Digging for clues to the past at Bannockburn

Work began on Monday [3rd October] at the site for the new visitor centre at Bannockburn.

As well as looking for clues about the battle of Bannockburn itself, archaeologists will be trying to identify a possible Roman road that was identified as running through the area in an Ordnance Survey map drawn up during the 19th century.

Derek Alexander, Head of Archaeological Services at the National Trust for Scotland said that, “The survey will hopefully identify any linear features which may be a trackway or road and old field boundaries. It may also locate pits associated with camp of the Scots army."

This is all part of the preparation work for the new visitor centre at Bannockburn...it will be interesting to see what they find...

The project is a joint venture between the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland and you can find out more at the Historic Scotland website. 

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Early signs of life on remote Scottish Island

If you wanted to get away from it all, then you couldn't get much further off the beaten track than the island of Boreray.  Mostly, there's not much there but the seabirds.

Situated over 65km west of the Scottish Outer Hebrides, the St Kildan island of Boreray was previously thought to have been uninhabited, but work by the National Trust for Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland [RCAHMS] have recently reported that they have discovered agricultural field systems, terraces for cultivating crops, and three possible settlement mounds.

They believe that some of these settlements could date as far back as the Iron Age.

RCAHMS surveyor Ian Parker said, “This is an incredibly significant find, which could change our understanding of the history of St Kilda. This new discovery shows that a farming community actually lived on Boreray, perhaps as long ago as the prehistoric period. The agricultural remains and settlement mounds give us a tantalising glimpse into the lives of those early inhabitants.”

Full details of the survey will soon be available on the RCAHMS Canmore database and further details of the finds can be viewed at the RCAHMS website.  More information about the St Kilda World Heritage site can be found at the National Trust for Scotland website.

Image: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

RCAHMS and the Skye Viking Shipyard

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland [RCAHMS] and marine archaeologists are investigating a 12th century Norse shipbuilding site at Loch na h-Airde on the Island of Skye’s Rubh an Dunain peninsula .

Early indications seem to suggest that it could contain timbers dating from the 11th century.

RCAHMS aerial survey team have been photographing the loch and the surrounding area.  It looks like it could be an exciting find!

More information can be found at the RCAHMS website.




Image: Jeff Ratcliff / FreeDigitalPhotos.net