The Story so far:

I have be working for Archaeology Scotland since the 1^st of August so it’s probably best to give you an idea of what has been up to so far. Most of the work I have been doing is directly for the Adopt a Monument team. So far that’s involved chasing up list of contacts for versus places and helping organise the records for our fifty plus sites. Also a couple of desk based assessments on proposed projects in Lanark for Borders Biscuits who sponsor us (yes that’s a biscuit manufacturer, not much to do with archaeology but nice people). The sites were Lanark station and the lovely Old St Kentegerns church (not that I’m bias). The church is thought to have an early historic foundation sometime before 1150. The current remains are from the 13^th century and it is surrounded by a fascinating graveyard. If you are in Lanark it’s well worth a look.  

Old St Kentegerns church, Lanark from the east. It is hard to tell the original layout of this building but it seems likely this arch was part of the roodscreen and the altar may have been close to the position from which the photo was taken.

The week 29^th August– 2^nd September was the launch of Archaeology Month so me and Phil (Adopt a Monument Project Manager and my mentor) were helping out at the Newhailes dig in Musselburgh. I was also helping out Cat (education and outreach) with schools find cleaning.

Me (In the hat and the high vis) talking to some of our smallest visitors at Newhailes as part of the Scottish Archaeology Month launch.

Adopt a Monument have also been out and about visiting Lanark, attending the Built Environment Forum Scotland conference to advertise, a trip to Hungate in York and a fantastic trip to Mull to see an adopt group there. I was involved with the Kildavie group although we have three adopt groups on Mull. Kildavie is a fantastic 18^th and 19^th century settlement which the group are hoping to open to the public

Iain of HARP recording a possible horizontal mill! at Kildavie one of the Adopted sites on Mull.

View from the ferry on the way to Mull

Lots of other little things going on but that’s the basics a busy week coming up now with training, taking dendrochronology samples and a site visit. I will keep you posted.