A throne built to a design used by the ancient Picts has gone on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The seat was created by master furniture maker Adrian McCurdy who drew inspiration from stone carvings.
It was commissioned by distillers Glenmorangie and National Museums Scotland (NMS).
The Picts dominated Scotland north of the Firth of Clyde from the 4th to the 9th centuries AD.
Their symbol stones continue to intrigue historians.
The throne is part of a wider project investigating Scotland’s early history.
SCOTLAND already has more identified Roman camps than any other European country – reflecting Rome’s repeated attempts to stamp its rule on the troublesome north.
Now the number is set to increase. The first comprehensive survey of Roman remains for 30 years will boost the total of officially recognised sites and give them greater legal protection, officials said yesterday.
Hillforts are the iconic and classic image of the British Iron Age and yet as a class of monuments they are poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of dating evidence. The Rampart Scotland project (following on from the successful Hillforts of Strathdon Project) is specifically designed to undertake keyhole excavation across a series of hillforts in order to collect dating evidence. We will also carry out a survey of the surrounding landscape in order to look at possible associated features.
Training in the field will be given by professional archaeologists in the following areas: evaluation, excavation, sampling and surveying techniques, the archaeology and history of the Lothians including site tours.
Places are limited but are open to students and volunteers with any level of experience.
Minimum Age: 18
Cost: £395 including food, accommodation (bunk house) and transport to and from site.
Anyone interested should seek further information including a project description from Murray Cook, MIFA
Email: info@rampartscotland.co.uk
Website: www.rampartscotland.co.uk
The thirteenth annual IARSS meeting with be hosted by the Division of Archaeological Geographical and Environmental Sciences, University of Bradford on Thursday 3rd to Friday 4th June 2010.
The Iron Age Research Student Seminar (IARSS) is an informal conference for post-graduate students studying any aspect of Iron Age Archaeology in Britain, Europe or the wider world. It provides an opportunity for researchers to meet others studying this archaeological period, hear about the latest projects and discoveries, and discuss their own research.
Sessions will consist of 20 minute papers (15 with 5 for questions) delivered by those well into their research projects and 10 minutes papers for first year researchers who wish to give an introduction to their projects. Discussion sessions, chaired by leading experts in Iron Age archaeology, will be held at the end of each day, providing an opportunity for the development of themes and ideas raised in the papers. A drinks reception will be held on the evening of the 2nd June, to provide an opportunity for people to meet and mingle before the start of the conference. The conference dinner will be held at Omar Khan’s restaurant on the evening of the 3rd June, and will be followed by a conference quiz. An optional field trip to explore the archaeology of the Yorkshire Dales is also planned for Saturday 5th June.
Call for papers
Abstracts for presentations on any topic related to Iron Age research are invited. To aid in selection of papers they should contain some introductory information, a description of the aims of the research, the results obtained so far and a short interpretation. Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words, and must be submitted to Fiona Tucker (ftucker@bradford.ac.uk) using the form below by 20 December 2009.
Abstract form
Registration information
Registration for this meeting is £10 for students and £15 for non-students, and is open to all with an interest in Iron Age research. This cost includes the drinks reception on the evening of the 2nd June, lunch on the 3rd and 4th June and tea and coffee breaks throughout the conference. The conference dinner on 3rd June will cost an additional £10 per person for those who wish to attend, and the optional field trip to the Yorkshire Dales on the 5th June will cost £5 per person. If you would like to attend this meeting, please complete the registration form below and send it, with a cheque for your registration fee, to IARSS 2010, Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford, BD7 1DP by 10 May 2010.
Adventures in Archaeology
Issue 10 Past Horizons Online Journal of volunteer archaeology and training. Free to read online.
November 2009
Past Horizons now celebrating its tenth issue, consists of 48 pages of free to read content. The main articles cover current archaeological excavations and conservation around the world. We also have the much loved contribution from Annie Evans our very own ‘Dig Cook’ and the Back Pages present four comedy videos for your enjoyment, on the subject of archaeology.
