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Archaeology at Shetland Amenity Trust

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Archaeology at Shetland Amenity Trust

Follow us for all the latest events, projects, activities and information from the Archaeology Section at the Shetland Amenity Trust.

Shetland is a Treasure Trove of archaeology, with over 8000 sites recorded in the Sites and Monuments Record. The Archaeology Section at the Shetland Amenity Trust develops, promotes and curates the amazing archaeology of Shetland. The aims of The Trust’s Archaeology Section are to:

Curate Shetland’s archaeology for the benefit of the public;

Develop Shetland’s archaeology as a resource for educ

ational purposes and for the enjoyment of the public;

and

Develop a world-class visitor centre at Old Scatness Broch. Our key tasks involve maintaining the Shetland Sites and Monuments Record, providing archaeological advice to planners and developers, protecting sites and promoting the archaeology of Shetland.

25/05/2022

📣 * Visualising Shetland’s Iron Age * 📣

🔹Thursday 26 May | 6 - 9pm | Talks
🔹Friday 27 May | 12noon - 5pm | iBook demos

Three of Shetland’s most prestigious archaeological monuments will be brought to life next week on 26 & 27 May Shetland Museum and Archives with the launch of interactive iBook 'Shetland in the Iron Age', together with a series of talks from five visiting archaeologists.

The iBook includes 360° virtual walkable tours around three Shetland monuments which are on the UK Tentative List for World Heritage Status; Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village, Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement, and the Broch of Mousa.

The interactive experience allows virtual readers to wander around the monuments’ inner workings, using staircases and corridors, as though they were on site. It also includes links to information, interviews, historic photographs and even worksheets for schools’ use. The iBook is designed to include something for everyone, regardless of age.

If you have an interest in Shetland’s archaeology and would like to hear more about the project as well as what lies ahead for the future of Old Scatness Broch, join us on Thursday 26th.

➡️Book your space and find out more here https://thelittleboxoffice.com/sat/event/view/159484

Or drop in to the museum on Friday 27 May from 12 noon and watch as Li demonstrates the new iBook – and have a go yourself!

Historic Environment Scotland University of Stirling

03/08/2018

Come and join Val tomorrow on Nature Festival walks. In the morning we're going to the best heel-shaped cairn on Shetland Mainland, Punds Water (Mangaster walk) and in the afternoon, to Shetland's most amazing prehistoric landscape - Pinhoulland - which is quite a well-kept secret! If you prefer military history, Chris will be walking to the Bard of Bressay. Details for booking and where to meet are on the Little Box Office under the Nature Festival.

03/07/2018

Li Sou is back carrying out more digital scanning in Shetland this week and next with the Bradford University/HES/SAT team. She is at Jarlshof for a few days now and then on Friday starts work at Old Scatness. This was her last year at Mousa.

11/05/2018

Today we've opened again for the summer - and what glorious weather - perfect for a visit.

23/02/2018

Record of the Week! Loch of Breckon Burnt Mound SMR111
(Scheduled Ancient Monument)

Situated on a slight promontory jutting out into the Loch of Breckon, Northmavine is a burnt mound of common crescentic shape. Usually thought to be the result of heating stones to boil water most likely for cooking, supported by the majority of them located near a water source, burnt mounds are found frequently over Shetland. To the west of the loch lies the Sea Breck broch, overlooking the burnt mound from its position on a nearby hilltop.

16/02/2018

Record of the Week!
St Mary's Chapel SMR768 and Cullingsburgh Broch SMR767
(Scheduled Ancient Monument)

Standing on a promontory at Cullingsburgh, Bressay and on the remains of an Iron Age Broch is the medieval chapel of St. Mary's. Identified as the only known cruciform church in Shetland, St. Mary's chapel is now T-shaped - as a result of the south transepts having been demolished before 1930. In the 19th century, a pictish cross-slab with an ogham inscription was found near the church, joined by the collection of Iron Age hammer stones and whetstone that have been recovered from the surface of the broch.

09/02/2018

Record of the Week!
SMR16 and SMR17 Vord Hill Chambered Cairns
(Scheduled Ancient Monument)

Near the highest point of Vord Hill, Fetlar, stands a rectangular wartime watch-house. There is nothing strikingly unusual about it except the fact that it stands just south of the remains of a Neolithic chambered cairn. Likely built in WWI, the watch-house was constructed from stones stolen from the cairn. Though, at this point, the cairn would have already been disturbed from the building of two conjoined enclosures adjoining to the cairn. The cairn shares Vord Hill with two other chambered cairns, the northern one large for Shetland Standards and the smaller, eastern one positioned on the highest point of the Hill

29/01/2018

Visit Old Scatness this Wednesday and discover about the lives of the Vikings and earlier Shetlanders through interactive tours, immersive reconstructions and a informative visitor centre.

Wednesday 31st January
10am - 3.30pm

26/01/2018

Record of the Week! Gallow Hill Chambered Cairn SMR2203
(Scheduled Ancient Monument)

Beside the main road running south west of the Bridge of Walls lies the largest of four scheduled chambered cairns at Gallow Hill. A. S. Henshall, who visited the Neolithic cairn in 1957, determined that it was unusually large for Shetland at about 84ft (25m) in diameter. Most of the stones of the cairn now lie close to the ground, likely the result of possibily being robbed to build nearby field walls. Yet it still boasts a beautiful view of the Voe of Browland and the archaeological remains that surround it.

19/01/2018

Record of the Week! Jarlshof SMR555
(Scheduled Ancient Monument)

Orginally excavated in 1931 by A.O.Curle, the site of Jarlshof has recently, 87 years later, been deemed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) as being at a “red risk” of climate change. The site is a prime example of the variety of Shetland's archaeology with the earlest structure dating between 2500 BC and 1500 BC and the oldest remains being the 17th century Laird's house commisioned by Earl Patrick Stewart. It's location in relation to the coastline has put it as a four out of five risk of coastal erosion. HES will proceed to assess what steps must be taken to preserve it.

12/01/2018

Record of the Week! Law Ting Holm SMR900
(Scheduled Ancient Monument)

Jutting into the north of the loch of Tingwall lies a rocky mound on a small peninsula. This mound is traditionally said to be the location where the Law Ting assembled each summer between the 11th and mid-16th century. Recorded as once being an islet connected by a still visible 40m long causeway, the location was ideal for an assembly, providing clear visibility around the loch for spectators but still being confined enough to proceed without interruptions. Three or four big stones - used by the 'Foud' (Judge) and officials to sit on - were reportedly removed from the mound during the 18th century for the purpose of grazing.

05/01/2018

Gilbert Goudie (1843-1918)

The youngest son of Gilbert and Jane Goudie (parish of Dunrossness), Goudie was born on the 23rd of April 1843. Throughout his life, he had a clear interest in antiquities, publishing and editing a number of books in his lifetime; including aiding the translation from Icelandic in the Orkneyinga Saga. At the age of 26, he excavated the Brough of Levenwick (a mile from his home at Braefield) and later, in 1893, correctly insisted that Shetland and Orkney's brochs were of 'Celtic' (or Iron Age) construction rather than Norse, Teutonic or Germanic (as contemporary scholars believed). He married Anna Anderson in 1881 and later passed away in early January of 1918. The following words written by Goudie himself are a clear representation of his life;

"The history and antiquities of Shetland have at all times possessed for me an absorbing interest" (Goudie, 1904)

January 2018 marks the 100th year anniversary of his death.

Address

Garthspool
Lerwick
ZE10NY

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+44 (0) 1595 694 688

Website

http://www.shetlandamenity.org/archaeology

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