Highland Archaeology Festival - 2 - 17 Oct 2010

23rd September 2010

Get ready to dig deeper this October with Highland Archaeology Festival 2010.

This two-week festival which celebrates the archaeology, history, landscape and culture of the Highlands, features a packed programme of guided walks, family activities, self-guided trails, evening lectures, special exhibitions, competitions and conferences. With over one hundred events, most of which are free, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Festival programmes are available now from libraries and service points throughout the area.

Co-ordinated by The Highland Council's Archaeology Unit, the festival's events are organised by a wide range of community groups, interested individuals and museums and professional bodies such as Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.

The festival will end with a two day seminar in Inverness featuring talks about recent archaeological excavations and projects across the Highlands. "What's New in Highland Archaeology", will be held at the Spectrum Centre, Inverness on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October. The seminar provides a platform for archaeologists who have been working in the Highlands to present the results of their work.

Participants will hear about the excavation of a bronze-age burial site on Skye, discover Assynt's Hidden Lives, get all the latest news from Brora's salt pans excavation, see metal detecting finds from Inverness and Nairn and learn about recent field work and re-analysis of the Caithness Brochs. Admission is just £25 for the week-end programme, including lunch. Booking forms are included in the printed Highland Archaeology Festival programme or can be downloaded from www.highland.gov.uk/archaeology

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: "The Highland Archaeology Festival is firmly established as a key event in our cultural events calendar. Each year, the festival offers a diverse programme of events for people of all ages and interests reflecting the rich archaeological heritage of the Highlands. Thanks go to all event organisers without whose dedication and hard work the festival would not be possible."

Highlights of the 2010 programme include:

In Caithness, join Castlehill Heritage Centre "In search of Castlehill House", take part in a car treasure hunt in Latheron Parish or visit Caithness Horizons for a day of family activities, including storytelling, pot making and historic cooking.

In Sutherland, visit an exhibition by the Kyle of Sutherland Heritage Society on the result of ongoing research concerning the men and women named on local war memorials. Take a guided archaeological walk at Ledbeg or discover the historic townships of Clyne Parish.

In Easter Ross, take a "Walk on the Dark Side" to discover the legends and heritage of the Black Rock Gorge in Evanton. Learn the secrets of Inchindown oil storage tanks at an illustrated talk at Invergordon Naval Museum or visit an exhibition of Scottish wedding customs at Highland Museum of Childhood, Strathpeffer.

In Wester Ross, join Applecross Archaeological Society for the day-long Applecross Broch Conference, featuring guided tours, discussion and presentations by leading archaeologists.

In Lochaber, "Meet the Ancestors" at Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, and talk a guided walk along an old Moidart track.

In Inverness, meet the "Rebels and Redcoats" at Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, become a Victorian at Aigas Field Centre, or hear about prehistoric Inverness's site and finds at an illustrated talk at Hilton Community Centre.

In Badenoch and Strathspey, explore the Dava Way with the Highland Council Rangers, talk a guided walk of the township of Shanvall with Laggan Heritage or join a special curatorial tour of the award-winning Highland Folk Museum.

These are just some examples of the events taking place throughout the Highland Archaeology Festival. Pick up a programme from libraries or service points, call the Festival Hotline on 01463 718505 or visit the website at www.highland.gov.uk/archaeology to download the programme. Visit the website for news, regular updates and late additions or alterations to the programme