|
|
|
|
|
Perthshire Archaeology Month
|
Perthshire Archaeology Month - 1-30 June 2010
Perthshire Archaeology Month 2010 is the eighth annual celebration of archaeology in Perth and Kinross.
Having begun life as Perthshire Archaeology Week in 2003, the programme is now widely recognised as providing a first class event offering expert guidance to the best archaeological sites in the area. A packed programme of guided walks, excavations, exhibitions, and talks present a variety of ways in which to engage with the wealth of archaeology around you.
This year’s programme has taken Perth 800 as a key theme, with many events and activities organised to celebrate the history and archaeology of Perth. The event is funded and organised by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (www.phkt.org.uk) and runs alongside the Trust’s main outreach programme relating to historic buildings: Doors Open Days.
The events in the 2010 programme come, as in previous years, from a variety of sources including the Trust, the Scottish Crannog Centre and Perth Museum and Art Gallery. In particular, however, the Trust welcomes the ever increasing contribution to the programme by local history and archaeology societies.
One of the highlights will be the Late Bronze Age crafts event - come along to see and take part in a variety of prehistoric crafts.
How to Take Part
The programme is organised into the following sections: Guided Walks and Tours; Events; Lectures and Presentations; and Displays and Exhibitions. Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust co-ordinates the programme with events being run by a range of partner organisations and individuals. You must read and follow the notes below prior to taking part in any events:
1. Each walk has a difficulty grading, reflecting the anticipated terrain, estimated walking distance and approximate length of time. Use these along with the event descriptions to help you choose the walks which best suit your interests and abilities. Remember to read the information for each walk before booking to check its suitability. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult (except for events organised specifically for kids). No dogs are permitted on any of the walks.
2. Booking for most of the events is essential. In order to guarantee a place on any specific event, please make sure to book in advance. Please note that places on any individual walk or event are limited and are given on a first-come first-served basis.
3. Appropriate footwear should be worn for all activities. For longer, and moderate to hard walks, remember to bring waterproofs, warm clothing, stout footwear and drinking water. For some of the longer walks you should also bring a packed lunch. The event organiser can advise you of details at the time of booking.
4. While the vast majority of events are provided without charge, occasionally there are charges for minibuses and entrance fees, which are noted under individual event descriptions.
GUIDED WALKS and TOURS
1. Historic Dunkeld guided walk with Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society
Wednesday 2nd and Wednesday 23rd June, 1100 – 1200
Located on the banks of the River Tay, Dunkeld is a fascinating town with a rich history, involving Picts, St Columba and the famous king Kenneth MacAlpin. This tour looks at the early development of the important ecclesiastical site and subsequent settlement, visiting the cathedral and historic town, as well as finding out about the Battle of Dunkeld and more. Grade of walk: Easy (approx. 2km). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Ian Abbott, DBHS (01350) 724251.
2. Historic Perth (part 1) with Perthshire Society of Natural Science
Thursday 3rd June, 1400 – 1530
Join local historian Rhoda Fothergill of Perthshire Society of Natural Science on this guided walk of Perth. The tour will look at various sites and buildings of archaeological and historic interest, including Perth Bridge, Balhousie Castle and Rose Terrace. Grade of walk: Easy (approx. 2km). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
3. Fortingall Homestead and Fort Guided walk
Friday 4th June, 1800 - 2000
Join members of the Breadalbane Heritage Society on a walk to An Dun Gael homestead and Creag A’ Ghiubhais fort above Fortingall. Grade of walk: Moderate, some rough and boggy ground, stout shoes/boots are advised. Free but pre-booking is essential. To book contact Neil Hooper 01887 830474.
4. Fowlis Wester: Standing Stones, Picts and World War Two
Saturday 5th June, 1100 – 1400
People have lived in and around Fowlis Wester since prehistoric times and this walk will explore some of that rich history and the fascinating series of monuments this has left for us. Bring a packed lunch if you want to enjoy the optional afternoon extension to the walk. Grade of walk: Moderate. Free admission, but booking is essential. To book contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 632488.
