September is Scottish Archaeology Month 2008, run by Archaeology Scotland. 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 Archaeology Scotland's 2008 Events Guide.
TIREE ARCHAEOLOGY DAY
The Pierhead Office, Tiree
Thursday 4th September, 12.30 - 18.00
Guided visit and walk linking two ruined pre-Reformation chapels at Kilkenneth and Ceann a'bhara. Both chapels have recently been the subject of a conservation project backed by the Nadair Trust and Historic Scotland. During the Walk we will also visit the remains of kelp burning kilns (strong footwear advisable). Cal Mac ferry leaves Oban at 8.30 arriving at Tiree at 12.15. The return ferry leaves Tiree at 18.30 arriving at Oban at 22.15. Toilets, disabled toilets and parking facilities are available but visitors are advised to eat on the ferry.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FIRST MESOLITHIC & EARLY BRONZE-AGE ISLAND SETTLERS
Saturday 6 September, 09:40, meet at the ferry arrival pier at Arinagour, Isle of Coll departing from Oban.
Sunday 7 September, 10.00, meet at the Old pier in Arinagour village, Isle of Coll.
Guided walks to the earliest early Bronze-age settlement site in Europe and to the earliest Mesolithic site yet discovered in Scotland (sorry, no dogs). Advanced booking is required.
ARDNADAM HERITAGE TRAIL UPGRADE
Ardnadam Glen, near Dunoon. PA23
Saturday 6th - Sunday 7th September
Cowal Archaeological & Historical Society and Adopt-a-Monument have teamed up with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) to give the Site a new lease of life. Funding is being sought to pay for a full upgrade of the path network. In the meantime, funding from Historic Scotland has enabled BTCV work parties to assist CAHS in keeping the trail and its many archaeological sites free from vegetation. This combines the fields of nature and heritage conservation and includes a training programme to equip conservation volunteers with new skills in archaeological recognition, survey and interpretation. It is this part of the project which will take place on the 6th and 7th of September In addition, an Awards for All grant has been awarded to the group that will pay for new interpretation along the trail. The main adopted site, excavated during the 1960s and 70s by CAHS, contains Neolithic and Iron Age settlement together with the remains of a medieval chapel, some 'cell' graves and a surrounding early Christian enclosure. The surrounding landscape features 39 'recessed platforms' representing, predominantly, early historic settlement sites (many are later used for small scale industry in the 18th and 19th century for the production of Charcoal). Advanced booking with organisers is required.
IRON GIANTS
Village Hall, Strachur, Argyll & Bute
Saturday 13th September, 11.00 - 16.00
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 while you listen to our storyteller tell tales of the Giants of the Iron Age. Drop in anytime between 11.00 and 16.00. Contact the event organisers for more details.
ROTHESAY TOWN TRAIL GUIDED WALK
Meet at Bute Museum, by the castle, Isle of Bute at 13.00
Saturday 20th September, 13.00
This easy walk takes in many notable features of Rothesay's celebrated heritage. Appropriate footwear and advanced booking with organisers is required.
KELSPOKES AND SOUTH BUTE GUIDED WALK
Meet at Bute Museum, by the castle, Isle of Bute at 13.00
Saturday 20th September, 13.00
This medium walk winds through the remarkable landscape Kelspokes and South Bute. Appropriate footwear and advanced booking with organisers is required.
SCALPSIE TO ST NINIAN'S GUIDED WALK
Meet at Bute Museum, by the castle, Isle of Bute at 13.00
Saturday 20th September, 13.00
This hard walk takes in some of the stunning natural and cultural heritage between Scalpsie to St Ninian's. Sturdy footwear and advanced booking with organisers is required.
HAKON HAKONSSON LECTURE
The Valhalladrome, Barfields Pavilion, Greenock Road, Largs
Thursday 4th September, 20.00
Professor E. J. Cowan 'The Battle of Largs at the Western Approaches' lecture. Part of the Largs Viking Festival. Free to the public, but donations gratefully received.
CULZEAN CAVES GUIDED WALK
Culzean Castle caves
Wednesday 10th September, 13.30
Guided walk with NTS Archaeologist Derek Alexander to the caves underneath Culzean Castle. People attending the walk will either have to be a member of NTS or pay entrance fee into the park. Due to access restrictions numbers for this walk are limited to 15. Stout boots or wellingtons will be required as the caves are muddy and wet. Old clothes should be worn as the caves involve some stooping to gain access. Advanced booking with organisers is required
GUIDED WALK TO CAIRNHOWIT
The Playdrome, 2 Abbotsford Road, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire G81 1PA (Tel: 0141-951-4321)
Meet at Clydebank Playdrome foyer
Saturday 13th September, 10.30 - 15.00
Join the Rangers on a guided walk to the Cairnhowit, Jaw and Cochno reservoirs and the Kilpatrick Hills. See the remains of the Neolithic tomb and learn about the lifestyles of the Neolithic people. With the Forestry Commission Ranger Service. Contact the event organiser for more details.
