On 20 May 685, the Picts made one of the most decisive victories in the history of the British Isles at Blàr Dhùn Neachdain, also known as the Battle of Dunnichen or the Battle of Nechtansmere.
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Destination Archaeology
Travel back into Scotland's past with our guides to unmissable sites and discoveries by region
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Get to grips with the science and techniques behind Scotland’s archaeological stories
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Six Amazing Artefacts In Scotland’s Museums
Scotland is home to hundreds museums, ranging from record-breaking national organisations to buildings with one room run entirely by volunteers – and you’ll find fascinating stories in each and every one of them:
Bunkers and Burials: The Archaeology of Scotland’s Golf Courses
Ask for the name of something quintessentially Scottish and more than likely golf will be among the first responses (perhaps after tartan and haggis).
How Long Have Humans Tracked and Marked the ‘Skyscape’ in Scotland?
The sun, moon, planets and stars have impacted people’s daily lives for thousands of years. There’s even a name for the study of this relationship: archaeoastronomy.
Scottish Archaeology and the Loch Ness Legend
Loch monster legends have existed in Scotland for thousands of years. Originally describing horse-like creatures, or kelpies, it is said that they were intended to keep children away from the water. But how old are these legends?
Scotland’s biggest prehistoric fires: the senses and the soul
Some of Scotland’s biggest festivals are all about the fire. Why?
Did Scottish Archaeology Inspire Game of Thrones?
Game of Thrones fans who live in (or visit) Scotland are in luck – with many of its foundational pillars rooted in history, Scottish archaeology and historic sites give us an entire extended universe in our own backyard to revel in.
4,000 Years of Archaeology On Foot
The remains of Scotland’s past often lie in wild open spaces, but you don’t always have to drive for miles to find these stories.
Prehistoric Hares, Eggs and Baskets: Four Scottish Artefacts for Easter
What we lack in chocolate, we make up for in fantastic Scottish finds.
Dig It! – The Future is Archaeology
2019 is going to be awesome! As are the next few years. I’m an archaeologist and have been the Project Manager for Dig It! since it first made an appearance in 2015.
A Weekend of Archaeology in Perthshire
You may not think of archaeology as a particularly glamorous pursuit, and normally you’d be right; mud up to your knees, windswept hair and port-a-loos certainly come to mind when I think about a dig. But experiencing Scotland’s incredible archaeology doesn’t have to involve blisters and thermal underwear.
Scotland’s Castles Stormed by Dig It! TV
Dig It! TV are bringing a selection of Scotland’s lesser-known castles into the digital age through YouTube and Wikipedia! A series of eight YouTube videos created in partnership with presenter David Weinczok, a.k.a. The Castle Hunter, will be released in conjunction with two free Wikipedia ‘edit-a-thons’.
Four Tips for Your First Dig
With plenty of new excavations flooding into the Dig It! website, you may be considering getting hands-on with Scottish archaeology. Most of these events are free and no experience is required. If you’re still not convinced, we’ve put together some advice to help you on your first day:
What Did Dig It! 2017 Do?
If you’ve been following the project for a while, you’ll know that Dig It! was preceded by Dig It! 2017.
Digging at The Pineapple
If you keep an eye on archaeology stories in the news, you’ll know that the construction industry plays a central role in the discovery of the past. However, students from these two sectors rarely engage with one another (until they enter the workforce).
Archaeology at Auchindrain
In 2017, we worked with the Auchindrain, an 18th-century township in Argyll, and Xchange Scotland on a new project called A’ Ruamhar aig Achamh an Droighinn: Dig It! 2017 at Auchindrain.
Scotland in Six – Hidden Gems
Scotland in Six – Hidden Gems As part of Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, Dig It! 2017 worked with partners across the country to celebrate Scotland’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites with six unique events. We then set out to unearth six of our equally extraordinary Hidden Gems.
Scotland’s World Heritage Site Bucket List
Scotland has an impressive six UNESCO World Heritage Sites which cover over 5,000 years of history from stone to steel.
What’s The Story?
Archaeology is all about discovering and telling Scotland’s stories. By blurring the lines between eras and weaving legend into reality, John Felix has brought six archaeology-inspired stories together to create the intricate illustration below.
Dig It! TV
Dig It! TV offers unparalleled access to the sites, objects and people that form Scotland’s heritage. By blending “traditional” topics with themes such as Minecraft and Game of Thrones, this channel is bringing Scotland’s stories to a wider audience.
Outlander Odyssey in Culross | Guest Post
Outlander and Scottish archaeology go hand in hand, so when Dig It! 2017 was invited to the Culross Lates, we couldn’t resist! We reached out to Stephenie McGucken (a fantastic Dig It! 2017 volunteer who also happens to be an Outlander expert) and she kindly agreed to go along and tell us about her experience:…
Building the Buzz for a Bronze Age Burial
In 1987, the remains of an individual buried over 3,700 years ago were discovered at Achavanich in Caithness in the north of Scotland. The site was later rescued and excavated, and although it was mostly forgotten about over the next three decades, Maya Hoole believes it still has much to teach us about Bronze Age Scotland.
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