September is Scottish Archaeology Month 2007, run by the Council for Scottish Archaeology. Scottish Archaeology Month celebrates Scotland's rich archaeological heritage through a diverse programme of free events. This year, over 170 free events are taking place all over the country. Many Scottish Archaeology Month events are organised by volunteers and local groups, without whom Scottish Archaeology Month would not be possible.
Listed below are events scheduled to take place within the area covered by the West of Scotland Archaeology Service. Contact details for the organisers of these events, together with information on events taking place in other Council areas, can be found by downloading the CSA's 2007 Events Guide.
Views, Visions, Voices
Throughout September | 10:00 - 17:30 | Kilmartin House Museum,
Kilmartin, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8RQ
Views, Visions, Voices: an innovative multi-sited multivocal exhibition
conceived to celebrate Kilmartin House Museum's 10th Anniversary and
the Year of Highland Culture. The exhibition will be the largest collection of
prehistoric objects from Argyll ever before gathered in one place. The
exhibition also consists of an art installation. Sited in the landscape overlooking
some of the major archaeological monuments in the Glen, this
work depicts visions of the landscape in prehistory.
Loch Awe Paddle
Sat 15th Sept | 11:00 | Kilmartin House Museum, Kilmartin,
Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8RQ
The day starts off at Kilmartin Museum with an introduction to some of the
artefacts found on the adjacent Loch Awe. This will be followed with a
guided canoeing trip to some of these sites, plus a short talk by Historic
Scotland on one of the many islands!
The Iron Giants
Sat 15th Sept | 13:00-16:00 | Highgate Hall, Strone
Could you have survived the Iron Age? Take part in our challenge to carry
out everyday activities using Iron Age tools and equipment. There'll be lots
of hands on activities to try and you'll also have the opportunity to hear our
storyteller tell tales of the Giants of the Iron Age.
Get a Bead on the Past
Sat 22nd Sept | 11:00-16:00
National Park Centre, Luss G83 8PA
Discover the ancient technologies and way of life in the Luss area with lots
of activities to try out; including stone drilling, fire making, grinding corn,
spinning wool as well as discovering more about recent archaeological
finds in the local area.
Scotland's Rural Past
Fri 28th & Sat 29th Sept | 10:00-14:00 | Location TBC
Scotland's Rural Past will be holding a training session for heritage groups
at an abandoned settlement in the Appin area. Come along to see how an
abandoned settlement is surveyed and recorded and find out about the
SRP project from the archaeologists involved. Please contact us for details
of the site.
Tales From The Museum
Date TBC | An Tobar, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory,
Isle of Mull, PA75 6PB
Scotland's Rural Past will contribute to the 'Tales From The Museum'
exhibition at An Tobar arts centre, Tobermory. The exhibition will show
original work created by artists in residence studying the material cultural
evidence of ordinary people who lived on Mull in the past, drawing on
material held in private and museum collections and on the many
abandoned farms and townships on the island. A series of guided field
trips and talks will accompany the exhibition.
Scipio's House Excavation
Mon 10th - Sun 16th Sept | 09:30-16:30 | Culzean Castle Country
Park, Maybole, Ayrshire, KA19 8LE
An archaeological excavation, searching for Scipio Kennedy's house, will
be taking place at Culzean. So come and join us! Scipio was a slave in
the 18th century who was freed by the Kennedy family and given his own
house on the estate. The work is being funded by The Heritage Lottery
Fund as part of a programme of NTS events to mark the bicentenary of the
abolition of the British slave trade. A team of around 10 volunteers can
take part in the dig over the week. Volunteers will be accepted on a first
come basis. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Visitors to the
Park are also welcome to view the excavations - remember there will be
more to see towards the end of the week! 'This Is Our Story', a travelling
display about Scotland and the slave trade (including Scipio) will be at
Culzean from 3-16 September.
Kelburn Castle Archaeology Day
Tue 11th Sept | 10:00 | Fairlie, North Ayrshire, KA29 0BE
Come and explore the Archaeology and History of Kelburn. Through the
morning walk, different points of archaeological interest will be visited.
Culzean Self Guided Archaeology Trail
Mon 17th - Sun 30th Sept | Time TBC | Culzean Castle Country
Park, Maybole, Ayrshire, KA19 8LE
Throughout the second half of September all locations around the Castle
and Country Park that have been the subject of archaeological
investigations will be marked by information boards. A short leaflet and
map will be available for people wanting to explore the wide range of
archaeological remains.
The Archaeology of Arran: The Iron Age
Sat 22nd - Sun 23rd Sept | 09:30-16:00 | Ranger Centre, Brodick
Castle, Isle of Arran, KA27 8HY
This exciting weekend workshop over two days will provide a basic
introduction to the Iron Age of Arran. On the Saturday there will be a
lecture in the morning, followed by a site visit in the afternoon. Sunday will
consist of more field visits to Iron Age forts, duns and enclosures. There
will be a small charge to cover transport costs to the sites. Please bring a
packed lunch for both days and expect some hard uphill walking.
The Mysteries of Crookston Castle
Sat 15th Sept | 10:00-16:00 | Crookston Castle, Brockburn Road
(near Crookston Road), Glasgow, G53
The last medieval castle in Glasgow rises sixty feet above a wooded hill
overlooking the Levern valley. The castle has a fine view of the Glasgow
basin. The Hall, the Pit, a spiral and several chambers have survived. The
castle's unusual design has a number of puzzling features - perhaps you
can help us to unravel their mysteries?
Fieldwalking for Artefacts at
The National Museum of Rural Life
Sun 30th Sept | 13:00-16:00 | National Museum of Rural Life,
Philipshill Road, Wester Kittochside, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Join the museums education officer and the National Trust for Scotland's
archaeologist walking the ploughed fields to recover artefacts.
Guided Walk to Cairnhowit
Sun 16th Sept | 12:00-16:00
Meet at the bandstand at Clydebank shopping centre
Join a guided walk to Jaw Reservoir and over to Cairnhowit. See the
remains of a Neolithic tomb before returning via the Greenside reservoir.