Are you interested in the early medieval archaeology of South West Scotland? Join us at the SWSARF workshops at the Dick Institute (2nd Oct) and Dumfries Museum (3rd Oct) to hear all about the South West framework so far and contribute to the early medieval chapter. Register now: bit.ly/3SrJgpJ
Helen Spencer
@helspencer.bsky.social
Head of Research at Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. PhD in archaeological glass science. Consultant in museum and heritage collections care. Trustee at Tarbat Discovery Centre. Interested in all things #archaeology #museums #glass #Scotland #heritage
An example of how women's intellectual labour gets erased #WomenInSTEM 🧪
112. I'm not going to lie, initially I was excited by this article citing my PhD on Andaman Island lithics, until I realised how I had been erased. You would think the author had done the archival research himself. It took years to chase down every lead I could find. #TabClosed2026
Volunteers and archaeologists are set to excavate houses and fields from a 17th- and 18th-century settlement in Glencoe 🏔️ Watch them in action from 5 to 7 July or join an Open Day on 10 July to enjoy storytelling, artefact handling, landscape tours and more: www.digitscotland.com/events/glenc...
Our 2nd week at Burnswark hillfort and we have lots more Roman sling bullets, a stone ballista ball, a trackway, house floors and some unusual rectangular pits. Finally getting some good dating for the rampart and some houses will be critical in understanding this landscape! #hillfortswednesday
An exciting month for ScARF... We were delighted to receive funding from Historic Environment Scotland to continue our work along with @digitscotland.bsky.social. Our final two regional research frameworks are now underway, with 3 new team members! Read all about it: bit.ly/4xKrQEv
FUNDING NEWS: Society’s National Archaeology Projects Celebrate Funding Success We are thrilled that Historic Environment Scotland has granted £876,115 to the Society to continue coordinating @scarf-scot.bsky.social and @digitscotland.bsky.social: www.socantscot.org/news/society... #HESsupported
Would you like to explore Whitekirk St Mary's Church, see archival photos and hear memories of worship and community? NEW RESOURCE! We've collated our social and heritage survey work into this new webpage, featuring an interactive map to explore in your own time churchheritage.scot/whitekirk/
Whitekirk – Research in Action on Church Heritage
churchheritage.scot
New draft chapters for the @SWScot_ARF project are now available! You can explore and comment on the Iron Age and Roman Campaigns drafts at bit.ly/4osL2SW If you're interested in the Iron Age and Roman periods, please join us at the upcoming SWSARF Workshops in Ayr and Dumfries: bit.ly/4evR3tF
There's still time to sign up for the third annual Clyde Valley symposium! Register for your free place: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cvarf-symp...
The 2026 CVARF Symposium is taking place on Saturday the 6th of June at the Gamble Halls in Gourock! Come along to learn more about the archaeology of the Clyde Valley region, and contribute to the @clydevalleyarf.bsky.social project. Book your free place: bit.ly/40R0LQR
We had a wonderful day in Kilmartin on Saturday launching brand-new prehistoric rock art sections of the Future Thinking on Carved Stones framework, as well as five new case studies! You'll find more information and links to the new rock art chapters in our latest newsletter: bit.ly/4dFAkDH
My new #UrbanPrehistory blog post reporting on the horrible fate of the Bogleys Stone of Fife - Barn Storm. This contains a trigger warning for anyone who thinks our heritage - and megaliths - matter. With thanks to Sam McKeand theurbanprehistorian.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/b...
Barn Storm
It is not often I get angry, but a recent encounter with a standing stone has really annoyed – and shocked me. I am pretty used to prehistory being badly treated, and indeed a whole chapter o…
theurbanprehistorian.wordpress.com
Really enjoyed our @scarf-scot.bsky.social rock art gathering last weekend at Kilmartin Museum. Watch this space for news about the new framework additions and case studies!
Last Saturday I was back in Kilmartin for the Rock Art Gathering event at Kilmartin Museum. For a few years now, Kilmartin is a yearly pilgrimage for me and every time I go back it feels like a warm hug. It is a place for smiles, laughter and friendships. 1/
Last Saturday I was back in Kilmartin for the Rock Art Gathering event at Kilmartin Museum. For a few years now, Kilmartin is a yearly pilgrimage for me and every time I go back it feels like a warm hug. It is a place for smiles, laughter and friendships. 1/
RDW Glass is offering an exciting Stained Glass Residency, taking place over 3 weeks in September 2026. This unique opportunity,led by glass artists Keira McLean and Rich Welsh, invites artists of all backgrounds to explore stained glass as a storytelling medium. #stainedglass #glasgowart #glasgow
Stained Glass Residency - Scottish Contemporary Art Network
RDW Glass is offering an exciting Stained Glass Residency, taking place over 3 weeks in September 2026 (Monday 7th of...
sca-net.org
Our next Church Heritage Action Group meeting is nearly here and in-person places are now sold out 🎉 There’s still space to join online. This session will explore heritage value and prioritisation: how we decide what matters, and how that shapes the future of church buildings.
