A HOUSE inhabited by some of Scotland’s earliest farmers has been unearthed — 6000 years after it was constructed.

Archaeologists say the Neolithic dwelling is “one of the most important discoveries” of its kind in recent years.

The pre-historic structure was discovered during a £120 million project to upgrade the water mains network between Ayrshire and Glasgow.

The location is close to Hillhouse farm, north east of East Ayrshire town Kilmarnock.

Fragments of pottery have been found along with post holes that formed part of the rectangular building.

It is believed that the site was constructed around 4,000 years BC, before the ancient Callanish Stones in Lewis and Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Kenneth Green, excavation director at GUARD Archaeology, said: “Heavily truncated by millennia of ploughing, only the deepest parts of some of the post-holes survived, arranged in a rectangular plan and containing sherds of early Neolithic pottery, hazelnut shell and charcoal.

“The width and depth of these post-holes indicated that they once held very large upright timber posts, suggesting that this building was once a large house, probably home to an extended family or group of families.

“Up until this time, during the earlier Mesolithic period (c8000-4000BC), Scotland was inhabited by small groups of hunter-gatherers, who led a nomadic lifestyle, living off the land.

“The individuals who built this Neolithic house were some of the earliest communities in Ayrshire to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, clearing areas of forest to establish farms, growing crops such as wheat and barley and raising livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.”

Scottish Water has been working with archaeologists to identify sites of potential interest along the route of the water main installation to allow the archaeologists to carry out excavations.

The rectilinear hall, which measured 14m by 8m, belonged to a type of house built by the first farming communities in Scotland. Fragments of Neolithic carinated bowl, used for cooking and storage, were also found.

It is understood that the area was not set for any major archaeological activity before the infrastructure work was scheduled.

Warren Bailie, operations manager at GUARD Archaeology, said: “What we have unearthed will add significantly to our knowledge of the history of this area but we would not have made this discovery, and these ruins would probably have lain undiscovered, had it not been for Scottish Water’s project.

“It is also quite apt that we found evidence of an old watercourse, a winding line of peat suggesting an older channel, very close to the Neolithic house.

“The house was built on a small rise or hill above that channel.

“That suggests these early settlers chose this spot because of access to water.”

Scottish Water environmental adviser Andrew Grant said they were “delighted” that something of such importance had been uncovered.

The discoveries have been removed for recording and analysis and will be claimed by the Crown and deposited in keeping with Scottish legal requirements as set out in Treasure Trove rules.