5. Historic Churchyards of the Carse
Sunday 6th June, 1100 - 1400
Join Andrew Driver and Dr Oliver O’Grady on a tour of three ruined churches in the Carse of Gowrie, which have been the focus of the pilot Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust Historic Churchyards Project. The visit will look at sites at different stages of conservation and show some of the pressing issues being addressed, as well as introducing the fascinating history of these ancient burial grounds. Grade of walk: Easy. Minibus to and from sites. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
6. Deserted settlements at An Riol, Ben Lawers, Loch Tay
Sunday 6th June, 1100 - 1500
Join members of the Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists for a guided tour of the extensive deserted sheiling settlements at An Riol. Hear about the Associations recent surveys to record and discover more about this intriguing abandoned settlement, on this challenging walk above Loch Tay. Grade of Walk: Difficult. Sturdy footwear is strongly advised. Bring a packed lunch. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Anne MacDonald, ACFA 0141 561 8992.
7. Historic Perth (part 2) with Perthshire Society of Natural Science
Tuesday 8th June, 1400 – 1530
Join local historian Rhoda Fothergill of Perthshire Society of Natural Science on this guided walk of Perth. This walk will uncover more finding out about various sites and buildings of archaeological and historic interest around Perth, including the North Inch, Blackfriars and the City Mills. Grade of walk: Easy. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
8. Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Thursday 10th June 1030-1230; Wednesday 23rd June 1400-1600
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Museum? Now is your chance to find out with these guided tours of the archaeological storage areas – find out what we have got, where we keep it and why. Tours led by the curator of archaeology, Mark Hall. Several flights of steep stairs involved. Free admission, but spaces limited. To book contact: Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738 783414)
9. Historic Churchyards of Strathmore
Friday 11th June 1100-1400
Join Andrew Driver and Dr Oliver O’Grady on a further tour of historic churches in Perth and Kinross, on this occasion visiting three churchyards in Strathmore planned for restoration as part of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust Historic Churchyards Project. Here more about the important history and archaeology to be discovered at churchyards like Old Coupar Angus and find out about the problems affecting such places. Grade of walk: Easy. Minibus to and from sites. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
10. Coronation Walk
Saturday 12th June, 1000-1630
Join Countryside Ranger Fergus Cook and Archaeologist David Strachan (PKHT) on this guided walk along the Coronation Road, the ancient route from Falkland, said to have been taken by Scottish monarchs on their way to being crowned at Scone. Starting in Scone and finishing with a tour of Elcho Castle, participants will also learn about the Tay in prehistory and visit the remains of an Iron Age hillfort in Deuchny Wood before being ferried over the Tay to find out more about the history and changing landscape of the area. Grade of walk: Moderate (approx. 7.5km). Pre-booking required by 4th June (£5). To book please call (01738) 475349.
11. Dunning – two forts and a standing stone
Saturday 12th June, 1400-1600
Join Albie Sinclair and Ian Philip from Dunning Parish Historical Society on this circular walk from Dunning, visiting two forts and a standing stone in the surrounding area. Grade of walk: Moderate (approx. 7.5kms). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book please phone Ian on (01764) 684620.
12. A tour of Inchtuthil Roman legionary fortress
Saturday 12th June, 1100 - 1300
Inchtuthil is one of the most famous Roman sites in northern Britain. Built during the Flavian period (cAD79-87) by Agricola, this legionary fortress was designed as the key site of the 1st century campaign. Join archaeologist Dr David Woolliscroft director of the Roman Gask Project on this guided tour of the fortress plateau to hear about the fascinating history of this important site and the results of their recent fieldwork. There may also be the chance to meet a ‘real life’ Roman solider. Grade of walk: Easy. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
13. A Guided Walk above Loch Tay - Acharn to Balmacnaughton
Tuesday 15th June 1000 - 1300
Join members of the Breadalbane Heritage Society on a walk from Acharn, visit the 75ft falls with an 18th-century hermitage, continue along the Queen’s Drive (with views enjoyed by Queen Victoria), pass Neolithic burial mounds, a cup-marked stone in the Queen’s Wood, Greenlands Stone Circle, then a rough hike on to see the Balmacnaughton Cup-and- ring marked rock. Grade of walk: moderate to difficulty, some rough ground. Bring a packed lunch and stout shoes/boots advised. Free admission, but pre-booking is essential. To book contact Margaret Gimblett 01887 840288.