M74 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DETECTIVES
Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, Glasgow G5 8Q
Saturday 6th, Tuesday 9th, Sunday 14th September, 11.00 - 16.30
Using maps and photo's become an archaeological detective and explore the history and development of the Scotland Street area. Discover what remains from the past and what might survive as archaeology. Try your hand at excavation and archaeological site recording, including drawing with our Simulated Dig. Themed around the M74 DIG excavations the Simulated Dig provides a great opportunity to learn more about the history along the road route and a fantastic chance for the whole family to explore the history of the south side of Glasgow through hands-on activities. Both activities are being run as drop-in sessions so no booking required.
M74: DESIGN YOUR OWN WALLY TILE
Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street Glasgow G5 8QB
Sunday 7th, Friday 19th and Sunday 21st September, 11.00 - 16:30
Wally tiles survive in many of the old tenement closes in Glasgow, giving a glimpse of life in the past. Come along and discover the history behind the tradition of wally tile closes within tenements in Glasgow. Design your own wally tile with help from photographs, archaeological finds from the M74 excavations and other documents and create your own wally tile prints using lino printing and colograph techniques. Prints of the tile designs will be used within future M74 DIG projects. This event is being run as drop in sessions so no booking required.
PROJECT ABILITY TALK AND BOOK PRESENTATION
Project Ability, 18 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1LH
Friday 22nd August - Thursday 21 September, Monday - Friday, 10.00 - 17.00
During the months of May and June this year, a small party of artists from Project Ability took part in a project investigating how rural communities lived in Scotland's past. Working with archaeologists from The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), the group visited sites of interest and made drawings in the form of their own work produced as a result of the project.
HISTORIC GLASGOW - ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE CITY
City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow, G1
Thursday 18th September, 11.30 - 15.15
The Local History and Archaeology Strategy working group for Glasgow City Council, has been running this successful event since 2006. This is the first year that it is open to the public.
There will be a number of stalls, all of which will highlight past, present and future archaeological excavations and projects within Glasgow. Speakers for the day are Professor Stephen Driscoll, Glasgow University, who will talk about his recent excavations on the Doomsterhill, Govan, and Dr David Breeze, Historic Scotland, who will chat about Scotland's newest World Heritage Site: Roman Frontiers - The Antonine Wall. Please join us to find out about the archaeological history of Glasgow and unearth some interesting hidden gems!
RECONSTRUCTING THE PAST: THE M74 DIG
M74 Dig Discovery Centre Scotland Street School Museum 225 Scotland Street Glasgow G5 8QB
Saturday 20th September, 10.00 - 13.30
Reconstructing the Past is a half-day conference presenting the main findings of the M74 Dig on a site by site basis. Free, but places must be pre-booked by September 15th.
GOVAN OLD CHURCH OPEN DAY AND GUIDED TOUR
Govan Old Church, (Part of Govan and Linthouse Churchs), Govan Road, Glasgow
Friday 19th September
The church is open to visitors on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons between the months of June and September. There is a guided tour of the Govan Stones including the collection of Hog Back Viking Graves. For Scottish Archaeology Month/Doors Open Day event (19th September) there will also be items for sale, tea/coffee and parish records available. Advanced booking is required.
DOORS OPEN DAYS 2008, GLASGOW'S BUILT HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Various venues, Glasgow
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September
Free access to buildings and free guided walks in and around Glasgow. For full information see brochure and website. (Joint event with Doors Open Days).
CALEDONIAN POTTERY PROJECT
Various venues and sites
South Lanarkshire Council's Museums Access service is currently running an exciting community project investigating the history of the Caledonian Pottery in Rutherglen. The site of the factory, which was in operation from around 1870 until 1930, has recently been excavated as part of the M74 Completion Project. The pottery produced stoneware items such as ginger beer bottles, cream jars, jam jars and hot water bottles, as well as great quantities of brown-glazed teapots, known as 'Ru'glen Broons'. The project, which will culminate in an exhibition on the pottery and its products, offers opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in finding out more about archaeology, local heritage, social and industrial history, and antique and contemporary ceramics. No skills or experience are necessary. Suitable for all ages. Contact event organiser for more details.
WILSONTOWN IRONWORKS WANDER
The Glen Car Park, Wilsontown, Heathland Forrest, Near Forth, South Lanarkshire
Saturday 20th September, 14.00 - 16.00
Join the Forest Ranger on a gentle wander around the site of this amazing ironworks. Find out about the industry that once existed and the 2000 people that lived here. Advanced booking required.
WALK IN ROBERT THOM'S FOOTSTEPS: THE GREENOCK CUT
Cornalees Visitor Centre, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Loch Thom, New Greenock, PA16 9LX
Saturday 13th September, 11.00 and 13.30
Join the Rangers for a short walk along part of the recently restored, designated ancient monument. The Cut used to take water and power to the people of Greenock. It was designed by Robert Thom in 1825. Advanced Booking with Organisers Required. (Joint Event with Doors Open Days).
RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVENTS AS PART OF RENFREWSHIRE DOD
Lonend Mill, Paisley, Renfrewshire
Saturday 13th September, 10.00 - 16.00
An exhibition of recent archaeological events in Renfrewshire. Contact event organiser for more details. (Joint Event with Doors Open Days).
ARCHAEOLOGY DAY
Linlithgow Peel Kirkgate Linlithgow EH49 7AL
Saturday 4th October, 11:00-16:00
(Please note: this event takes place on Saturday 8th October, not Thursday 4th September as stated in the published guide)
An afternoon of history and archaeology related events and activities for children and families