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26.2 September 2014 . ISSN 0960 703X . Charity Number SC010440 . www.socantscot.org
The President’s LetterDear Fellows, MyfinalletterasPresidentisregrettablybrief.SincesuccumbingtoillhealthatthebeginningofAprilthisyearIhaveunfortunatelybeenunabletotakepartinanySocietyactivitiesorpresideatmeetings.EspeciallydisappointingwasmissingtheRhindlectures,which,ascanbeseenandheardonthesuperbhigh-qualityrecordingsavailableontheSociety’swebsite,wereeruditelyandentertaininglydeliveredbyEmeritusProfessorJohnWaddellandenjoyedbymanyFellows.Ihavealsobeen absent from the recent important series of meetings oftheSociety’sCouncilatwhichcomplexgovernanceissueshavebeensubjecttodetailedreview.NoPresidentisindispensable,however,andIampleasedtobeabletothanktheSociety’sVice-Presidents,especiallyAntoinette(Twin)WatkinsandDrAnnMacSween,fortakingovermydutiessocompetently. AsIthinkbackoverthepastthreeyearstherearesomeobviousreflections.AlthoughthishasbeenanexceptionallyeventfulperiodfortheheritagesectorinScotlandagainstthebackgroundofcontinuingrecession,theSocietyhasemergedstrongerthaneverandisrecognisedbyGovern-mentasakeyindependentvoiceandadvocate.Aswiththerestofthesector,theSocietyisitselfchangingintermsofitsinternalorganisationtomeetthenewrealities–atlast
wehaveourFellowshipandDevelopmentOfficerpost–andisalsodeterminedtokeepinnovating(watchoutforthe Dig It 2015events)inlinewithitspublic-benefitremitas a charity. ButtheSociety’scommitmenttoitsunderlyingvaluesinfosteringandpromulgatingresearchremains–perhapsdemonstratedmostclearlybytheachievementofrealisingtheScottishArchaeologicalResearchFramework(ScARF)initiative,whichisnowseenasamajorandinnovativeresourceforallthoseinvolvedwithorinterestedinthearchaeologyofScotland.IamalsoparticularlypleasedthattheSocietyhasincreaseditsoutputofadiverserangeofbooks,achievingaqualityofcontentandproductiontorankalongsidetheverybestinternationalpublicationsinourfield.Thesebooks,alongwiththeSAIRreportsandtheProceedings,continuetoshowcasethelatestandbestofresearchintoScotland’spast. ItisveryreassuringondemittingofficetofeelconfidentthattheSocietyisinsuchgoodshape,withacommittedandenergeticCouncilandanexcellentstaffteam,andIsendmyverybestwishestomysuccessorforwhatwillIamsurebeanexcitingnexttriennium.ItremainstosaywhatanhonourandpleasureithasbeentoserveasyourPresidentsince 2012.
Alan Saville FSAFSAScotMIfA President
Newsletter
Society update
Dear Fellows, as the President mentions in his letter, Council members, who are the trustees of the Society, have been busy examining and assessing the governance of the Society, ensuring that it is fit-for-purpose in the modern charitable world. The completion of this work will likely result in a series of proposals to Fellows for consideration and, hopefully, agreement at an Anniversary or Extraordinary Meeting. It will also include some changes to the internal management of the Society such as changes to the Committee structure and greater clarity and transparency with regard to the respective roles of trustees and staff. The aim is to ensure that the Society operates as efficiently as possible, driving towards its current Vision and ensuring that it delivers its charitable objectives on your behalf.