14. Bridging Perthshire’s Past: General Wade’s Roads
Wednesday 16th June, 1000 - 1600
Run by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Bridging Perthshire’s Past is a 3 year project which concentrates on the 18th-century military system of communication, conceived by General Wade in response to the perceived Jacobite threat. This combined bus and walking tour will focus on some of the well preserved sections of road and bridges on the Crieff to Dalnacardoch route. During the tour we will discuss the wider historical context, the construction of the roads and the way in which we can best preserve these monuments for the future. Grade of walk: Moderate, involves crossing rugged and very marshy ground, sturdy footwear and waterproofs essential. Bring packed lunch. Pre-booking essential, COST £8 to cover transport. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
15. A Walk Round the Michael Bruce Way with Kinross-shire Historical Society
Wednesday 16th June, 1400 – 1700
This walk around the landscape to the east of Loch Leven will be led by Professor David Munro. The route will pass through Kinesswood, the Michael Bruce Cottage Museum, Kilmagad Wood, Portmoak Parish Church, Scotlandwell and Portmoak Moss as participants find out more about the areas long and fascinating history. Grade of walk: Easy, but wear sturdy footwear. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
16. Lives of the Lade
Wednesday 16th June, 1000 – 1200
The Lade stretches back in time to a point unknown around a thousand years ago. Since then it has been a feature in the lives of Perth people and also an astonishing variety of wild creatures and plants. This walk will explore the stories of the human and natural world between City Mills and the A9. Grade of walk: Easy (approx. 4km), steps at two points but the step-free part of the walk may be joined at Fairfield (Menzies Court). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book phone (01738) 475349.
17. South Perth and Historic Craigie: A Guided Walk
Thursday 17th June, 1400 – 1530
Join local historian Rhoda Fothergill once again for a guided walk of historical sites in south Perth. Hear an expert historical account of the famous Perth Waterworks, now the Ferguson Gallery, and learn about the once imposing Cromwellian citadel buried beneath South Inch Park. The walk will cover the industrial and maritime history of Perth harbour and move onto the absorbing history of the town’s Craigie area. Grade of walk: Easy (approx. 3km). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
18. Dunkeld Park with Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society
Thursday 17th June, 1400 - 1630
Join members of Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society on a guided walk around Dunkeld, visiting Stanley Hill, the Cathedral, the Parent Larch and the River Tay. Follow the Duchess’ bridal path through spectacular woodland to St Colme’s well and the King’s Seat to visit the small Iron Age fort. Grade of walk: Moderate (approx. 5.5km). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Forrest Moffat (01350) 727792 or Ian Abbott (01350) 724251.
19. Historic Blackford guided walk with Blackford Historical Society
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th June, 1330 – 1530
Join Blackford Historical Society in celebrating their new booklet A History of Blackford: Water to whisky and back again launched in April this year. Find out how Blackford has evolved throughout the years. The walk will leave from the Moray Institute, follow the Danny Burn, and then progress through fields to the Deaf Knowe, traditionally the burial mound of Queen Helen whose drowning reputedly gave the village its name. Grade of walk: Medium (approx. 5km) Sturdy footwear recommended. FREE, but pre-booking required. Donations gratefully accepted. To book contact Irene Mclaughlan, Blackford Historical Society (01764) 682495.
20. Abandoned Settlements on Lochtayside
Monday 21st June, 1030 - 1600
Until the middle of the 19th century the shores of Lochtayside were home to hundreds of farming families. Now the landscape is studded with the ruins of their homes and of the fields in which they worked. Join Steve Boyle, archaeologist with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, on a walk to explore this rich archaeological landscape, from the ruined 18th-century farms close to the loch shore up to the shielings high on the slopes of Ben Lawers. Grade of Walk: Difficult (7km). FREE, but pre-booking required. To book call Steve Boyle (0131) 6621456.
21. A Walk Around Medieval Perth
Monday 21st June, 1400 – 1600
Explore the medieval archaeology and history of Perth and its people on a guided walk led by Mark Hall (Perth Museum) and Derek Hall. Grade of walk: Easy. Free, but pre-booking is essential. To book contact: Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
22. The historic Lade: A guided walk
Thursday 24th June, 1830 - 2000
This tour looks at the historical development of the Perth Town Lade, with emphasis on the Tulloch and Fairfield areas. The Lade is Scotland’s oldest canal, dating back to the 11th century or earlier. This guided walk is organized by the Tulloch Lade 800 Project. Grade of walk: Easy (approx. 1.5 kms), with no steps. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book e-mail richardh@tullochnet.org.uk
23. The Medieval Monasteries of Perth
Friday 25th June, 1400 - 1700
Join Mark Hall (Perth Museum) and Derek Hall on an imaginative quest to relocate the long vanished medieval monasteries of Perth: Blackfriars, Whitefriars, the Carthusians and Greyfriars. Grade of walk: Easy to Moderate. Free, but pre-booking is essential. To book contact: Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
24. A Tour of Medieval Scone
Saturday 26th June 1330 - 1500 and Sunday 27th June 1330 - 1500
Archaeologist Dr Oliver JT O'Grady will lead a historical tour of Scone Palace grounds. Join him to learn more about the revealing excavations at the crowning place of Scottish kings. Tread on the Moothill in the footsteps of kings like Kenneth MacAlpin and Robert the Bruce, and discover the lost Abbey of Scone on this walk through Scotland’s royal history. Grade of walk: Easy. Pre-booking required. Normal entrance charges to the grounds apply: adult £5.10/OAP £4.50/child £3.50. To book, please call Scone Palace Estate Offices (01738) 552300.
