Bennachie Landscapes Project wants you to help with big dig!
June 2013
Following on from the on-going work undertaken on Bennachie as part of the Bennachie Landscapes Project, there will be a full-scale excavation of two houses of the Colony during the first two weeks of July. To date, there have been several weekends of work undertaken on the remains of the 19th C Colony on Bennachie. This work has focussed on recovering artefacts and information about the soils from the fields and gardens used by the colonists. We have found ceramics, metal objects, fragments of glass, and even a beautiful cut glass ‘jewel’ (see attached image).
We hope to uncover many more artefacts, as well as information about the construction of the houses, outbuildings and track ways that make up the Colony. During the excavation, we will also fully record the buildings as they are now, using photography, measured drawings and detailed GPS survey.We would love everyone to come along to have a look at the excavation between the 1st of July and the 14th of July (with a day off on Monday the 8th).
There will be guided tours around the trenches each day, and we will always be happy to answer any questions you may have about what we are doing. Young and old are welcome!
If you would like to get involved with the dig, and learn how to be an archaeologist, please get in touch with Community Archaeologist Aoife (Leaf) Gould (details below) by the 10th of June. No experience is necessary (just plenty of enthusiasm and sturdy boots!) There will be a training session on the 22nd June for anyone who has no previous experience, so they can get an idea of what an archaeological excavation entails. Places are limited, so get in touch soon to avoid disappointment.
For more information about the project please see the Bailies of Bennachie web site.
If you require more information about the Bennachie Landscapes project please contact Leaf Gould, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, St Mary's, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF e-mail: aoife.gould@abdn.ac.uk or tel 07984955 241.
Or Contact The Bennachie Centre, Chapel of Garioch, Inverurie tel 01467 681470.
(The centre is open very day except Mondays 10.00 am – 4.00pm)