As the UK’s largest national park, the Cairngorms boasts hundreds of historic sites spanning thousands of years of human history. Across its 4,500 square kilometres, you can encounter many castles and forts with fascinating stories to tell, but it’s not all about what lies above the surface.
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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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Top Six Archaeological Sites and Artefacts from Perth & Kinross
Did you know that Perth and Kinross is home to some of Scotland’s best archaeological sites and is where countless amazing artefacts have been found?
Top Six Iron Age Sites and Discoveries in Scotland
Named for the period when we first see the use of iron tools, the Iron Age was a time of great change in Scotland.
Partying like the Viking Earls in Orkney: What Can Archaeology Tell Us?
Feasting is mentioned no less than twenty times in the Saga of the Orkney Earls (Orkneyinga Saga), at various venues across the islands of Orkney and with different functions – the sealing of deals, the exchange of gifts, the consolidation of friendships and treaties. And all of these activities were accompanied by copious drinking and…
Top Six Modern (Post-Medieval) Archaeological Sites and Discoveries in Scotland
Are archaeologists only interested in sites from thousands of years ago? While ancient places can be thrilling to investigate, experts are also keen to explore material remains from as recently as the 1500s to the present day, which covers everything from illicit whisky distilling to football stadiums.
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?
Four of the Best Archaeological Sites and Discoveries from Bronze Age Scotland
Scotland’s Bronze Age began approximately 4,500 years ago with the first evidence of copper tools and ended around 2,800 years ago (2,500 BC to 800 BC) with the first evidence of iron tools.
How to Have a Climate-Friendly Archaeology Experience in Scotland
Whether you’re attending a dig open day, helping out with fieldwork or visiting an excavated site, there’s plenty of ways to reduce your impact on the environment.
Why Do Scotland’s Archaeological Sites, Artefacts and Monuments Need Protecting?
People have been living on the land that is now called Scotland for over 14,000 years and many left behind sites, artefacts and monuments which can reveal more about their story. Today, many of these are legally protected, but that hasn’t always been the case.
Investigate Ancient Rock Art, a Medieval Friary, an “Industrial Ghost Town” and More This Summer as Part of Scotland Digs 2022
The Scotland Digs 2022 campaign is celebrating the country’s world-class archaeology this summer from Shetland to Dumfries & Galloway.
Recording, conservation and display: Episodes in the continuing life of a 3,000-year-old logboat from the River Tay
Ever wondered what happens to an artefact once it’s been discovered? Just like before it became buried, each find goes on its own journey once it’s above ground, and there can be numerous different outcomes for material remains from the past.
Top Eight Archaeological Sites and Discoveries from Neolithic Scotland
The way of life for people living in the land we now know as Scotland was completely transformed in the Neolithic period.
Top Four Archaeological Sites in the Scottish Borders
Iron Age complexes, Roman forts, medieval abbeys and more await in the Borders!
Outstanding Lesser-known Archaeological Sites in Orkney
You’re probably familiar with some of the titans of Orkney’s archaeological landscape such as the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae, but what about the less famous gems?
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?
Drawing on the past: why do we need illustrations in archaeology?
When we excavate archaeology, what we’re doing is a one-off event – we’re taking things out of the ground where they’ve sat for a very long time to better understand how finds and features all came to be there, how they were used and why they were deposited by people in the past.
Craftworking in Iron Age Scotland: Four Highlights from Culduthel
In 2005, an exceptional discovery was made by archaeologists in a field on the outskirts of Inverness.
Top 10 Archaeological Finds from Scotland’s Peat Bogs
From a 3,000-year-old hat to precious offerings to the gods, dig into our top archaeological finds from peat in Scotland.
12 More Months of Dig It!
Since 2019, Dig It! has been part of real and virtual excavations, organised three national campaigns, commissioned creatives, helped crowdfund a tabletop roleplaying game, and more.
Death and Ritual in Prehistoric Scotland: Exploring the Archaeology of Moray’s Sea Caves
In an enigmatic sea cave in north-east Scotland, the remains of mummified bodies and rare artefacts reveal Moray’s ancient burial practices.
Prehistoric Figurine, Viking Boat Burial and Rare Township Brought to Life Through Flash Fiction
Sites and artefacts from across the country have inspired the three winning short stories as part of Dig It!’s competition celebrating Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
Top Six Archaeological Sites to Visit in Fife
Home to world-class golf, award-winning whisky distilleries and Scotland’s oldest university, Fife also boasts a rich collection of archaeological stories.
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