25. A Walk between the Inches with Perth Society of Natural Science
Sunday 27th June, 1400 – 1600
Follow local historian Graham Watson of Perthshire Society of Natural Science on this guided tour of historic Perth. Starting at the South Inch, the walk will cover a wealth of Perth’s history including Cromwell’s citadel and the water works, before moving along Tay Street and into the town centre. The walk will finish at the North Inch with a discussion of the infamous Battle of the Clans. Grade of walk: Easy. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book, please call Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
26. A Guided Walk around Historic Coupar Angus
Monday 28th June, 1330 - 1530
Walk with members of the Coupar Angus and District Heritage Association as they lead this interesting guided tour of Coupar Angus historic town. Learn about the medieval origins of the burgh, the once wealthy Cistercian abbey and the later development of the town’s varied historic buildings. Grade of walk: Easy. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book contact Coupar Angus and District Heritage Association 01828 626244.
EVENTS
27. Oakbank Crannog Excavations - Oakbank, Fearnan, Loch Tay
Monday 7th – Friday 11th June 1000 - 1500
Visitors to the Scottish Crannog Centre can see a remarkable reconstruction crannog based on excavations at Oakbank on Loch Tay, carried out by archaeologist Dr Nick Dixon since 1980. Crannogs are artificial islands built as settlements in prehistoric and medieval times. There are at least 600 sites known in Scotland. Oakbank Crannog was the first in Scotland to be excavated underwater using modern archaeological methods, which showed the site to date to the Early Iron Age, around 500-300 BC. While this dig focused on the submerged crannog, revealing that the site was inhabited for as long 200 years, a number of curious features on the shoreline have yet to be investigated.
Over five days this June, archaeologists from Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust, with volunteers from the local community, will excavate a circular buried structure, possibly a prehistoric building; and what appears to be an ancient trackway leading down to the crannog.
Visit the excavations where professional archaeologists will be on hand to explain their work while enjoying scenic Loch Tay at Fearnan. Free entrance: the excavations are at OS NGR NN 724 444, at Fearnan on the north side of Loch Tay, around 4km west of Kenmore. For more information contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
28. Roman Week at Braco
Saturday 12th June
A week long celebration of the remarkable Roman archaeology around Braco will take place culminating in a series of events on Saturday 12th June, including lectures and displays of artefacts and mosaics made by local schoolchildren. There may even be the chance to meet a “live” Roman soldiers from The Antonine Guard. All welcome and all events free. For more information contact Ardoch Development Trust 07785 758 260.
29. Bridging Perthshire’s Past; Join the army with Living History Group Verias Vincit, Black Watch Museum, Balhousie Castle, Hay Street, Perth
Saturday 12th of June, 1300
In 1725, General George Wade established six Highland Companies partially as a response to the recent Jacobite risings. These Companies were eventually to become the Black Watch, the British Army’s most famous fighting units. Come along to Balhousie Castle, home of the Black Watch Museum, and discover all about life in the King’s Army in the 18th century and the men they fought with living history group Verias Vincit. Afterwards, see for yourself the weapons, military equipment and personal items carried by the men during this and later periods. FREE admission. , No booking required, but please arrive at 1300.
30. Celtic Plants & People: Lotions, Potions, & Incense
Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay
Sunday 13th June, 1100-1600
Learn about traditional ancient remedies, healing herbs, and natural incense. COST: normal admission price + £3. Pre-booking required. To book contact Scottish Crannog Centre 01887 830583.
31. Making the Bronze Age - A celebration of prehistoric technology and crafts
In 2006 Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust excavated and recovered the 3,000 year old Carpow logboat from the Tay estuary near Abernethy. Since then the massive 9m long boat has been conserved for future generations by the National Museums of Scotland in preparation for display at Perth Museum and Art Gallery in September 2011.
