Refining the Chronology of the Neolithic Settlement at Pool, Sanday, Orkney: Implications for the Emergence and Development of Grooved Ware

New radiocarbon dating refines the chronology of the Neolithic settlement at Pool, Sanday, Orkney, revealing two distinct phases of Grooved Ware pottery development. Phases 2.2 and 2.3, featuring flat-based Grooved Ware with incised decoration, likely spanned the 31st to 28th centuries cal BC, followed by a century-long hiatus before Phase 3, characterized by applied decoration, emerged between the 26th and 24th centuries cal BC. This study provides critical insights into the emergence and evolution of Grooved Ware, shedding light on the trajectory of settlement and monumentality in Sanday during this period.

Macsween, A., Hunter, J., Sheridan, A., Bond, J., Ramsey, C. B., Reimer, P., Bayliss, A., Griffiths, S., & Whittle, A. (2015). Refining the Chronology of the Neolithic Settlement at Pool, Sanday, Orkney: Implications for the Emergence and Development of Grooved Ware. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 81, 283–310. https://doi.org/10.1017/ppr.2015.12