Dreghorn is a historic place, home town in the modern era to such illustrious figures as John Dunlop, inventor of the pneumatic tyre, and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
But that history stretches a lot further back. In fact, it may even stretch further back than any other village, town or city in the UK.
In the early 2000s North Ayrshire Council granted planning permission for 53 new houses in what is now Station Brae, Dreghorn, on condition that tests were carried out on land next to the cemetery.
Developers spotted suspicious looking lumps on the land and bumps were spotted on aerial photos of the site.
When a 5,500 year old well was found, it was time for the archaeologists to be called in.
And it was soon discovered that Dreghorn could be Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited village after an ancient settlement was uncovered.
The leader of the archaeology team Tom Wilson said in 2004: “This is only one of five to be discovered in Scotland and we think it dates back to around 3500BC.
“It would be a farming community with around eight huts taking pride of place in the site. We have also found pits with pottery and a giant fence that must have circled the village.
“Although other neolithic villages have been found in Scotland, this is the only one I believe has been permanently lived in. We can see where the huts and kiln would have been.
“The residents moved further up the hill in the winter as the land was prone to flooding. We’re really like detectives and so far we have found some important artifacts including grooved-ware pottery and a kiln that we think is the oldest found in Scotland."
Next time you are out for a walk in the area, it might be a smart idea to keep your eyes on the ground. Who knows what you might find?
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