Governance review and proposed subscription changes
SomeoftheproposalsbeingconsideredwillrequirechangestotheSocietyLawsandthustheagreementofFellows;forexampleapossiblechangeisthereductionin the numbers of trustees of the Society, from a current representationof22peopletoamorepracticablenumberofmembersandalimitednumberofco-optedmembers.Inaddition,CouncilisconsideringchangestothetenureoftrusteestoprovidegreaterstabilityandensuretheabilitytoengageeffectivelywiththelongtermgoalsoftheSociety. Councilhasalsohadtoconsidercurrentsubscriptionratesandtorecognisetheeffectofinflationsincethelastincrease in 2008. This means that a rise in subscription ratesisrequiredtosustainthisvitalincomestreamwhichprovidesthecoreoftheSociety’sindependence;theexactamountswillbecirculatedwiththeAnniversaryMeeting papers. Intandemwiththeproposalforariseinsubscriptionrates,theSocietyhasexploredwaysofrestructuringFellowshiptypes.TherewillbeproposalstointroduceanUnder26orStudentFellowshipwithareducedsubscriptionratetohelpdevelopouryoungerFellowship,andaproposaltochangetheRetiredFellowtypetoanOver65Fellowship.ThelatterwillremovetherequirementforaFellowtohavebeenamemberfor10yearsandsimplifyqualificationguidelinesforthereducedrate.TheSocietyhopesthechangeswillwidenaccessandencouragemembershipfromthesetwokeycommunities. TheproposalswillbephrasedasmotionsagreedunanimouslybyCounciltobevotedonbyFellowsandsetoutinthepaperscirculatedinadvanceofthemeetingon1December2014inGreyfriarsKirkinEdinburgh.CouncilurgesallFellowstoengagewiththisprocessandwehopetoseeasmanyofyouaspossibleatthemeetingitselfwheretherewillbeanopportunitytodiscusstheproposedchangeswithtrusteesandstaff.
Theeventwillalsocelebratethe25thanniversaryoftheEuropeanEthnologicalResearchCentre(EERC)andthecompletionofitsfourteen-volumeScottish Life And Society: A Compendium of Scottish Ethnology. ProfessorAlexander(Sandy)FentonHonFSAScot(1929–2014)foundedtheEERCwhichpromotesresearchinto
FellowDrAnneCronewillvisitStavangerandOsloinSeptembertodelivertheFischer-LindsaylecturesandaworkshoponthethemeofNorwegian timber in Scottish buildings; dendrochronological evidence for the timber trade across the North Sea in the 16th and 17th centuries? AnneisaProjectManageratAOCArchaeologyGroup,managingpost-excavationprogrammesthroughtopublication.Shespecialisesindendrochronologyandthestudyofwoodenstructuresandartefacts,andpursuesresearchintoScottishcrannogsthroughsurveyandexcavation. TheFischer-LindsaylecturesarejointlyorganisedbytheSocietyand Fortidsminneforeningen,theSocietyforthePreservationofAncientNorwegianMonuments.ThelecturesweretheinspirationofRonaldCant,apastPresidentoftheSocietywithapassionforecclesiasticalarchitecture.ThelecturesaimtoencouragelinksbetweenresearchersinScotlandandNorwayandhavebeendeliveredapproximatelybienniallyinalternatecountriessince 1980.
FundedthroughagenerousdonationfromourFellowDrPeterMurray,£200andamedalisawardedbienniallytorecogniseoriginalresearchpublishedbytheSocietyintothehistoryofScotlandinthemedievaland/orearlymodernperiods(cAD500toAD1700),setwithinaBritishand/orEuropeancontext.Historyisdefinedasencompassingallbranches,includingarthistory,butexcludesarchaeologyforwhichthereisalreadySocietyprovision.Submissionsfortheprize,initiallytobeconsideredforpublicationinvolume144oftheProceedings (tobepublishedinNovember2015),shouldreachtheManagingEditorby1 November 2014. Submissions from non-Fellowsarewelcome.Furtherinformationonsubmittingpapersforpublicationcanbefoundhere(http://www.socantscot.org/content.asp?Page=305&Menu=239),andadditionalinformationcanberequestedfromtheManagingEditor([email protected]).
