Dog Skull (Cranium), Cuween Tomb

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Cuween Neolithic tomb on Mainland, Orkney excavated in 1901, contained 24 dog skulls, along with other dog and human bones. The number of dog remains is remarkable. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the dog remains were placed in the tomb several centuries after it was constructed, dating to c 2600 BC. In 2018, research commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland, working with National Museums Scotland, discovered a great deal about this skull. A part of the NMS collection, this cranium as presented here was reconstructed using automated photogrammetry by Richard Allen at the University of Oxford. Other models of the skull were generated using laser and CT scanning. A 3D print from the CT scan produced at HES’s Engine Shed conservation centre, was then used by forensic artist Amy Thornton to reconstruct how the dog may have looked when alive. Follow the annotations to learn more. For information on Cuween, see our website.