27 August 2010

Final season of the dig at Birnie, near Elgin, where an impressive iron and Pictish settlement site has been the subject of assessment and excavation since 1998, led by Fraser Hunter of the National Museums of Scotland. The site was a local power centre which has produced a rich range of buildings and finds.

Volunteers are welcome, as long as they commit to a miniumum of 3 days. The excavations take place Sunday through Friday, with no work on Saturdays. Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance to allow planning. Please contact Fraser on 0131 247 4053 (and leave a message) or e-mail f.hunter@nms.ac.uk.

27 August 2010

Final season at this important Iron Age site. Excavations will run until early September 2010

If you are interested in volunteering for fieldwork with the High Pasture Cave & Environs Project for the 2010 season, assisting the Project team with a wide variety of tasks, then please contact:

Steven Birch
Email: skyesub1@aol.com
Tel: 01471 822124

Martin Wildgoose
Email: jwildgoose@aol.com
Tel: 01471 822562

Unfortunately, they cannot provide financial assistance or subsistance costs for volunteers, but they do provide on-site training in archaeological techniques and the opportunity to work in a dramatic location on the island of Skye.

Further details on their website www.high-pasture-cave.org/

27 August 2010

The Scotland´s Rural Past project are holding a two-day field work training course at Glenbanchor,
Newtonmore (grid reference NN 6782 9960), on 26th - 27th August 2010.

The course will introduce participants to surveying and recording
deserted rural settlements and will cover the following topics:
● Maps and plans for landscape survey,
● Observation and interpretation,
● Site sketching,
● Site photographs,
● Writing site descriptions
● Measured survey.

As SRP approaches its final year SRP encourages you to apply if you have not already had an opportunity to attend one of our fieldwork training courses, or if you feel that you would benefit from Refresher training. Please apply by 26th July. Numbers are limited and they will confirm places during the
week begining 2nd August.

The course is free and no previous archaeological experience
is necessary, just an appreciation of your local heritage and a desire to understand and help record what still remains. For further details, see the SRP website or contact Ishbel MacKinnon on 0131 662 1456, or srp@rcahms.gov.uk.