Welcome to Stirling Archaeology’s ‘The Diary’ , a weekly summary of all the interesting history and archaeological things happening round Stirling, including some of my adventures which finishes with a very bad joke and a poem so make sure you read to the end!
If you have an event or a group you’d like to promote please get in contact.
Holiday!
Just back from Harris….so still getting the sand out’ve my stuff but here is a picture of us swimming in the sea!
and afraid off digging in Huntly for two weeks from the 15th so the diary will be limited.
Logie Old Kirk and Burial Ground
This fascinating site , which existed before the burgh of Stirling (and includes up to 4 Viking hogbacks!) , is open for folk to visit all year …..but in July and August , on Sunday afternoons starting at 14.00 there are volunteers who will be very happy to take you round.
All free. Very dog friendly
Last tour starts at 16.30
A short distance up the hill from the new Logie Kirk ( only 200 years old), between the University and Blairlogie
Stirling Field and Archaeological Society.
The Society’s next outing is on Tuesday 9 th July to the site of Leckie Broch. Located to the west of Gargunnock it is one of only four known in the Forth Valley (others are Torwood, Buchlyvie ; Coldoch). Brochs are typically structures found in the north, but a few also occur in the Borders and Tayside. Excavations in the 1970s found Roman artefacts of all sorts, dating the structure’s occupation to c.80 - c.210, but archaeologists still disagree on how these objects were acquired and why brochs were built so far south. We will also visit a group of cup and ring marks and a bridge built in 1663.
Leader: Liz (01786 860650).
Meet at the bus stop at Castle View Park and Ride, Kildean, at 6.30pm for directions. Non - members are welcome.
At the end of July (21 st – 28 th ) we will be returning to Bannockburn Houseto continue our investigation of the early (possibly 16 th Century!) mine shaft that we discovered last year. At the end of June we looked at the area adjacent to the shaft and began investigating route- ways, work which will be continued in July. If you would like to take part there are opportunities for digging to remove vegetation and topsoil or, less demanding, opportunities for washing, identifying and recording finds. We will be digging from 10am to 4pm, taking lunch from 12.30 – 1.30.
Spaces are limited; if you are a member and indicated your interest when you renewed your subscription there is no need to do more. If you are not a member a place must be booked by email to Archeology@bannockburnhouse.scot, indicating whether you are interested in ‘digging’ or ‘washing’[or both], and which days you would like to attend.
Leader: Colin Davenport (07780 532933)
Stirling District Tourism Events!
This wonderful organisation manage the Church of the Holy Rude and organise walks and lectures across the year…if you’ve not seen their website please have a look.
Stirling’s Dead Centre Exploring the Old Town Sunday, August 25 · 2 - 3:30pm
News from Stirling University
A wee free treat courtesy of Professor Richard Oram of this parish who gave this year’s Rhind Lectures for the society of Antiquaries of Scotland. An important exploration and discourse on Scotland’s climate history.
Memoria
An exhibition of photographic works, moving image, overpainted photographs and installations by Audrey Grant: Artist in Residence 2023-24, University of Stirling
https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/art-collection/
Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling
Saturday 25 May - Friday 9 August 2024
I finally made it to this and was greeted by a video featuring my voice talking about the Hermitage in the grounds of the University…well worth it.
Digging Stirling - An Introduction to Archaeology & History of Stirling
Murray’s Books
My newest book written with my friend Jim Roche will be published at the end of June…signed copies are available from me and here’s a video talking about it!
The book charts 6000 years of conflict round Scotland’s bloodiest spot…yes you guessed it…Stirling! It costs £12.99 and is aimed at the general reader.
Joke and Poem!
Another old one…..what’s yellow and dangerous…shark infested custard!
and the poem…as I’ve been on holiday in Scotland and experienced a typical summer…sun burn and horizontal rain here is one of my favourites that captures our dual nature. I always return to this one for those first three opening lines which in my humble opinion are perhaps the most beautiful description of a sunny Scottish summer ever written (no that’s not an oxymoron!).
Scotland by Alastair Reid
It was a day peculiar to this piece of the planet,
when larks rose on long thin strings of singing
and the air shifted with the shimmer of actual angels.
Greenness entered the body. The grasses
shivered with presences, and sunlight
stayed like a halo on hair and heather and hills.
Walking into town, I saw, in a radiant raincoat,
the woman from the fish-shop. ‘What a day it is!’
cried I, like a sunstruck madman.
And what did she have to say for it?
Her brow grew bleak, her ancestors raged in their graves
as she spoke with their ancient misery:
‘We’ll pay for it, we’ll pay for it, we’ll pay for it!’
Thank you Murray. What a fabulous place to holiday. Thank you too for your new book which I have. 😄