You’ve probably seen facial reconstructions using human remains in museums or news stories – but how are they created and why?
Decoding Archaeology
Get to grips with the science and techniques behind Scotland’s archaeological stories
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.
Bioarchaeology and Tales from Bones
Archaeological science and technology have come a long way in the past twenty years and powerful new analytical tools have allowed us to dig deeper into the lives of people from Scotland’s past. [NOTE: Article contains images and descriptions of human remains]
What is Radiocarbon Dating?
It’s a very exciting feeling when you unearth your first artefact, one which anybody who has uncovered a find will know well. You could be holding something – a bowl, a bead, or a brooch, perhaps – which has not been seen for hundreds, or even thousands of years.
LiDAR and the Antonine Wall
Not all archaeology is done with a trowel and bucket, and digging a hole isn’t the only way we can learn about our past. A growing number of archaeological projects are undertaken using remote sensing techniques and some can even be done without leaving the house.
What is Landscape Surveying & Recording?
Archaeology doesn’t always start with digging. In fact, there is crucial work to be done before an archaeologist can even think about breaking ground. Survey is the first stage in establishing what is known and what gaps in knowledge exist about a site, a landscape or a building.
What is DNA Analysis?
The discovery of ancient stories does not stop when the digging is done and trenches are closed over, the work often continues in the lab. DNA analysis is one tool used to help add pieces to archaeological puzzles that are thousands of years old. [NOTE: Article contains images of human remains]
Dendrochronology and the Archaeology of Scotland’s Trees
Dendrochronology (or tree-ring dating) is the scientific method of dating tree rings to the exact year they were formed. The process can inform archaeologists about not only the date of a site, but the lifestyle of the people living there.