Archaeological Research in Progress 2015 Call for Proposals
Scotland’sannualArchaeologicalResearchinProgress(ARP)nationalconferencewilltakeplaceonSaturday30May2015attheRoyalSocietyofEdinburgh,GeorgeStreet,Edinburgh.TheSocietyhostedeventaimstocoverrecentarchaeologicalprojectsfromaroundScotlandcoveringallperiods. DoyouhaveaprojectthatyouwouldliketopresentattheARPnextyear?Weareinvitingproposalsfor20–25minutepapersthatdemonstratebestpracticeandnewresearchfindings.Pleasesubmitthefollowinginformationto [email protected] by 31 January 2015:
ProfessorRichardBradleywilldeliverthe2014 Buchan Lecture*asthekeynoteaddressattheannualTAFAC(TaysideandFifeArchaeologicalCommittee)conference.Thelecturewilltracethehistoryofstonecirclesfromtheirfirstcreationtotheirsignificanceinthepresentday,andexaminesnewevidencefromrecentexcavationswhichshedsnewlightonthearchitecturalhistoryoftheseremarkablestructures. Forafulllistofspeakersandconferencedetails,visitwww.tafac.org.ukoremail [email protected]. *The Society offers grants to local societies to help fund a lecture, symposium or conference. A lecture supported by this fund is known as a Buchan Lecture after the founder of the Society. The fund aims to support events in areas of Scotland not regularly served by the Society’s meetings.
Scotland’s Community Heritage Conference 2014Saturday8NovemberandSunday9November2014CrieffHydro,CrieffThiseventprovidesaforumforvolunteersandcommunitygroupstoexchangenewsandideas,networkandlearnmoreaboutheritageprojectsacrossScotland.Delegatescanattendpresentations,takepartintrainingworkshops,seepostertalkanddisplaysandjoininthe‘oneminutemadness’sessions.AguidedwalkisplannedforSunday,9thNovember.Forfulldetailsonhowtoregistervisitwww.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/news/booking-now-open-scotland-community-heritage-conferenceoremailthem at [email protected]. Scotland’sCommunityHeritageConferenceisorganisedbyArchaeologyScotland,RCAHMS,NorthlightHeritage,theScottishCivicTrust,HistoricScotland,PerthandKinrossHeritageTrust,theSCAPETrust,theNationalTrustforScotlandandDigIt!2015.
Fellows’ pagesResearch into the archaeology of battlefields such as Culloden and Prestonpans, provided invaluable experience for Fellow Dr Natasha Ferguson in her role with the Treasure Trove Unit.
MyfirstyearofworkattheTreasureTroveUnitwasasteeplearningcurveanddespitehavingexperienceworkingwitharchaeologicalobjectstherewerestillaspectsthatwereinitiallydaunting.WhileatabasiclevelthelegalprincipleofTreasureTroveisrelativelysimple,inthatarchaeologicalmaterialrecoveredinScotlandcanineffectbeconsiderednationalproperty,therearenumerousfacetstoensurethissystemissuccessful.HereIaimtobrieflyexploreelementsoftheUnitFellowsmaypreviouslyhavebeenunawareof,namelytheprocessbehindclaimingobjectsandouroutreach programme. MymainactivitywithintheUnitconsistsofsortingandrecordingtheobjectsandassemblagesreportedtousas‘chancefinds’bymembersofthepublicfromacrossScotland.Onaverageapproximately1700objectsarereportedeachyearrangingfromearliestprehistorytomoderntimes,resultinginaround160claimedcases.AsTreasureTrovecanincludeanyobjectregardlessofitsageorcompositionadecisionregardingclaimingisbasedonwhetherweconsiderittobeofarchaeologicalsignificance.Althoughitisimportanttobeconstantlymindfulofthevulnerabilityofthesystemtopotentialbias,thefreedomtouseourprofessionaljudgementisliberatingandIfeelencouragesamuchbroaderappreciationofallaspectsofScotland’spast.Thisrequiresacertaininvestmentoftimeinresearch,aswellastheconfidencetorecognisepotentiallysignificantmaterial,nomatterhowfragmentaryorgrottylooking.EvenalthoughbothIandStuartCampbell,HeadofTreasureTrove,bothhaveacomprehensiveknowledgeofScottishmaterialculture,theabilitytodrawonanetworkofexpertisewithintheNationalMuseumsofScotland,wherewearebased,isinvaluable. Touseanexamplewhichdrawsfrommyownresearchinterestofconflictarchaeology,weoftenrecordassemblagesofleadprojectiles(musketballs)andothermilitarymaterial,inparticular18th–19th-centuryobjectsrelatedtotheraisingofMilitiaandVolunteerUnits,animportantpartofScotland’ssocialhistory.Leadprojectilesassinglefindsnormallyholdlittlearchaeologicalvalue