We have been busy planning a packed programme of surveys, Open Days and Talks running between September to November – and there is plenty of opportunity to get some hands-on archaeological experience.
Remember – all events are free, but to participate on surveys, please contact Giles to book – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056.
You can find out more about geophysical survey here and read background to the project here.
And remember, September is Scottish Archaeology Month – organised by Archaeology Scotland – so there’s plenty happening around the region and further afield to get involved with.
Friday 7th September – Arch in the Park
Join University archaeologists as they aim to find out more about Dumfries’ Royal Castle, which once stood in Castledykes Park. We will be joined for the day by Andrew Nicholson, an archaeologist from Dumfries and Galloway Council, who will be talking about all the lumps and bumps in the park.
A medieval knight…might you spot him in Castledykes Park?
You can join in with survey all day between 10am and 4pm. There will be activities for kids and who knows – you might even bump into a Medieval knight?
∙ A free event – just drop in and join in!
You can find out more about the background to the project here.
Tuesday 10th – Thursday 13th September –Innermessan: finding the old town
Why not help explore the ‘lost town’ at Innermessan, near Stranraer, and find out what’s buried around the base of a fine upstanding motte?
Volunteers are needed to help with the survey, run over the week. There will also be a chance to see what they have found, on an Open Day on Saturday 15th September. Join us, to see a small display and a sneak peak at the results at Stranraer Library between 10am and 1pm; visit us on site to see ‘archaeology in action’ between 2pm and 4pm.
∙ A free event; volunteers wishing to help with the survey must book. Please contact us for more details of the Open Day.
∙ To book, or for more information, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056
Tuesday 18th September – Discovery Day at Corehead, near Moffat
Join in the search for the ‘missing tower’ at Corehead Farm, near Moffat. A day of geophysical survey, set against the backdrop of the Devil’s beef Tub right in the east of the region. No experience necessary – full training provided.
Talk to be given on Tuesday 25th September, 7.30pm at Annandale Arms Hotel, Moffat. All welcome.
∙ A free event, but booking essential.
∙ For more information, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056
Monday 24th – Thursday 27th September – Lochbrow: searching for prehistory
Nothing survives above ground at Lochbrow, near Johnstonebridge, Lockerbie to suggest the complex prehistoric landscape you are standing in.
Through geophysical survey, mapping buried archaeological deposits, why not help us to understand more about this area 5,0000 years ago?
Join archaeologists from the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and York and RCAHMS for hands-on training in survey techniques.
Find out more from the experts – a talk by the project team entitled “Lochbrow: the hidden archaeology of a prehistoric landscape”, will be given in Lockerbie Town Hall, Wednesday 26th September at 7.30pm.
∙ Volunteers will be needed throughout the week; booking essential.
∙ To book, or for more information, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056
Wednesday 3rd October – Discovery Day at Gatehouse of Fleet
Find out more about the Picts in Gatehouse of Fleet. Come and join in a geophysical survey looking for a Pictish burial site, near to Trusty’s Hill, recently explored as an Early Medieval royal stronghold.
On a single day we are hoping to find out more about a number of barrows spotted from the air, and present the results in an evening talk in Gatehouse – venue TBC.
∙ A free event, but booking essential.
∙ To book, or for more information, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th October – Threave House, Castle Douglas
Find out more about what geophysics, or Time Team’s ‘geofizz’, can tell us about the archaeology of the gardens around Threave House. Come along and find out more about Threave’s past.
There will also be a number of other activities running at Threave as part of Day of the Region.
∙ A free event; volunteers wishing to help with the survey must book. Please contact us for more details of the Open Day.
∙ To book, or for more information, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056
Tuesday 9th – Saturday 13th October – Kelton Mains, Threave, Castle Douglas
Come and join University of Glasgow and National Trust archaeologists carrying out geophysical survey of an impressive cropmark site, within the scenic Threave estate. It looks like an Iron Age settlement on top of Meiklewood Hill – but what other details can we add?
Volunteers will get full hands-on training in carrying out magnetic survey. Why not come to Kelton Mains on Saturday 13th October, from 10-4 for a guided tour of the site and to see the survey in action, together with some initial results?
∙ A free event; volunteers wishing to help with the survey must book. Please contact us for more details of the Open Day.
∙ To book, or for more information, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056
Wednesday 21st November – Discovery Day at Langholm
Come and help the search for Langholm Castle, with a day of resistivity survey held near the town centre. A hands-on day of exploration; full training will be provided.
No experience necessary – just enthusiasm!
The results will be presented in an evening talk; 7.30pm at the Buccleuch Centre, Langholm. All welcome.
∙ Free event. To book, and find out more, please contact Giles Carey – giles.carey@glasgow.ac.uk or 01387 702056.
Find out more: See the website at https://discoveringdgpast.wordpress.com
Or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/discoveringdgpastDownload a PDF of this event list here.
Discovering Dumfries and Galloway's Past 