RCAHMS Centenary Workshops

Portable antiquities and the monuments, sites and landscape settings from which they have been collected, form one of the basic building blocks of the Scottish archaeological record. But the relationships between the two are not necessarily straightforward.

Today's contributors will explore two key areas:

• The interface between artefacts and sites - the blurring between what is defined as a portable antiquity and what is defined as a site.
• Contextualising records - re-establishing links between 'artefacts' and 'sites'.

The first of these is at its most acute with regard to sculptured stones, but also involves more prosaic concerns, such as when does a collection of flints amount to a flint scatter, and, by implication, a recognisable site.

The second issue is wide-ranging: it includes attempts, retrospectively, to fit historical artefact finds to recently discovered sites and to determine the geographical extents of sites in relation to nearby artefact finds. At a finer scale, this incorporates moves to re-link museum objects with the sites from which they were excavated.

Biographies

Dr Rebecca Jones is an Operational Manager in Survey and Recording for RCAHMS with specific responsibility for the Database and Aerial Survey programmes, including information management and standards. Her research interests focus on the archaeology of the Roman army (particularly in Scotland and Wales), and she has recently been working with Historic Scotland on their nomination of the Antonine Wall as a World Heritage Site. Publications include Roman Camps in Wales and the Marches (with J L Davies, University of Wales Press 2006). She is a Fellow of the Societies of Antiquaries of Scotland and London and a Member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Professor Ian Ralston is Chair in Later European Prehistory at the University of Edinburgh. His interests include the European Iron Age, Scottish archaeology of all periods, and the development of applied archaeology. He is a former Chair of the Institute of Field Archaeologists and is presently Chair of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel. Recent publications include Archaeological Resource Management in the UK: an introduction (edited with J Hunter, Sutton 2006), Celtic fortifications (Tempus 2006) and Scotland after the Ice Age (edited with K J Edwards, Edinburgh 2003). He is a Fellow of the Societies of Antiquaries of Scotland and London, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

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In general, catalogues of Scottish museum collections concentrate on the description and classification of the objects held in their trust, the circumstances of their acquisition and their physical location within the museum displays or stores. Geographic details, even at the basic level of national grid references or administrative areas (whether historic counties and parishes or current Council areas) tend to be recorded inconsistently or not at all. While museum databases may therefore function well as collection management tools, their full potential is not being realised.

The National Museums Scotland (NMS) holds the principal collection of archaeological artefacts from Scotland. Here too, research and management of the collection is currently constrained by incomplete or absent location-based information. NMS is therefore seeking to improve its information relating to geographical locations and site context and by doing so, to complement the CANMORE database of archaeological sites held by the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).

The core of this paper will describe the results of a recent pilot project undertaken by NMS and RCAHMS with the aim of addressing some of these problems. The MAGI (Museum Artefact Geographical Interface) project has started to explore the huge potential for re-connection of objects in museum collections with the location of their discovery. As well as illustrating the scope of the project, the paper will touch on some of the issues raised by the pilot study, ranging from the presentation of information to a broad audience while retaining academic rigour, through to adherence to national standards, and inevitably, questions of resourcing and sustainability. However, at its heart lies the potential for the creation of a national inventory of Scottish artefacts by extending the partnership to embrace the Scottish archaeological community as a whole.

Biographies

Trevor Cowie is a Senior Curator in the Department of Archaeology at the National Museums Scotland. A graduate of Edinburgh University, he worked as a field archaeologist before joining the staff of the national museum in 1980. Apart from the occasional foray into Viking Age archaeology, his research interests mainly include the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods and have focused especially on ceramics and metalwork. Outside of work, he is presently Chairman of the Peeblesshire Archaeological Society, with whose members he is currently involved in an archaeological survey of Eddleston parish.