unlessaspartofanassemblage,however, exceptionsincludeexampleswithunusual characteristicsorcontexts.Arecent exampleincludesapieceofcanister shotfoundbymetaldetectingonthe battlefieldofCulloden(1746),althoughnotonNationalTrustforScotlandproperty.Inmypreviouscapacity as a research assistant within the Centre for BattlefieldArchaeologyIworkedonseveralassemblagesofbattle-relatedmaterial,includingonerecoveredfromCulloden.Thisallowedmetonotonlyrecognisethisobjectassignificant,butalsorecognisethespatialsignificanceofthefindspotandhowitrelatedtothewiderbattlefieldcontext.TheobjectwasclaimedandsubsequentlyallocatedtotheInvernessMuseum&ArtGalleryandcontributestotheassemblagealreadyrecoveredbytheCentrein2006. However,regardlessofthetimeinvestedinresearchthesuccessofthesystemisalsodependentonanotherimportantfactor:effectiveoutreach.RaisingawarenessofTreasureTroveandkeepingitwithinthepublic
consciousnessisofprimaryconcern.Increasedvisibility,suchasregularFindsDaysandasocialmediapresenceintheformofTwitterandFacebook,togetherwiththecreationofeasilydigestibleinformationincludingaleafletandarevampedwebsiteareessential.Thesuccessofthisapproachisreflectedinaremarkable100%increaseinreportingoveratwoyearperiod.Ouroutreachaimstobeasencompassingaspossibleandwehavespentmanyeveningsandweekendsvisitingsocieties,clubsandschools,aswellasspeakingatconferencestopromoteourwork.OuroutreachhasalsotargetedheritageprofessionalswithbespokeworkshopsformuseumstaffandarchaeologistsonTreasureTroveandartefactidentification.Furthermore,ascommunityarchaeologybecomesmoreprevalentwehavealsointroducedaworkshopdesignedtoensureprojectleadersareawareofthenuancesofTreasureTrovelaw,anditspotentialpitfalls,whenworkingwithvolunteersandthepublic. AlthoughwiderangingmuchofouroutreachhasbeenfocusedonthehobbyistmetaldetectingcommunityinScotlandwhorepresentthemajorityofreportersof‘chancefinds’.Ihavespentanumberofyearsworkingwithmetaldetectoristsonarchaeologyprojects,andbasedmydoctoralresearchontheircontributionandimpactonsitesofconflictintheUK.Weworkcloselywithmetaldetectoristsandmakesurewehavearegularpresenceatclubsandrallieswherewehelppeopletoidentifyandreporttheirfinds.Concernsraisedbyarchaeologistsregardingunder-reportingarenotunfounded,butwehavefoundthatinrealitymuchofthisissueisbasedonfindersnotrecognisingsomematerialassignificantandsoassumingreportingisunnecessary.Thisrealisationsparkedthecreationofaseriesof‘GuidetoReporting’posterswhichfocusedonmaterialwehadidentifiedashighrisk,specificallymedieval,postmedievalandconflictrelatedobjects.Thiswasalsoanopportunitytostresstheimportanceofrecognisingassemblagesofmaterialaspotentiallysignificant.Thepostershavenotjustbeenpopularwithmetaldetectorists,butalsowithprofessionalstoowithrequestsforcopiesacrossthenationalandinter-nationalheritagesector. Overallwefeelouroutreachhashadapositiveimpactandwehavebeenkeentochallengeanyperpetuatingmythsaboutthesystem,ornotionsweareanunapproachablelegalbody.Thelegalresponsibilitytoreportarchaeologicalobjectswillalwaysunderpinouroutreach,butwestressthatweareheretohelpthepublicandheritageprofessionalsnavigatethroughTreasureTrovelaw. IfyouareinterestedtofindoutmoreaboutTreasureTroveinScotlandpleasedonothesitatetocontactus,orvisitourwebsitewww.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/ or followourvibrantTwitterandFacebookwww.facebook.com/TreasureTroveScotlandfeed.
