Highland Underworld Archaeology seminar proves extremely popular

Recording of Seminar.

Seminar Programme

High demand from people wishing to attend an archaeology seminar - which is due to take place in the Highlands this weekend (27 April) - has seen organisers, Highland Council arrange webcasting of the event to accommodate those unable to get tickets.

All 140 places to the seminar on underground places were snapped up in a short space of time. The seminar titled: “Underworld: the use of caves, rock shelters and underground places during the Scottish Iron Age” will feature research on work undertaken at High Pasture Cave and Fiscavaig Rock Shelter, on the Isle of Skye.

Highland Council has arranged for the seminar to be webcast live and recorded which will be available from the council’s website on Saturday 27 April from 9:30am. An archived version is available here.

High Pasture Cave is one of the most important Iron Age ritual sites excavated in Britain.  Among a host of discoveries, archaeologists found the remains of what is believed to be the earliest stringed instrument ever found in Western Europe. In March 2012, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop revealed that a small wooden fragment found during the excavation had come from a lyre.

The results of the most recent research into the two sites will be presented by eminent academics at the seminar at the Council’s Headquarters in Inverness this Saturday 27 April 2013.

Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: “We are delighted that demand for the seminar has been high as it reflects the importance that Highland Council weighed in making its decision to support research at these two significant sites. We are very honoured to be able to host the distinguished scientists and academics who will be speaking at the seminar - particularly as 2013 is the 20th anniversary of our own Highland Archaeology Festival.” 

The event is being hosted by The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service in partnership with Historic Scotland as a Year of Natural Scotland event.

Topics of discussion and speakers at the seminar will include:

The seminar will be chaired by Rod McCullagh (Historic Scotland) and Professor Ian Armit (University of Bradford).

25 Apr 2013