Peter McKeague is the Database and GIS Projects Manager in Survey and Recording at RCAHMS. He has long involvement with archaeological field survey in Scotland and is interested in improving the integration of of digital data derived from fieldwork into the RCAHMS database and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Peter is responsible for the development of OASIS in Scotland, enabling archaeological units to report fieldwork via a web application. Through his involvement with the Forum of Information Standards in Heritage (FISH) and the Sites and Monumnets Record Technical Working Group, Peter is involved with a wide range of projects developing standards in archaeology to enable data sharing between organisations. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the Scottish Government One Scotland, One Geography agenda to improve the use of, and accessibility to, spatial information held on behalf of the public. He is a member of a working party advising the Scottish Geography Steering Group of the Scottish Government. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

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The Strathearn Environs & Royal Forteviot (SERF) project can legitimately claim that its subject is nothing less than the development of Scotland itself. The focal point of the study is the remarkable conjunction between a prehistoric ceremonial centre dating from the Neolithic and the Early Historic palace site which has produced a remarkable collection of Pictish sculpture and the earliest historically attested royal palace in Scotland. This long term study is being taken by a team of prehistorians and medievalists through the University of Glasgow's archaeology fieldschool and is expected to run for a decade. The approach is multi-disciplinary and cross-period, and has attracted sponsorship from the British Academy, Historic Scotland, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust.

This presentation will consider how the previously known archaeological and historical evidence are being utilised to frame the research programme. Particular attention will be given to the use of field methods, laboratory techniques and documentary research.

Biographies

Dr Kenneth Brophy is a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Glasgow, and previously worked with RCAHMS. His research interests include the British Neolithic (and in particular the Neolithic of mainland Scotland), archaeological theory, and aerial archaeology. He is the joint national co-ordinator of the Neolithic Studies Group, council member of the Prehistoric Society, and Assistant Editor of the Scottish Archaeological Journal. Notable research excavations include Claish Farm Neolithic building, Carsie Mains Neolithic monuments, Battle Moss multiple stone rows, and currently the Forteviot palisaded enclosure as part of SERF. Has published an edited volume on aerial archaeology, From the air, and 2008-9 will see the publication of books on Regional Neolithics, the Multiple Stone Rows of Northern Scotland and Cursus monuments in Scotland.

Professor Stephen Driscoll
Biography not yet available

Dr Gordon Noble
Biography not yet available

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It matters whether a carved stone is moved, moveable or portable. This influences perceptions of significance and of form and nature - is it a monument or an artefact? This duality may in turn affect understanding and appreciation of this resource. It has implications for how and if carved stones can be legally protected, who owns them, where and how they are administered, and by whom. The complexities of the legislation mean that all too often this is also a grey area. This paper will explore these curatorial issues and their impact.

Biography

Dr Sally Foster is Head of Scheduling in Historic Scotland, where her team's responsibilities include an overview of carved stone issues (see www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/carvedstones for Scottish Ministers' policy and guidance). She sits on the National Committee on Carved Stones in Scotland. Her publications include Picts, Gaels and Scots (2nd edition, London 2004), Place, Space and Odyssey. Exploring the Future of Early Medieval Sculpture (Rosemarkie 2001) and she edited The St Andrews Sarcophagus. A Pictish Masterpiece and its International Connections (Dublin 1998) and Able Minds and Practised Hands. Scotland's Early Medieval Sculpture in the 21st Century (Leeds 2005). She is Honorary Editor of Medieval Archaeology since December 2006, as well as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and London, and a Member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

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Excavated artefacts that have a clear contextual record are much more informative than those that have none. Twelve distinctive pins found scattered across a site might be taken to indicate that they were common among the people who lived there. However, if the pins were known to have been found together then a range of different interpretations might come to mind drawing information from the context in which they were found. In interpreting artefacts, understanding the context in which they were found is every bit as important as understanding the physical properties of the objects themselves.

However, contextual information may be hard to come by, or hard to understand for researchers without prior knowledge of the site. It ought to be possible to digitise excavation records so that researchers can navigate between artefacts, contexts, site plans and photographs. It will not be easy and it will not be cheap, but if we do not try to move archiving forward to make proper use of technology then we fail the public we serve.

Biography

Anne Brundle is Curator of Archaeology at the Orkney Museum. She has a strong interest in the creation of effective archaeological archives and took a very active part in the group that produced Minimum Standards for Archeological Transfer in Scotland (SSMA 2000). Her own archaeological research interests are in the later prehistory of Orkney, particularly artefacts of skeletal material. She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and holds the Diploma of the Museums Association.