Brendan O’Connor, Convener of the Programme Committee, reports.
“JohnWaddell,EmeritusProfessorofArchaeologyatNationalUniversityIrelandGalway,deliveredsixfascinatinglecturesonthesubjectofArchaeology and Celtic myth: an exploration. The lectures,whichareavailableonline,weremorethanaliteralapplicationofmedievalIrishliteraturetoIronAgesitesbutrangedwidelyoverEuropeandbacktotheNeolithic.Theaudiencecamefromfarandwide,nonefurtherthanourHonoraryFellowVincentMegawfromAustralia.Hejoinedtheaudienceforthelastlecturesfreshfromacelebrationofhis80thbirthdayandwasabletogiveusaninsightintothe more recent past when he was an Edinburgharchaeologystudentinthe1950s. WemustthankVice-President,DrAnnMacSween,whohadtopresideovertheweekend,andDrKatherineForsythofGlasgowUniversityforsummingupthelecturesandgivinganinsightfulvoteofthanks.”
WehavealimitedsupplyofArchaeology and Celtic Myth: an explorationbyJohnWaddellavailable.Fellowscanplaceordersbypost,phone(+44(0)1312474214)[email protected]. The bookcosts£35(£5reductionofthepublisher/Amazonprice)andwecharge£2.50forUKpostageor£7.90forinternationalpostage.Weacceptpaymenteitherbychequeorbycard.
Warm glow of Scottish gold
Dr David Gaimster FSA Scot, Director of The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, kindly welcomed Fellows to a private view of the Scottish Gold exhibition in May. Fellow Dr Jennifer Novotny reports on the evening.
Thereismuchtobesaidforpassingan hour in the company of the warm glowofgold.TheScottish Gold exhibitionattheHunterianhighlightedgoldandgoldobjectsmined,produced,orusedinScotland,fromtheBronzeAgethroughtothemodernera.ItshowcasedtheHunterian’sowncollectionswhilegatheringtogether
animpressivearrayofobjectsonloanfrominstitutionsthroughouttheUK. FellowsweretreatedtoaspecialguidedtourbytheHunterian’sexpertnumismatistDrDonalBatesonFSAScot.Highlightsincludedthe19th-centuryLawFarmhoardofBronzeAgeribbontorcs,withallbut2oftheextantobjectsfromtheassemblagebroughttogether.AnotherBronzeAgetreasurewastheForteviotdaggeruncoveredbyarchaeologistsfromtheUniversityofGlasgow.PerhapsIambiasedindrawingattentiontothisremarkableobject,asIhadthegoodfortunetobeatForteviotthedaythecapstonewasliftedandwitnessedthethrillofitsdiscoveryinsideacistburial.SeeingtheForteviotdaggerfullyconservedandondisplayforthefirsttimewasatruetreat. OtherhighlightsincludedgoldcoinsfromtheHunterian’sownimportantnumismaticcollections,includingtheearliestScottishgoldcoinage,alongwithaMerovingiancoinofauniquetypenotpreviouslyidentified.ThisimportantobjectwasachancefindmadebyametaldetectoristandreportedtotheTreasureTroveUnitandonlyrecentlyallocatedto the museum. Alongsidethearchaeologicalmaterial,theexhibitionillustratedthegeologyofgold.MapsorientatedyoutothelocationsofScotland’sgoldreserves,whiletheprocurementofthepreciousmetalwasillustratedwithsamplesofores,nuggets,flakes,andfakes.ManyofthesamplesweredrawnfromtheHunterian’sownextensivemineralogicalcollections.IwasparticularlyfascinatedbyimagesofSutherland’sBaileanOr,anephemeralboomtownfromScotland’sshort-lived1869goldrush. Inamodernculturesaturatedwithcheaplyavailablefauxgoldbling,itisimportanttostopandreflectupontheculturalimportanceofgold;theexhibitiondeftlyevokedtherarity,theprestige,andthebeautyofthispreciousmetal.Scottish Gold’sobjectsofpower,commerce,andpersonalexpressionilluminatethetimelineofScottishprehistoryandhistoryandcontinuetobeguileustoday.WhatbetterwaytoexplorethisrichculturaltimelinethaninthecompanyofFellows;IamalreadylookingforwardtotheRoberttheBruceTombReconstructioneventinNovember!” Moreinformationandselectedimagesavailableathttp://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/visit/exhibitions/major%20exhibitions/scottishgold/.
