Rampant Scotland Directory! Archaeology in Scotland covers sites which go back to the days before recorded history when the standing stones, stone circles and megalithic burial chambers were being constructed, through the Roman occupation to mediaeval times. There is a separate page for all the Castles of Scotland.
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Archaeology Scotland is a centre for community archaeology in Scotland. It is a voluntary membership organisation that works to secure the archaeological heritage of Scotland for its people through education, promotion and support. They bring together those for whom archaeology is an interest, an active pastime or a career, support local archaeological action and initiatives and provide a comprehensive information service to all. There is a programme of free archaeological visits, lectures and activities suitable for all ages and levels of expertise which takes place each September. This project is investigating the region surrounding the Roman Fort of Trimontium near Newstead, on the River Tweed. It produced an outstanding collection of Roman artefacts, from humble wooden tent pegs to highly decorated military parade helmets, all now in the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh. The Scottish section of Roman Military Sites in Britain provides brief details of lots of locations, including sections on Scotland, together with a useful map leading to the location of each of them. Falkirk Wheel has information on the Antonine Wall. Roman Gask Project in Perthshire is uncovering the earliest Roman frontier in Britain, built in the 80's AD, 40 years before Hadrian's Wall and 60 years before the Antonine Wall. The web site has maps, a gazetteer and bibliography together with links to other related web pages. Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society fosters an interest in archaeology and has carried out field work at Fast Castle in Berwick. There is a Web site illustrating the well preserved sections of the Roman remains of the Antonine Wall at Hillfoot Cemetery and the Roman Fort and Bathhouse in Bearsden, on the outskirts of Glasgow. This is a centre for archaeology and landscape interpretation and provides resources for environmental education. It won the Scottish Museum of the Year Award in 1998. The museum opened in 1997 and tells the story of Scotland's early years. But the museum, in a former manse north of Lochgilphead, is also surrounded by history in the form of burial mounds, standing stones dating from the bronze age and the remains of ancient forts. One of the forts, Dunadd, may have been the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada.
This is a Scottish Office resource which provides information and material relating to archaeology, ancient monuments and historical buildings. The Computer Application for National MOnuments Record Enquiries (CANMORE) is a searchable database of the National Monuments Record of Scotland with over 120,000 site entries. You need to register to use the database.
Historic Scotland has created a Web site containing detailed reports on a number of archaeological excavations in Scotland. Sections include the Cistercian house of Dundrennan Abbey, excavations at Kelso and Peebles, fieldwork on Hebridean coastal sites, a geophysical survey of the 12th-century seat of the Earl Haakon Paulsson on Orkney, excavations at a prehistoric house and early medieval buildings in Caithness and a survey of the Neolithic long barrow at Capo. Aims to garner interest in Hawick´s past by commemorating the achievements of its people and supporting the local museum. Projects include a cairn to the poet William H Ogilvie and a sculpture in the centre of Hawick commemorating the Battle of Hornshole. This is the site for a company which provides a range of archaeological services throughout Scotland and Northern England. Included on the site are pages on recent sites which have been excavated including a Bronze Age cist burial from Fife; Doune Roman Fort; St Nicholas Chapel, Papa Stronsay, Orkney; Arnol blackhouse project, Isle of Lewis; Castle Park Dunbar; and the New Scottish Parliament Site.
The is the most complete record of archaeological sites and historic buildings for the Highland region. The entire HER collections, compiled over more than 20 years, are available to view here with regular updates.
33 brochs, hill forts, stone circles, standing stones and cairns are described in this well illustrated guide. There is an active map showing where to find these sites around Scotland, a glossary, travel tips and links to other archaeology sites. Included are such well known locations as Callanish on the Isle of Lewis,
Skara Brae and
Isbister (Tomb of the Eagles) and Comet Stone all in Orkney and
Cairnpapple in West Lothian Focuses on the Recumbent stone circles (RSCs) which are unique to the farmlands of north-eastern Scotland. Part of the Geograph project, this extensive section has illustrations, locations and text for over 70 recumbent stone corcle locations with an alphabetical index. A cornucopia of information, locations and photographs of standing stones and megalithic remains, emphasising the mystical aspects of these reminders of the ancient inhabitants of Scotland. Run by venthusiastic volunteers who encourage users to interact with the site. While there is a large amount of detail on Scottish locations, the site also covers megalithic sites in other parts of UK, Europe and the world!
This site contains sections on Grave Slabs and Pictish Stones and Stone Circles and Cairns as well as a large collection of Scottish Castles, Manors and Abbeys with a vast library of pictures. The castles are listed in the Scottish Castles page of this directory and the Pictish Stones, stone circles and cairns covered are:
Based in Orkney, Charles Tait, a professional photographer, has used his skills to provide some excellent graphics to accompany his descriptions of a number of aspects of Orkney including Maeshowe, a mound with an inner tomb of stones of slabs set together and finished - in 2750BC. Then there is his Orkney Guide Book which makes you want to visit the islands and see for yourself the wonders he is describing - just what a guide book should do! A beautifully illustrated site providing a comprehensive picture of these islands. There is a lot to see including an extensive illustrated coverage of Orkney History and from the archaeological point of view these include :
As can be seen from the pages listed below, this is a very large site with lots of information and illustrations (thumbnails leading to larger versions) of the Pictish and other ancient sites in Scotland. From the end of May to the end of July, 1998, Paola and Diego made a tour of about 150 Scottish prehistoric sites. This work is in coordination with SCRAN (Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network) with the intention of producing an educational website and a CD-ROM about the stone monuments of Scotland. The Scottish Crannog Centre at Oakbank Crannog (Loch Tay - Perthshire) is a reconstruction of a lochside dwelling over 2,500 years old and was built by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology (STUA). The crannog and its availability to the public and the underwater archaeology are covered on the Website.  |
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