The Trust is delighted to announce two new publications in Perthshire Archaeology Month 2010 that tell the Carpow story: a Society of Antiquaries of Scotland monograph to be launched at the end of June and a popular account in the Trust’s A5 booklet series that will include the reconstruction logboat made on Loch Tay in 2009.
One of the major themes explored through the Carpow project is the wealth of information gleaned about Late Bronze Age technology and crafts, and to celebrate this, the Trust is proud to announce an exciting week long festival spotlighting Late Bronze Age life through its rich craft-work and technology.
Making the Bronze Age will include a series of lectures on Late Bronze Age Tayside culminating in two days of practical demonstrations and workshops designed to offer you a rare opportunity to witness the skills and techniques of ancient craftsmen first hand.
Entrance is Free – small charges for some workshops.
Bellwood Riverside Park 19th -20th June 0930 - 1730
Making the Bronze Age: Bronze sword Casting
Five bronze swords found in the river Tay offer a fascinating glimpse into Bronze Age life, a warrior based society where such a weapon was a potent symbol of power and position. Intriguingly, their excellent condition suggests that they were deliberately deposited in the river as votive offerings. To cast a sword into the water speaks of a deeper meaning that we struggle to grasp with our modern understanding, but such acts may possibly have been done to venerate water Gods or honour a great chieftain in his journey through the after life.
Compared to iron, bronze is timeless, a mix of copper and tin, it has been used for nearly seventeen hundred years for all manner of things from weapons to the axes and gouges, tools that were used to make the Carpow logboat. Bronze is harder than iron and was still used for razors, body armour and shields long after the introduction of iron swords. If the Bronze Age has started when the Romans left Britain we would still be in it today!
Neil Burridge is a bronze sword smith who has opened up our understanding of ancient bronze working. In four demonstrations over the weekend, he will cast replica swords of the type found in the river, and for the first time in three thousand years offer a sword back to the Gods.
The casting will take place at 11am and 2.30pm and bookings are required. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
Making the Bronze Age: Ancient Wood-working and the Ballachulish Figure
While ritual and religion in prehistory is dominated by the study of stone circles, burial mounds and henges, a more direct human aspect to the ritual dimension can be glimpsed through the survival of a number of carved wooden human figures from across Britain and Ireland. The only one from Scotland was found in 1880 by workmen digging in a peat moss in Ballachulish. The female figure stood almost five foot high and had quartz pebbles for eyes and has been radiocarbon dated to around 600 BC – the very start of the Iron Age.
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust’s David Strachan and ancient wood-working expert Damian Goodburn will make a scale replica of the carving using late Bronze Age and Iron Age replica tools.
No booking required - There will even be an opportunity to use a prehistoric axe yourself!
Making the Bronze Age: Making and Firing Late Bronze Age Pottery
The first pots in Britain appear around 4000 BC with the first farmers of the Neolithic began to settle and required storage and preparation vessels for food. While pottery making methods in Britain changed little from then until the arrival of the Romans, the various styles are important indicators of date and culture to archaeologists. Pots were made by hand building, using the pinch and coil techniques, and fired in open fires, probably in the domestic hearth as one of the household chores. A new pottery style arrived in Britain, along with flat axes and inhumation burial practices, as part the Beaker culture around 2700 BC, and by the Late Bronze Age, distinctive types of burial urns had developed.
Graham Taylor is an experimental archaeologist and master potter, specialising in reproducing prehistoric, Roman and Anglo-Saxon pottery from Britain and Ireland, and has worked extensively with the public in recent years. Participants in the prehistoric pottery workshop will learn to form and decorate replica Late Bronze Age urns and food vessels based on surviving examples from Tayside and then fire them in open fires.
• 10 am workshop 1
• 11-12 demonstrations
• 12-1 lunch
• 2-3 demonstrations
• 3-4 pm workshop 2
Booking in advance is essential for the limited places available for pottery workshops, to which there will be a charge of £5 to cover materials.
Making the Bronze Age: Celtic Plants and People
Underwater excavations at crannog sites on Loch Tay have revealed a wealth of evidence of prehistoric food, buried in the debris and preserved by the cold peaty water. In addition to bones from sheep, cattle, wild boar and deer, about 1,000 cubic metres of plant remains included more than 160 different edible species.
Join the team from the Scottish Crannog Centre and find out about Scotland’s early organic farmers: from greens and grains to nuts and berries, Tayside’s ancient loch-dwellers clearly understood the medicinal and culinary properties of the plants around them. Discover useful herbs and the benefits of what we now call weeds; taste an authentic brew and stew; and learn how to extract the fibres from stems to make string and rope.
