will be documented in detail in 2025 after the items are radiocarbon dated.