What can rubbish tell us about the history of Scotland? Actually, rather a lot! Middens contain material remains from many years ago and can reveal information about the people who lived in Scotland over the last 10,000 years.
Discover
more
Destination Archaeology
Travel back into Scotland's past with our guides to unmissable sites and discoveries by region
MoreDecoding Archaeology
Get to grips with the science and techniques behind Scotland’s archaeological stories
More
NA PRÌOMH 10 RUDAN INNTINNEACH A CHAIDH A LORG ANN AN UISGEACHAN NA H-ALBA (GHÀIDHLIG)
Tha costaichean agus uisgeachan na h-Alba air buaidh mhòr a thoirt an eachdraidh againn: bho iasgach agus obair-aodaich gu uisge-beatha agus cumhachd nan tonn; tha iad uile air a bhith nam pàirtean cudromach den chultar, de na sgeulachdan agus den dòigh-beatha againn.
Top 10 Artefacts Found in Scottish Waters (English)
Scotland’s coasts and waters have shaped our history: from fishing and textiles to whisky and wave power; they have influenced our culture, our stories, and our way of life.
Sword-wielding Women and Scottish Archaeology
Who gets to be a warrior? And why can’t that warrior be a woman? The image of the warrior woman still fascinates us – but we sometimes have trouble believing she could be more than a rare exception to the rule in a battlefield full of men.
Centuries-Old Steading in Dumfries & Galloway Inspires at Scotland’s International Poetry Festival
Remains of rural life from a remote ‘Raiders Road’ farmhouse affected by the Lowland Clearances have been brought to life in a new poem for StAnza, Scotland’s Poetry Festival.
Top Six Archaeological Hoards in Scotland
A hoard is a deposit of multiple artefacts often made up of valuable items such as coins, precious metals and jewellery, which has been deliberately stowed away – and they’re the closest thing to “buried treasure” that we’ll ever find in Scotland.
Treasures in the Dirt: Why Archaeology is About More than Precious Metals
Who doesn’t love reading about newly-discovered ancient treasures – dazzling gold or silver, perhaps studded with precious gems? These headline-grabbing objects instantly spark the imagination and conjure up images of ancient royalty bedecked in finery.
A’ CUR DREACH CUÈIR AIR ÀRC-EÒLAS: NA LOCHLANNAICH ANN AN ALBA (GHÀIDHLIG)
A-mach às na sluaghan eachdraidheil uile, is dòcha gur iad na Lochlannaich a tha gan cleachdadh mar an eisimpleir as fheàrr de ‘dh’fhir fìor fhearail’.
Queering Archaeology: Vikings in Scotland (English)
Of all historical groupings of people, the Vikings are perhaps the most celebrated as a prime example of ‘real men’.
Cannonballs and Counter-mines: The Archaeology of Scottish Sieges
Stand your ground as you dig into sieges throughout Scottish history and explore the evidence that was left behind.
The Best of Scottish Archaeology on Canmore
Behind every photograph or drawing in the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) Archive there is a story, an excitement, an experience, a discovery, a memory, a voice.
What Can Artefacts Tell Us About the Past?
As a medieval archaeologist I have always been fascinated by objects which tell a story, artefacts which can be interrogated and analysed to show how or by whom they were used.
Scotland’s Top Archaeological Discoveries of 2020: Coasts and Waters Edition
From lost waterways to underwater bridges, dive into some of the year’s most amazing archaeological stories.
The Archaeology of the Battle of Culloden (English)
On 16 April 1746, the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops and Jacobite armies met at Blàr Chùil Lodair (The Battle of Culloden), following the Jacobite rising of 1745. The Jacobites were decisively defeated near Inbhir Nis (Inverness) in the Scottish Highlands.
Arc-eòlas Blàr Chùil Lodair (GHÀIDHLIG)
Air 16 Giblean 1746, choinnich feachdan an riaghaltais fo Dhiùc Cumberland agus na feachdan Seumasach aig Blàr Chùil Lodair, às dèidh ar-a-mach nan Seumasach ann an 1745. Chaidh droinneadh a dhèanamh air na Seumasaich aig a’ bhlàr seo faisg air Inbhir Nis air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.
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.
Scotland’s Most “Ground-Breaking” Archaeological Discoveries from 2020
A Pictish hillfort, 5,000-year-old textiles and hundreds of medieval skeletons are among the top finds
What Happened to Scottish Archaeology During the Pandemic?
Thanks to the excavation of a medieval graveyard in Leith, the Edinburgh Tram project has been one of the highest-profile digs in Scotland in 2020 – but what happened when COVID-19 brought everything to a halt? [NOTE: Article contains videos with images of human remains]
Shell Beads, Glass Bangles and Hogback Stones: 10 Highlights from the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
Scotland boasts over 12,000 years of human history and much of what we know about the people comes from the remains they left behind. But how to get to grips with twelve millennia of archaeology? The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) is here to help.
‘Tales of great war and strong hearts wrung’: Your Guide to World War Archaeology on Scottish soil
Scotland probably isn’t at the top of the list when it comes to thinking about countries related to either world war of the 20th century. One could be forgiven this as the sites of notoriety, such as Flanders, Stalingrad, and Auschwitz are quite removed from the shores of Scotland.
Breaking New Ground: Archaeology and Mental Health
Archaeology isn’t just about digging up stories from the past, it can also help shape our present and future. The opportunities to socialise, learn new skills and spend time outdoors when getting involved in archaeology can positively impact our health and wellbeing, especially for those who have mental health conditions like anxiety or PTSD.
Tombs, Battlements, Bark and Underpasses: Your Guide to the Archaeology of Graffiti in Scotland
‘Graffiti is like a mirror, we should be able to look at it and see our hopes, desires and fears reflected in it.’ – Anonymous, 2020
Never Miss Out