No booking required.
Back by popular demand, the Crannog team will be joined by Stamm Alauni, the Celtic re-enactment group from Germany, who will be dressed in period costume. Your very own opportunity to talk with a continental Celt from the Iron Age…
No booking required.
Making the Bronze Age: Spinning, Dying and Weaving
By the Late Bronze Age, spinning, dying and weaving were crafts with long established traditions. This event will offer people the opportunity to try out some of these ancient crafts, which are still relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago.
• Spinning fibres from a sheep fleece, using authentic drop spindles.
• Dyeing fleece in replica pottery over an open fire, using dyestuffs such as Nettles, Cow Parsley and Tansy to provide an impressive array of colours.
• Weaving the spun fibre on looms to produce materials that would ultimately make clothing and bedding.
Based on the Tay estuary, Twist Fibre Craft Studio of Newburgh specialise in textile related crafts with classes in and supplies for Spinning, Weaving, Dyeing, Knitting, Crochet, Felt Making and much more. They have previously worked on prehistoric craft events with the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay.
No booking for demonstrations though booking required for weaving sessions. To book contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
Making the Bronze Age: Cordage and Nettles with Archaeolink
Archaeolink is a multi award winning living history park and visitor attraction, with a central focus on education, participation and fun. Experience hands on activities and workshops for all the family on how to make prehistoric rope using the amazing qualities of natural plant fibres such as nettles and hemp.
32. Midsummer Music & Celtic BBQ - Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay
Monday 21st June, 2000-2300
Watch the sun go down with Scottish music in our Iron Age roundhouse & outdoor sessions. Savour chef-cooked Celtic cuisine, real ales, and more. COST: £16. Pre-booking is essential. To book contact Scottish Crannog Centre 01887 830583.
33. A Medieval Fun Day with Fire & Sword, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
26th June, 1330 – 1530.
Medieval re-enactment group ‘Fire & Sword’ will demonstrate period costumed displays of coin making, leather shoe making, sword fighting, archery and Lady in waiting grooming and pampering. Free admission, no booking required but children 12 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For further details contact Barbara Hamilton, Perth Museum (01738) 632488.
LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
34. An Introduction to the Medieval Archaeology of Perth: Excavating the town, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
Tuesday 1st June, 1430 - 1515
Launching a series of talks to coincide with the Skin & Bone exhibition, archaeologist Derek Hall will tell us about Perth’s fantastically well preserved archaeology and what it can tell us about daily life in a Scottish medieval burgh? Free admission, but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact: Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
35. An Introduction to the Medieval Archaeology of Perth: the Pottery, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
Wednesday 2nd June, 1430 - 1515
Derek Hall joins us again to tell us about the cosmopolitan array of pottery from medieval Perth and what its analysis tells us about its date, origin and use. Free admission, but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
36. An Introduction to the Medieval Archaeology of Perth: the Human Remains, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
Thursday 3rd June, 1430 -1515
Forensic archaeologist Julie Roberts of LGC Forensics will talk about the analysis of the human remains from various excavations in Perth. She will share her insights into the medieval population of Perth and its bodily well-being. Free admission but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
37. An Introduction to the Medieval Archaeology of Perth: the Animal bones, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
Friday 4th June, 1430 -1515
Join well know local archaeologist and animal bone specialist Catherine Smith (Alder archaeology Ltd) as she evokes for us the dirt and smells of the medieval middens through her exploration of their skeletal contents, and how they help in understanding the livestock, environment and economy of the medieval town. Free admission but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
38. An Introduction to the Medieval Archaeology of Perth: the Objects, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
Monday 7th June, 1430 - 1515
Join Perth Museum’s own Mark Hall for this overview of Perth’s story as seen through the huge array and variety of objects recovered during archaeological excavations in the town. Free admission but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
39. Strathearn Environment and Royal Forteviot: The Third Season, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth
Tuesday 8th June, 1430 - 1530
Professor Stephen Driscoll of Glasgow University will present recent results from the SERF project, which, since 2007 has explored the archaeological landscapes of Forteviot. Find out more about excavation of Forteviot’s Neolithic enclosure and the fabulous cist burial found within it. Free admission but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
40. The Roman Gask Project – an update, AK Bell Library Theatre, Perth
Wednesday 9th June, 1930 – 2030
The Roman Gask Project has been investigating Roman remains in Perthshire for over ten years under the direction of Dr David Woolliscroft. This talk will look at recent work, including the impressive results of geophysical surveys at Inchtuthil legionary fortress. Free admission, but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (01738) 477085.
