03 October 2011

LIFE AND DEATH IN ASSYNT´S PAST

Excavations this summer:

CLACHTOLL BROCH 8 – 26 August

LOCH BORRALAN CHAMBERED CAIRN 28 August – 16 September

GLENLERAIG PRE-CLEARANCE LONGHOUSE 26 September – 8 October

Booking essential! Contact
Gordon Sleight 01571 855207
gordon@gsleight.freeserve.co.uk

03 October 2011

See the booklet for a range of walks, talks and events, available from the Highland Council website or paper copies from libraries or the Archaeology Unit.

03 October 2011

Remembering Strathpeffer

A walk around Strathpeffer, looking at buildings, sites and photographs of this historic spa village. Results from the ARCH Remembering Strathpeffer project recording memories of the physical remains of the village will also be featured – and people are invited to contribute their own memories.

Meet at the Victorian Station, Strathpeffer

Part of Highland Archaeology Festival
 

03 October 2011

AOC Archaeology Group is pleased to be working with Caithness Archaeological Trust and Archie Sinclair Fossil Trust on their new community experimental archaeology project, STONEworks Early Architecture Project.

For four weeks from Monday September 19th 2011, we will be learning about building methods in the past; work will involve the construction of a section of broch, potentially reaching 10-12m in height. The wall will feature intra-mural galleries, as these were common in Iron Age brochs. Building the broch with large slabs of Caithness flagstone will be hard work, but we trust that participants will relish the challenge and enjoy the communal endeavour!

One of the main research interests of the project is to force the collapse of the structure, and in doing so, to find out more about the way in which brochs collapse. We will learn about this poorly understood process by depositing various items at specified locations in the broch walls; when we force the collapse of the broch, we can identify where those items ended up. This will hopefully reveal much about the processes that some archaeological artefacts go through before archaeologists find them many years later.

Volunteers of all ages are invited to take part; no experience is required, tools and training will be provided, and it’s free to participate. Artists, photographers, film-makers and art students will also be welcomed should they choose to come and take inspiration from the creation of an imposing and beautiful structure.

To take part or for more information, please contact Derek of Caithness Archaeological Trust email@caithnessarchaeology.org.uk Tel: 01593 731 269.

03 October 2011

Charcoal making and other woodsman’s skills

Workshops led by Mike Ellis (Helmsdale Coppice and Charcoal)

This is part one of the big Applecross iron smelt project, and will be making enough charcoal to fire the smelt in November. We will be loading and firing the charcoal kiln, and while it is burning and cooling, Mike is keen to demonstrate or discuss a wide range of ancient and traditional skills associated with utilising the natural environment. This will be a valuable insight into life in Applecross in the times of the broch.

We will be gathering at the Flower Tunnel at the campsite at 10am each day, but you can drop in at any time, no need to book.

This is a free event, open to everyone, but there are some risks involved with working with fire, so it’s probably not suitable for toddlers and dogs. Wear old clothes, and other safety wear will be provided.

For more information, phone Cathy Dagg  on 01854 633 337, or e-mail cathydagg@gmail.com