Isle of Skye, Scotland — A groundbreaking discovery off the coast of the Isle of Skye is rewriting the story of human migration into the far reaches of northern Scotland. Recently uncovered submerged stone circles, dating back approximately 11,000 years, suggest the earliest known human occupation of the region during the Late Upper Palaeolithic period.

Measuring between 3 and 5 meters in diameter, the stone circles were found beneath shallow coastal waters and have been remarkably well-preserved. Alongside these enigmatic structures, archaeologists also recovered stone tools, further cementing the site’s human origins.

“This is a hugely significant discovery which offers a new perspective on the earliest human occupation yet known, of north-west Scotland,” said Karen Hardy, a prehistoric archaeologist at the University of Glasgow. Hardy led the research team that published their findings in the Journal of Quaternary Science in April.

The site challenges long-standing assumptions about the limits of prehistoric habitation in the British Isles. Until now, the harsh and frigid conditions of northwest Scotland were believed to be largely uninhabited during the closing millennia of the Ice Age. However, this new evidence suggests that human groups not only ventured into these regions but also established structured, possibly ceremonial spaces like stone circles.

The findings come from two archaeological sites investigated on the Isle of Skye, which was once connected to the mainland by a land bridge during periods of lower sea levels. The submersion of the stone circles may have occurred gradually as sea levels rose at the end of the last Ice Age, offering a rare underwater snapshot of early human activity.

The recovered tools—primarily scrapers and blades—point to a hunter-gatherer society adept at surviving in challenging environments. The presence of circular stone arrangements may also hint at early ritualistic behavior or social gathering spaces, although their precise function remains speculative.

“This discovery opens a window into the resilience and adaptability of our ancestors,” Hardy added. “It also raises new questions about how widespread such activity might have been across submerged coastal regions now lost beneath the sea.”

Researchers are calling for further underwater surveys in the region, hoping that this find will lead to a broader reevaluation of submerged landscapes along Scotland’s coastlines. As more ancient sites emerge from beneath the waves, our understanding of prehistoric migration, survival, and culture in northern Europe continues to deepen.