We have very limited spaces left to join us in Kilmartin, but there's still plenty of online places available. Head to our Eventbrite page for more information or to book your place now: bit.ly/4s85XMi
Are you interested in Neolithic and Bronze Age rock art? Join us at Kilmartin Museum on the 16th of May for a free, hybrid event led by the wonderful Tertia Barnett and @joanavaldez.bsky.social. In-person places are limited, so book soon if you're interested! More information: bit.ly/4s85XMi
Tartan glass by Alison in our fused glass classes. Held throughout the year at stainedglass.scot/nightclasses-a… #stainedglassclasses
It was great to see the Scottish Archaeology Strategy represented so strongly at #cifa2026 in Edinburgh! At the opening plenary, Andy and Gavin reflected on 10 years of the strategy and the road to SAS2, alongside Cara and Alice on skills and traineeships
Exciting times working on developing the next phase of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy. Look forward to sharing more at #CIfA2026 next week!
Hello from the Scottish Archaeology Strategy! We’re here as we begin to shape the next iteration of the Strategy, with a new chair and a decade of learning behind us, it’s an exciting time. We’ll be sharing reflections from the past 10 years at the CIfA conference next week!
The ReACH team is growing! We’re looking for a Research Officer to join our team - helping to document and support Scotland’s churches at risk of closure & develop a national heritage resource. 📍Edinburgh (hybrid) 🗓️ Full time, fixed term More info & apply here: www.socantscot.org/news/work-wi...
Work With Us: ReACH Research Officer - Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is looking to hire a new member of staff to help deliver the Research in Action on Church Heritage (ReACH) project. Working closely with Scotland’s Churches Trus...
socantscot.org
UPCOMING CONFERENCE: Archaeological Research in Progress Tickets are now available for this year's conference hosted by @archscot.bsky.social in collaboration with the Society on 23 May in Dumfries & Galloway and online, with discounts for Fellows: www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/get-involved...
Are you interested in the Iron Age and Roman archaeology of South West Scotland? Join us at our SWSARF workshops this June! We'll be at Ayr Town Hall (20th June) and Dumfries Museum (27th June) discussing the latest draft chapters of the South West framework. Register for free: bit.ly/3Qr32QG
New Blog Post 📣📣 The New Futures team at @communityownership.bsky.social explore their Churches Route Map - a new resource designed to support communities considering taking on church buildings and the steps involved
Come and enjoy our ever expanding Research Team! #HeritageJob
WORK WITH US: ReACH Research Officer We are looking to hire a new member of staff to help deliver Research in Action on Church Heritage (ReACH), our partnership project with @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social. Find out more and apply before 11:59 PM on 3 May 2026: www.socantscot.org/news/work-wi...
Achnacreebeag has recently been reinvestigated by @archscot.bsky.social with support from @socantscot.bsky.social Audrey Henshall Legacy To learn more about what discoveries were made at the end of the rainbow, give them a follow. #TombTuesday #HESsupported #archaeology
NEW BOOK: 'Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland' We are thrilled to announce the release of our book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, a nationally important monograph that brings together 10 years of research which has transformed our understanding of the Picts: www.socantscot.org/uncategorize...
We have plenty of exciting events coming up this spring and summer! 🌻 Whether you're interested in rock art, the Iron Age and Roman period or the archaeology of the Clyde Valley region, there's something for everyone. You can read all our latest updates in our April newsletter: bit.ly/4stEELT
Great to see @socantscot.bsky.social new publication Rhynie - A Powerful Place in Pictland @northernpicts.bsky.social landing on people’s doorsteps! Thanks to all the funders and backers we have this gorgeous print copy for sale as well as free #OpenAccess books.socantscot.org/digital-book... 🏺
Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland: The development of a landscape of Pictish royal power from the Roman to the early medieval period | Open Access E-Books
books.socantscot.org
This just arrived on my doorstep with a big ‘thud’! Looking forward to reading it when I get a chance. Especially love the lino print image of Tap o’Noth #hillfort on the jacket cover by Bryan Angus. 🙌
Looking forward to visiting Kilmartin again next month for our final #RockArt workshop funded by @royalsoced.bsky.social Still a few places left in person but partially hybrid as well! Book now!
Are you interested in Neolithic and Bronze Age rock art? Join us at Kilmartin Museum on the 16th of May for a free, hybrid event led by the wonderful Tertia Barnett and @joanavaldez.bsky.social. In-person places are limited, so book soon if you're interested! More information: bit.ly/4s85XMi