How to Support Scottish Archaeology the During COVID-19 Pandemic
Along with the rest of the heritage sector, the pandemic has had a hugely detrimental impact on Scottish archaeology. A large amount of fieldwork – particularly community-led events – has been postponed or cancelled so far, with many activities unlikely to take place this year.
This means that many of the groups and organisations who coordinate free open days, events and drop in opportunities cannot depend on on-site donations. Almost 80 per cent of the Ness of Brodgar funding, for example, comes from public donations – especially during the summer dig season.
If you’d like to ensure that they are able to resume their work in 2021, please considering showing your support for these organisations by making a donation (of any size), subscribing to their newsletters or following them on social media:
The Ness of Brodgar Trust
Archaeologists, students and volunteers have been unearthing this complex at the Ness of Brodgar in Orkney (built and occupied more than 5,000 years ago) for over 15 years, with discoveries ranging from decorated and painted stonework unlike any other site to evidence for stone-tiled roofing as never previously understood.
The ongoing excavations reveal information about the distant past that can only be found here, an opportunity for knowledge which is priceless for ourselves and future generations.
But excavation on this scale is expensive, with each season costing £200,000 – and contrary to what many people think, the excavation is not paid for by business or large government grants. This means that the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020 Ness of Brodgar excavation, and related fundraising activity, is having a serious impact on Ness funds.
Any donation – no matter how small – will help keep the Ness of Brodgar project going and get them back on site in 2021.
Visit the Ness of Brodgar website to find out how to support this Scottish Charity.
Image Credit: Scott Pike
The Waggonway Project
The Waggonway Project is a community heritage project run by the 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group – created to interpret, preserve and enhance the route and associated industries & environments of Scotland’s first railway, the 1722 Tranent – Cockenzie Waggonway.
The current situation has meant that they have missed their most important archaeological dig and lost over three months of their usual fundraising activities (1/4 of their annual income). Most critically they have not been able to open the museum & shop at Cockenzie Harbour. Any help you can give will help ensure that they still have a project when life starts to get back to normal.
Visit the Waggonway Project website to find out how to support this project.
Image Credit: Ed Bethune
Swandro-Orkney Coastal Archaeology Trust
The Knowe of Swandro, in the Orkney island of Rousay, is being destroyed by coastal erosion. This unique archaeological site includes a 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered tomb, Iron Age roundhouses, Pictish buildings, a Viking settlement and a Norse Long Hall.
Results so far suggest that Swandro was a high-status settlement in the Pictish period, and this importance continued into the Viking/Norse era. Doing nothing is not an option – much of this important site has already been irrevocably destroyed by the sea and the rest will follow in the not-too-distant future.
Their main source of funding for the dig is from public donations, so cancellation of their 2020 excavation due to the pandemic is a major blow. They hope to dig for longer in 2021 to help compensate for the loss of the 2020 season, but that depends on successful fundraising.
Visit the Swandro website to find out how to support this Scottish Charity.
Image Credit: Swandro-Orkney Coastal Archaeology Trust
Header Image: Ness of Brodgar (Credit: Scott Pike)
