Highland Archaeology Fortnight Digs Into Second Week (06/10/05)

The second week of “Highland Archaeology Fortnight” kicks off this weekend, with a wide range of events on offer for the whole family, from keen experts to complete beginners.

The festival invites people of all ages to “Step into the Past” with a packed programme of guided walks, talks, hands-on activities, opportunities to participate in archaeological surveys and competitions. 

Highland Council Archaeology Unit Manager, Dorothy Maxwell said: “The first week has been extremely successful with schools across the Highlands taking part in special archaeology themed events.  Now, with the start of the school holidays, the programme changes to include events for the whole family, hands-on activities for children and more in-depth events for adults.

“Event organisers all over the Highlands have, as usual, put in a great deal of imagination and effort in putting these events together.  We would like to thank them for their continued support.”

Co-ordinated by Highland Council’s Archaeology Unit, which is part of the Planning and Development Service, the festival’s events are organised by a wide range of community groups, interested individuals, museums and professional bodies such as Historic Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.

Events this week include:

• “Revealing the World Below” – an opportunity to take part in a geophysical surveys of an early cemetery in Lochaber with the help of Highland Council Archaeologists.
   
•  “Telford Tales” – A family living history event revolving around the building of the Caledonian Canal organised by Highland Council Rangers and British Waterways Scotland.
   
• “A guided Tour of Loth Military Radar Station” – discover Sutherland’s fascinating military history on a coastal walk with Timespan Heritage Centre.
•  “Massacre Landrover Safari” – Safari tour of the sites of the 1692 massacres in Glencoe with the National Trust for Scotland.
•  “Woodworking in the Viking Age” – a demonstrations of pole lathe turning and Viking woodturning at Asgard Crafts, Lochcarron.
   
   “Felt Making and Ancient Stones” – a felt making workshop inspired by the Pictish Stones of Ross and Cromarty organised by Community Learning and Leisure, Dingwall.
   
   “The forgotten Bloody battle Site at Altimarlich” – a guided walk up the Wick River with the Highland Council Rangers.
   
   “High Pasture Cave – Entrance to an Iron Age Underworld” –  excavation open day with Steven Birch and Martin Wildgoose at High Pasture Cave, Strath, Isle of Skye.
   
    “Cuairt Mu Thimcheall Bhaile Mhuilinn, An Aghaidh Mhòr” – A guided walk around Milton, Aviemore, in Gaelic and English with “Sinne”.
  

As always, the grand finale is the “What’s New in Highland Archaeology” seminar at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Inverness on 15th-16th October 2005.  The seminar is free and members of the public are invited to come along and find out about the recent archaeological discoveries and research in the Highlands.

To get your free copy of the programme, call the festival hotline on 01463 718505, or visit the Highland Council Archaeology Unit website at www.higharch.demon.co.uk

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