A fierce winter storm that battered the eastern coast of Scotland has briefly unveiled a ghost from the past. Powerful waves stripped away centuries of sand at Lunan Bay to reveal a fragile clay surface stamped with the footprints of Iron Age humans and animals. This accidental discovery offered archaeologists a fleeting “snapshot in time” before the rising tides destroyed the site just 48 hours later.
A Chance Discovery in the Sands
The historic find did not come from a planned excavation or a university survey. It started with a simple morning walk. Local residents Ivor Campbell and Jenny Snedden were walking their dogs, Ziggy and Juno, along the popular Angus beach when they noticed something unusual. The storm had scoured away the dunes and exposed a fresh layer of ancient clay that was marked with distinct impressions.
Campbell spotted the shapes and realized they looked like tracks. He acted quickly and contacted Bruce Mann, the local council archaeologist. Mann recognized the potential significance immediately. “As soon as I saw the first photograph, I realised I was looking at something very special,” Mann said. He knew that the tides would return to claim the site, so he sent an urgent call for help to the University of Aberdeen.
The Race Against the Tide
What followed was a desperate scramble to save history before it was washed away. Professor Kate Britton led a team of researchers and students who rushed to the beach. They faced brutal conditions to document the find. Winds howled at speeds of over 55 miles per hour and whipped up sand that stung their faces and threatened to bury the prints again.
The team had to work fast. They picked up supplies like plaster from a craft store on their way to the coast. “We were effectively being sand-blasted and the site was too,” Professor Britton explained. She described the operation as a race against the elements. The sea was coming in fast and every high tide ripped away more of the ancient clay. The researchers used drone cameras and photogrammetry to create detailed 3D models of the surface. They also took physical casts of the most important prints while Campbell and Snedden helped carry buckets and made tea to keep the freezing team going.
A Snapshot of Iron Age Life
The hard work paid off. The team managed to map the site and collect vital samples just in time. Radiocarbon dating of plant remains found beneath the footprint layer confirmed that the tracks were about 2,000 years old. This dates them to the late Iron Age, a time of Roman invasions and the rise of the Picts.
The tracks tell a story of a very different landscape. Today Lunan Bay is a sandy beach, but two millennia ago it was a muddy estuary. The preserved impressions show that red deer and roe deer grazed there. Alongside the animal tracks were the footprints of barefoot humans. “This is a real tangible link to the region’s past,” said Professor Gordon Noble. The prints suggest that people used the wet ground to hunt, fish, or gather coastal plants.
Gone Forever but Not Forgotten
The sea reclaimed the site less than two days after the team finished their work. The clay surface broke apart and vanished under the waves. However, the digital records and physical casts ensure that this unique discovery is preserved forever. Dr. William Mills noted that it is incredibly rare to save such a delicate record that takes only minutes to create but can last for thousands of years.
This event also highlights a growing threat. Climate change is accelerating coastal erosion around Scotland and revealing—then destroying—more archaeological sites than ever before. “It is more important than ever that local community members keep an eye on their local coasts,” urged Dr. Elinor Graham. She hopes this discovery will inspire others to report anything unusual they find on the shore.
The quick thinking of two dog walkers and the dedication of a shivering team of archaeologists saved a piece of Scottish history from being lost to the ocean. It serves as a reminder that the ground beneath our feet often holds secrets waiting for the right storm to reveal them.
What do you think about this fleeting glimpse into the past? Have you ever found something historic on a beach walk? Share your thoughts in the comments below or use #LunanBayHistory on social media to join the conversation.