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Historically, archaeological collections held by museums have been dominated by individual objects or groups of objects with little contextual information (other than approximate provenance) but relatively high intrinsic value. A donated collection of polished stone axe heads would be a typical example of this type of material. This type of material is still being acquired by museums (perhaps most notably from metal detectorists) but the 20th century saw a progressive rise in the deposition of assemblages from formal archaeological excavation. In these excavation assemblages (including both manufactured objects and the so-called 'ecofacts' - bone, shell, plant remains) there is a swing away from the intrinsic value of an object to its contextual value.

More recently a different trend can be identified. The growth of developer-funded archaeological investigations in Scotland since the early 1990s has triggered a still-increasing volume of archaeological assemblages from small-scale investigations (intrusive evaluations and watching briefs) where the objects have little intrinsic value and little contextual value.

This presentation is based on personal experience with Headland Archaeology and will explore the situation now facing commercial archaeological organisations. Developer-funded excavation is generating both large assemblages with major research potential and small assemblages of (arguably) extremely limited value. How do we ensure 'best value' from these widely different situations?

For the large, high value, assemblages how do we maximise the transfer of contextual information into museums and facilitate the work of future researchers?

For the small, low value, assemblages how do we avoid burdening an under-resourced system with worthless material?

Our current approach tends to reflect a 'one size fits all' philosophy from field recording and excavation techniques right through to allocation and transfer of assemblages to museums. I will argue that we need to discriminate and prioritise if we are to obtain 'best value'. This may require us to challenge some old habits and entrenched views.

Biography

Dr Stephen Carter is a Director of Headland Archaeology Ltd, based in its Edinburgh Office. Doctoral research in Environmental Archaeology at the University of London Institute of Archaeology was followed by a move to Scotland in 1989 where he initially worked on specialist analyses of archaeological sediments. With the creation of Headland Archaeology in 1996, his role has shifted to archaeological project management, focussing on Environmental Impact Assessment, and business management with a particular interest in professional development. He is currently the President of the Council for Scottish Archaeology and a Trustee of the Council for British Archaeology.

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Ian Shepherd is Principal Archaeologist and Team Leader, Specialist Services with Aberdeenshire Council. He edited the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland for many years and is secretary of the Bronze Age Studies Group. He has published on Early Bronze Age burials, beaker pottery and jet ornaments, as well as on the architecture of NE Scotland (Exploring Scotland's Heritage: Aberdeen & NE Scotland - for RCAHMS, 1996 and Donside and Strathbogie, 2006). He conducted aerial reconnaissance of the area over many years, with IBM Ralston, and published, with Moira Greig, Grampian's Past: its archaeology from the air (1996). He edited, with Gordon Barclay, Scotland in Ancient Europe: the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Scotland in their European context (2004) in memory of Stuart Piggott under whom he studied in Edinburgh. He is currently writing the two NE volumes of the Buildings of Scotland series.

Dr Barbara Crawford is Honorary Reader in Medieval History at the University of St. Andrews and is continuing to pursue her researches into the history and archaeology of the Scandinavian settlements in Scotland, and into historical contacts across the North Sea in the Middle Ages. Her study of these settlements, Scandinavian Scotland, was published in 1987, and since then she has published the results of her own excavation of a medieval farm site which belonged to the kings of Norway on the island of Papa Stour in Shetland. She is currently involved in two projects, one on the places named after the papar in the Northern and Western isles, and the other (now in press) on the cult of St. Clement in England, Scotland and Scandinavia. She is a Member of the Norwegian Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and is now working as Director of the Strathmartine Centre for Scottish History in St. Andrews, founded by an independent charitable trust established by the late Dr. Ronald Cant before his death in 1999, for supporting research and education in Scottish History.

Dr Anna Ritchie is a consultant archaeologist with special interests in the Neolithic and early medieval periods. She has been a Trustee of both the British Museum and the National Museums of Scotland and is a past president of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Professor Chris Morris is a part-time Chair of Archaeology at the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) Millennium Institute and was formerly Professor of Archaeology and Vice-Principal at Glasgow University. His current brief is to assist with research development, specifically archaeology, through the UHI network. Research interests focus on the Viking and Late Norse periods, particularly in Orkney, Caithness, Isle of Man, Sutherland, Shetland and the North Atlantic region. Publications include monographs on work on Birsay, Freswick and Tintagel Castle, Cornwall, and edited volumes on aspects of Norse settlement in the North Atlantic. He was a member of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland and is currently Depute Chair of RCAHMS.

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