Perth and Kinross Archaeology Month

Creating economic and social benefit through the active and creative use of our historic environment

Between 2003 and 2018 Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust annually delivered an Archaeology Month outreach programme. Beginning as Archaeology Week it celebrated the region’s past and showcased the outstanding historic environment of Perth and Kinross. Funded by The Gannochy Trust, the regional programme offered residents and visitors a rich variety of opportunities to interact with the historic environment with historically themed special events, excavations, guided walks, workshops, talks, exhibitions and much more all delivered by a host of local societies and heritage organisations, including PKHT, across Perth and Kinross.

Perth and Kinross Archaeology Year

For the 2017 Scottish theme Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, joined the celebration of Scotland’s heritage by expanding Archaeology Month into a seven month programme of vibrant, engaging and informative events. Over 70,000 people are estimated to have attended the 100+ events and exhibitions promoted in the brochure and web-calendar.

PKHT staff offered a suite of new guided walks as part of the Cateran Common Wealth which took in some of the amazing, lesser-explored archaeological sites of Eastern Perthshire. There were lots of opportunities to get into archaeology and experience the past at the trowel’s edge including: Tay Landscape Partnership’s month-long dig on Moredun Top, their Wee Big Dig in Abernethy village and their Big Dig at Castlelaw Hillfort above Abernethy; the sixth and final season of excavations on the Pictish longhouses at Lair, Glenshee; and the first ever excavation of King’s Seat hillfort near Dunkeld where some very exciting discoveries were made – check out the project page to find out more.

A Snapshot of Archaeology Year

A snapshot from our Archaeology Year

We launched our Archaeology Year programme in April with a torch-lit procession through the atmospherically lit woodland of Moncreiffe hill up to the hillfort of Moredun top where local singer/songwriter Dougie MacLean lit a ceremonial flame & performed. Internationally acclaimed trombonist John Kenny offered a truly unique insight into the sounds of the past, demonstrating the tonal range and power of the prehistoric Carnyx horn. What a sound to hear echoing across the ramparts of a prehistoric hillfort! The evening was rounded up with a careful blend of past with present technology thanks to the St. Andrews University SmartHistory team. Their fantastic virtual reconstruction of Moredun top hillfort was made available for participants to view on the hilltop through a series of virtual reality photo-sphere stations- a truly immersive experience.