41. Perth Town Lade and its History, Tulloch Primary School, Perth
Thursday 10 June, 1930 – 2030
How old is the Perth Town Lade? Was it ever navigable? Who built it? What was it made for? These and other questions will be ably addressed by Miss Rhoda Fothergill in her illustrated talk. Organized by Tulloch Lade 800 Project. FREE, but pre-booking required. To book, please e-mail richardh@tullochnet.org.uk
42. Forever on a curve: Bronze Age pottery in Tayside, Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Monday 14th June, 1430 – 1530
As a precursor to the Making the Bronze Age event, Sarah Winlow of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust will look at the style, manufacture, distribution and use of Bronze Age pottery along the River Tay. Free admission, but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
43. Two Logboats from the Tay: Carpow and Dalerb
Perth Museum and Art Gallery, Perth
Wednesday 16th June, 1430 – 1530
The subjects of the Trust’s latest popular publication will be brought to life in this illustrated presentation by David Strachan of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust. Covering the remarkable story of the excavation of the Bronze Age boat from Carpow and the manufacture of Scotland’s latest logboat, made on the banks of Loch Tay in 2009 using replica tools and techniques used by Bronze Age craftsmen. Free admission, but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
44. On a Bronze Age tide: Late Bronze Age metalwork from the Tay and beyond, Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Friday 18th June, 1430 – 1530
A review of the finds of Late Bronze Age metalwork from the River Tay will provide the starting point for a brief survey of contemporary artefacts from the wider Tayside and Fife region, highlighting the variation in their treatment and context, the evidence they provide for the region’s national and international connections, and the light they shed on craftsmanship. The talk will be given by Trevor Cowie (National Museums Scotland) a leading authority in the field. Free admission, but places on a first come, first served basis. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
45. Excavations at the Moothill and Abbey of Scone, Scone Palace, Old Scone
Saturday 26th June 1100 - 1200 and Sunday 27th June 1100 - 1200
Join Dr Oliver JT O'Grady, director of recent excavations at the crowning place of Scottish kings, for this update on the discoveries at Scone. There will also be the opportunity to see medieval artefacts found during the excavations, carried out by The Moothill and Abbey of Scone Project. A guided tour of the grounds will follow during the afternoon (24). Pre-booking required. Normal entrance charges to the grounds apply: adult £5.10/OAP £4.50/child £3.50. To book, please contact Scone Palace Estate Offices (01738) 552300.
DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
46. Carpow Logboat: discovery and excavation, The Museum of Abernethy, School Wynd, Abernethy
Thursday – Sunday 1300 – 1700
Visit Abernethy Museum to enjoy a unique exhibition of photographs and video detailing the discovery, excavation and conservation of the Carpow logboat, found only a short distance away on the banks of the Tay in 2001. Replica tools used during the Loch Tay logboat reconstruction will also be on display with a scaled replica of the completed vessel. Whilst here why not also take the opportunity to enjoy the attractions of the surrounding historic town? Free admission. For further details contact Angus MacIntyre (01738) 850191.
47. David Simon’s reconstruction painting of Perth, AK Bell Library, Local Studies, Perth
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9.30 - 1700, Tuesday & Thursday 9.30 - 2000, Saturday 9.30 - 1600
As part of the Perth800 celebrations, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust has produced a postcard of David Simon’s reconstruction painting of Perth on the 11th of May 1559, when the radical reformers stripping St John’s and then plundering the friaries in response to John Knox’s sermon. Why not come and see the original oil on canvas artwork and find out more about the detail contained in this remarkable painting. Free admission. For further details contact Local Studies, AK Bell Library (01738) 477062.
48. Skin & Bone: Life & Death in Medieval Perth, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, George Street, Perth
Monday – Saturday, 1000 – 1700
Perth Museum’s History Gallery, The Times of Our Lives, includes a selection of Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval archaeological material from Perth & Kinross. In addition there is now a special exhibition visitors can enjoy during Perthshire Archaeology Month.
