During the following period the land was colonised by an incoming people, the Neolithic folk who, from 4000 to 3000 B.C., increasingly settled throughout the region. They had axes, and being able to clear woodlands, developed farmlands for, as well as being hunters, they had become farmers. They grew wheat and barley - oats and rye came into use later. They had domesticated cattle, sheep, pigs and goats. Remains from this time are fairly abundant, the richest sources being the burial cairns. A group of at least seven of these courtyard cairns has been found in the Cree Basin, the most remarkable of which are those at Boreland (Minigaff) and Cairnholy. Other finds have been made; examples of'Beaker' pottery at High Banks, Kirkcudbright being the nearest to the Rerrick area.

The succeeding Bronze Age population have left traces in the shape of weapons, food-vessels, cup-and-ring markings and many cairns. There are twenty-six cairns in the Cree Basin, others in the Ken and Deugh valleys and a more isolated group in the Carsphairn area. Some of these cairn groups include stone circles. Among the many weapons found throughout the region there is a bronze dagger from Carlingwark Loch. The cairn at High Banks contained two food vessels, and an urn of the period was found at Whinnieliggate. In the Fleet Bay area and on the east side of the Dee there are many cup-and-ring markings.back to top