WORKING WITH ARCHIVE PROJECTS IN SCOTLAND
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2020-12-08

Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy is a ten-year strategy for the archaeology sector, which is helping to guide the way that Scottish archaeology is delivered, understood, cared for and celebrated. A number of aims within this strategy highlight the importance of archaeological archives, ensuring that they are studied, deposited, and curated to high standards, as well as made accessible for researchers now and in the future. Making the most of archives, and potential within incomplete legacy projects, is flagged within its delivery plan. HES’s Archaeology Programme funding is led by the priorities identified in the Strategy. It funds a wide variety of projects, from excavation, through finds analysis and re-analysis, archiving, PhDs and postdoctoral research, and training events. Many currently supported science-based projects rely on the material in archives, especially faunal and environmental remains, which require that the samples from older excavations have been retained by museums. In Scotland, environmental samples and faunal remains are not covered by Treasure Trove, and in times of increasing pressures on museum stores, unprocessed soil samples are not always considered a priority for retention, when compared to other finds. In a time where the heritage sector is investigating ways of prioritising finds from archaeological excavation for retention and disposal, it is important to consider some examples of projects which are utilising archived material, to add significantly to our understanding of the past.


Author(s): Brown, Lisa (HES Historic Environment Scotland)