Read it Free here
http://en.calameo.com/books/000062729f2fb612070aa
or here
http://www.scribd.com/doc/22578459/Past-Horizons-Issue-10-November-2009
Up From the Ashes 14
In 1815 on the Indonesian island of Tambora a massive volcanic eruption caused a pryoclastic flow which wiped out all in its path. The tiny Kingdom of Tambora disappeared under the ash. Now, almost two hundred years later the carbonised but well preserved remains are slowly being uncovered.
Making Preservation Happen 32
Slovenia is a small nation with big ambitions to preserve its wealth of historical buildings. Two Slovenians are at the forefront of this work and have reached out to the international community for help. Now in partnership with Colorado based Adventures in Preservation, hands on workshops are now up and running.
Archaeology Through the Keyhole 8
Dating of hillforts has long been the subject of debate amongst archaeologists. Murray Cook argues that keyhole excavation is the way forward.
Prepare for Action 38
Dominic Hall, a field skills expedition leader shares some of his top tips for enjoying a safe but exciting adventure.
A Series of Fortunate Events 20
Metal detectorist Peter Twinn describes the series of events in his life that led him to discover a passion for archaeology.
Fort St. Joseph 26
A 18th century French frontier fort involved in the fur trade provides the subject for an exceptional award winning community archaeology project.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR PAST HORIZONS OR INDEED HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO MAKE PLEASE CONTACT: editor@pasthorizons.com
A series of unusual Maya wall murals, complete with hieroglyphic captions, are providing archaeologists with a priceless look at day-to-day life in the empire circa A.D. 620 to 700.
Previously known Maya murals all depict the ruling elite, victories in battle, or religious themes. (Explore a map of Maya ruins.)
But exterior walls on a “painted pyramid” buried for centuries in the Mexican jungle (pictured, a corner of the pyramid undergoing excavations) have shown Maya scholars something completely different.
BRAIN SURGERY was being carried out in Ireland more than 1,000 years ago – and patients survived.
People with disabilities were treated with compassion and respect within their communities in medieval Ireland but TB and other diseases, possibly including cancer, claimed many lives while others died by the sword.
A multitude of insights about life and death in Gaelic Ireland were gleaned following the discovery of an unknown medieval church and the graves of about 1,300 men, women and children who lived along the banks of the river Erne at Ballyhanna, Co Donegal, several hundred years ago.
The burial ground, which spanned several centuries, was found during the construction of the Ballyshannon/ Bundoran bypass in 2003.
Last night, as part of Science Week Ireland, a team of archaeologists and scientists from Sligo Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast, who are involved in the Ballyhanna project, outlined their findings to date.
The remains of a mighty Persian army said to have drowned in the sands of the western Egyptian desert 2,500 years ago might have been finally located, solving one of archaeology’s biggest outstanding mysteries, according to Italian researchers.
Bronze weapons, a silver bracelet, an earring and hundreds of human bones found in the vast desolate wilderness of the Sahara desert have raised hopes of finally finding the lost army of Persian King Cambyses II. The 50,000 warriors were said to be buried by a cataclysmic sandstorm in 525 B.C.
A PREHISTORIC burial ground has been discovered on Skye.
Six slab-lined graves and six cremation pits have been unearthed on the excavation site close to Armadale pier on the Sleat peninsula. Experts say it is one of the most significant archaeological finds yet made in the Highlands.
Flint tools and urns were found inside the graves, although skeletal remains had been damaged due to the tide.
The contents of the burial site are being removed by a team of archaeologists from Inverness and Skye. They could be reconstructed and relocated to a new site at Armadale.
Over the years archaeologists have moved from simply classifying the objects they excavate to understanding the stories they have to tell about all aspects of life on the Roman Frontier.
One of the most pioneering practioners in this area was the late Vivien Swan, whose work on ceramics has revealed much about the different peoples garrisoned on Hadrian’s Wall. This conference is the Arbeia Society’s tribute to Vivien and her work.
To be held on the 21st November 2009 at the Customs House, South Shields
Times: 10am – 5pm
Fees
£19
£16 Arbeia Society Members, FT students, UB40s and OAP.