Our thanks to Peter Thierfeldt for opening his beautiful garden to raise funds for the Society and Dig It! 2015. The event was in memory of Judith Craig Lyall – a great supporter of Scottish archaeology.
Wespentagloriousdaysurroundedbyblooms,enjoyinghomebakingandspreadingthewordabouttheworkoftheSociety.MoniesraisedwillfundanarchaeologyprojectforyoungpeopleintheLanarkshirearea.It is not too latetodonateonlineatbit.ly/1smRtVq.
Summer Excursion to Dumfries House
Dumfries House and the newly opened walled garden proved to be a popular destination for our Summer Excursion. Fellow Jennifer Scarce reports.
The Antiquaries tempts its members withvariedattractions–lectures,conferences,medalsandprizes,publications.Apopularactivityis
The Second Annual Australian Fellows’ Dinner 2015JamesDonaldsonFSAScotisplanningasecondgatheringofAustralianFellows.
FollowingthehighlysuccessfulinauguralFellows’DinnerheldinMelbourneinFebruary2014,thetimehasnowarrivedtobeginmakingpreparationsforthe2015Dinner. Tofacilitatethebestchoiceofdate,citylocationandvenue,itwouldbemosthelpfulifAustralianFellows,whoareinterestedinattending,makecontactwiththeConvenor,DrJamesDonaldson,[email protected] to registertheirinterest.HewouldbepleasedtoansweranyquestionsconcerningtheDinner. Ifyouhavealreadybeencontact,buthaverecentlyalteredyoure-mailaddress,pleaseforwardyournewaddresstotheConvenor(andtheSociety)soyoucontinuetoreceiveuptodateinformation. ApartfromMelbourne,itispossiblethattheDinnermaybeheldelsewhere,dependinguponthegeographicallocationsofpotentialattendees.Itwasfeltbythosewhoattendedthe2014Dinner,thatadateinMarchorAprilmightbe more appropriate.
Plans for a North American Meeting 2015/16 IanGreigBScFSAScot,hasofferedtoorganiseameetingforFellowsinTampa,Floridaduringthewinterof2015–2016ifthereissufficientinterestintheidea.ThiswouldbeanopportunityforFellowsinNorthAmericatomeetandsharetheirpassionforthehistoryandarchaeologyofScotlandorindeedthosefromfurtherafieldaspartofaholidaytrip.
ExpertspeakerswillbedrawnfromthebodyoftheFellowship(especiallythoseresidentinCanadaandtheUnitedStates)withavideolinktoScottishbasedcontributors.WehopethatFellowsunabletotraveltoScotlandwillwelcometheopportunitytogathertogetherforthefirsttime. Toprogressplans,IaniskeentoestablishthelevelofinterestwithintheNorthAmericanFellowshipforsuchameeting.IftheSocietyhasyouremailaddressonrecord,youwillhavereceivedanemailearlierthissummer.Thankyoutothosewhoresponded.If,however,youhaveyettoregisterinterestpleasedosoby31 October 2014 by [email protected] and vina@socantscot.orgorbywritingtotheSociety.OnceIanhasestablishedthereisstrongenoughsupportfortheideahewillbeintouchdirectly.Inthemeantime,pleasesendanyenquiriestotheemailaddressesabove.
