Archaeology is the study of people from the past, trying to understand who they were and how they lived through the evidence they left behind.
Decoding Archaeology
Get to grips with the science and techniques behind Scotland’s archaeological stories
What Happens When Scotland’s Past Meets New Development?
When roads, houses and offices are built in Scotland, traces of the past are often found during the process.
Cream of the Crop: What Are Cropmarks and Why Are They Important?
What do you think of when you hear the word “cropmark”? And what have cropmarks got to do with archaeology?
What is Post-Excavation Processing?
Archaeologists don’t just dig in the soil. We also take lots of soil back to our finds labs
What are Statements of Significance?
What makes Skara Brae in Orkney so special? How do you look after a Cold War bunker? What else do we need to know about the Castle of Old Wick in Caithness?
Halls, Swords and Spears: From Archaeological Evaluation to Excavation in Scotland
How do archaeologists know where to find archaeological sites, features and artefacts?
What Are Watching Briefs and What Have They Uncovered in Scotland?
What do you think of when you hear the words “archaeological site”? The Antonine Wall? Skara Brae? Tursachan Chalanais (the Callanais Stones)? How about the building site down the street? Or the house extension next door?
What are Archaeological Desk-Based Assessments and What Have They Uncovered in Scotland?
Archaeology doesn’t begin when the shovel hits the ground. Indeed, it’s possible to study historic features in the landscape without even kneeling down! Lachlan McKeggie, Director of Highland Archaeological Services, lifts the lid on one form of archaeological investigation – desk-based assessments.
Am I Related to a Viking? The Reliability of Genetic Ancestry Testing
Sharp drops in the costs of DNA sequencing in the last fifteen years have driven radical developments in the way we use genetics to investigate the past. But what exactly can genetic ancestry testing tell us about historic peoples and ourselves?
Facing our Past with Facial Reconstruction
You’ve probably seen facial reconstructions using human remains in museums or news stories – but how are they created and why?
Experimental Archaeology, Barley, Malt and Ale in Prehistoric Scotland
When farming arrived in Scotland between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, the traditions of Mesolithic hunter gatherers gave way to grain cultivation, pottery making, rearing domesticated animals and the construction of stone circles, tombs and monuments: we call this the Neolithic revolution.
Dogs, Not Dinos! The Truth about Zooarchaeology
Ask any archaeologist what the most common questions they get from the general public, and you’re likely to hear one about dinosaurs. Although both fields deal with very, very old bones, dinosaurs are more of the realm of palaeontology, not archaeology.