This charts the archaeology and history of Perth from the 11th to the 16th centuries, in two galleries. The Life gallery displays a wide array of material culture under the themes: Origins, Castle & Defences, Port of Trade, Streets & Vennels, Buildings & Rigs, Master Craftsmen, Everyday Pleasures & Pains, Religion and Food & Drink. The gallery is rounded-off with a look at the history of excavation in the town, including archive footage of the Perth High Street excavation 1975-77. The majority of the things on display have been recovered from excavations in the town over the past 40 years and are from Perth’s Nationally Recognised collections but there are also significant loans including the 1450s Guildry or Lockit Book, the 15th-century Perth Psalter, the early 16th-century Perth Hammermen Book and a 14th-century copy of the 1210 charter. The Death gallery airs the themes of people and pets through a display of the skeletal materials of several individuals (children, men – including a murder victim – and a woman) and several fighting, working and pet dogs. Free admission. For further details contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 783414.
49. Stones, Stocks & Stories, Crieff Information Centre, High Street, Crieff
Explore 1,200 years of Crieff’s history through three powerful objects, the Pictish cross-slab known as the Crieff Burgh Cross; the 17th-century Drummond Cross; and a dramatic reconstruction of how the Crieff stocks were used to punish wrong-doers. Free Admission. For further details and opening hours contact Mark Hall, Perth Museum (01738) 632488.
|
| |
|
Exploring Perthshire's Past
|
Exploring Perthshire’s Past: getting your hands dirty
Volunteer opportunities in Archaeology & Historic Buildings
The Exploring Perthshire’s Past project offers opportunities for the public to take part in hands-on practical activities, including archaeological excavation and field-walking, geophysical survey, site clearance and conservation, and historic building recording. You don’t need to have any previous experience of these activities to volunteer – EPP! will provide training and supervision.
Archaeological excavation
Archaeological excavation involves the uncovering, interpretation and recording of archaeological sites. Excavation is a key way to find out more about how people lived in the past by providing physical evidence for past activities. Today, volunteer opportunities on excavations are uncommon, however through EPP there are a number of chances to get your hands dirty and experience the processes of archaeology for yourself. There are opportunities to take part in the Black Spout homestead, SERF, Roman Gask Project, and MASS
Historic building recording
Historic building recording involves the detailed study and accurate recording of historic buildings by photography and measured-drawings. This is normally carried out in advance of demolition or prior to conservation works. Detailed study of a building can help to uncover the date and history of the structure, as well as providing a chance to interpret and understand how it has developed over time. There are opportunities to take part in projects with PKHT including Westown Chapel.
Archaeological field-walking
Field-walking involves the organised collection of archaeological objects from the surface of ploughed fields. It can be used to discover new sites or gather information on existing sites. A field is laid out into a grid and systematically checked, with objects found plotted on the grid. This can show patterns of occupation, and when results from many walks are studied together they can help to understand the use of landscapes in the past. There are opportunities to take part in fieldwalking with SERF, and PKHT.
Geophysical survey
Archaeologists use a number of geophysical survey techniques both to map out the detail of known sites, and discover new features. These methods allow for differences in the underlying terrain to be measured and recorded without the need for digging. This can involve detecting the electrical or magnetic properties of features in the ground which contrast greatly with their surroundings.
Site clearance and management
The clearance of overgrown archaeological sites and historic buildings is commonly carried out in advance of excavation or conservation work. Essential to the longer-term management of many sites is the removal of vegetation which endangers the survival of the site. There are opportunities to take part in site clearance and conservation with PKHT, including Balado Bridge.
Getting Involved
If you are interested in taking part in any of the activities, please contact Steven Timoney STimoney@pkc.gov.uk Pre-booking is essential for all of these events.
|
| |
|
Doors Open Days and Scottish Archaeology Month
|
Doors Open Days - 25-26 September 2010
Every weekend in September you can take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to discover some of Scotland's hidden heritage. By joining in Doors Open Days you can explore some of Scotland's most interesting buildings - free of charge!
Buildings of every possible shape and description - castles, stately homes, legal courts, fire stations and tiny cottages - will all be opening their doors to visitors. At some you will be able to enjoy an organised tour, music or exhibition. At others you can just have a good look round.
For further information on Doors Open Days please visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk
Scottish Archaeology Month - September
Scotland has an amazing diversity of archaeological remains which represent some of the most intriguing and best preserved sites in Europe. Across Scotland there are burial cairns, settlements and military sites which are hidden under grass and layers of soil, built up over thousands of years or submerged in bogs, lochs and coastal waters. The land is the voice of generations of people who worked and shaped the landscape that we know today.
Scottish Archaeology Month provides an opportunity for you to discover and explore some of this unique archaeological heritage through excavation open days, guided tours of sites, exhibitions, lectures, ancient arts and crafts and workshops.
For further information on Scottish Archaeology Month please visit www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