DIG IT! 2015 news
Withonlyafewmonthstogountilthelaunch,theDigIt!2015teamhavebeenworkinghardinordertoorganisetheupcomingyear-longcelebrationofScottisharchaeology. Partofthispreparationinvolvedhiring two new members of staff. ForourYouthEngagementOfficerposition,wehavebeenluckyenough
TheancientCelticworldevokesdebate,discussion,romanticismandmythicism.Ontheonehanditrepresentsaspecialistareaofarchaeologicalinterest,ontheother,ithasawidegeneralappeal.Celtic Art in Europe: Making Connections isavolumeof37papersbringingtogetheratrulyinternationalgroupofpre-eminentspecialistsinthefieldofCelticartandCelticstudies.TheessaysareinhonourofVincentMegawHonFSAScotonhis80thbirthday. OxbowareofferingFellowsaspecialdiscountrateof£48(normalprice£60).Toorderyourcopy,visitwww.oxbowbooks.com orphone(01865)241249)[email protected].
Scotland in Later Prehistoric EuropeFraserHunterFSAScotandIanRalstonFSAScot(editors)ChaptersbyIanArmit,BarryCunliffe,AndrewDunwell,MartinGoldberg,StratfordPHallidayScot,ColinHaselgrove,FraserHunter,FlemmingKaul,JVSMegaw&MRuthMegaw,Pierre-YvesMilcent,RachelPope,IanRalston,RichardTippingand EugèneWarmenbol
Portmahomack on Tarbat Ness: An Iron Age estate, Pictish monastery, Scots trading farm and medieval township in north-east ScotlandMartinCarverFSAScot,JustinGarner-LahireandCecilySpallFSAScot
Open access
FreeandopenaccesstoresearchhasalwaysbeenimportanttotheSociety.Asmostofyouwillknow,wehavebeenworkingwiththeArchaeologyDataServicesince2001toprovidefreeonlineaccesstooldervolumesoftheProceedings(newervolumesareaccessibleforFellowsbyusingausernameandpassword),Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports andourout-of-printbooks.
As part of the commemorations of the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is supporting a project to research and reconstruct the lost tomb of Robert the Bruce. The project involves partners from across the heritage sector, including the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Historic Scotland, National Museums Scotland, the Hunterian, the National Registers of Scotland, Fife Cultural Trust and the Abbotsford Trust.
ExpertsattheLouvrehavesuggestedthatthestone,likethatoftheFrenchroyaltombs,ishighlylikelytohavebeenquarriedatCarrara,northernItaly. Withtheknownpiecesofthetombdispersedthroughthreedifferentcollections,itwashopedthattheprojectmightuncoveryetmore,unrecorded,fragments,possiblystillinprivatehands.Oneofthemostexcitingoutcomesoftheprojectwasthediscoveryofanadditionalpiece,hithertounrecognisedandundocumented,amongSirWalterScott’scollectionsofantiquitiesatAbbotsfordHouse.Thispiecewasalsoofcrucialimportanceinfittingandconfirmingtheaccuracyofthereconstruction.Theprojectiscurrentlyattemptingtolocateafurtherpiece,believedtohavebeendonatedtoamuseumintheUnitedStates. Thisresearch,imageryandmodelwillallowallfourcollectionstoreinterprettheirownfragmentsofthemonument,andtodisplaythemmorevisually,showinghowtheywouldhavefittedintotheintacttomb. Thedigitalmodel,togetherwithaselectionofthefragments,arethefocusofadisplay,The Lost Tomb of Robert the Bruce,inTheHunterian,Glasgow,whichwillrunfrom24June2014to4January2015.
Dr Iain Fraser FSA Scot
Interested in finding out more about the project?YoucanjoinDrIainFraseratourFellows’PrivateVieworattendadaylongcolloquium:Research colloquiumMonday 10 November 9.15 am – 4.30 pm HostedbyTheHunterian,UniversityofGlasgow.Theopportunitytoexplorethehistoricalbackground,reconstruction,scientificanalysis,andthewiderartisticcontextofthetomb.Forfulldetailsandtobookticketspleasevisithttp://conservation.historic-scotland.gov.uk/home/future-events/event-detail.htm?eventid=10818.
Legacies EncouragingandfundingoriginalresearchisanimportantpartoftheSociety’smission.ByrememberingtheSocietyinyourWill,youcanhelpfundfutureresearchtodeepenunderstandingofScotland’spast.Formoreinformation contact Simon Gilmour or Vina Oberlander.
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