Ancient burial pots discovered

TWO Bronze Age burial pots, each containing human remains, have been discovered at the base of an ancient standing stone after it toppled over, it was revealed yesterday.

The 7ft Carlinwell Stone at Airlie, near Kirriemuir in Angus, fell last month with the onset of the spring thaw as the harsh winter's snow and ice melted.

The ancient stone was undamaged, and archaeologists were commissioned by Historic Scotland to excavate the base before work began to raise the monolith back into position.

The excavations have led to the discovery of two small pots, known as collared urns, believed to be more than 3,500 years old.