Acfa Editor – Page 24

Ask the Experts: Archaeology Fact Finding Conference

On Saturday22nd March 2014, the SCAPE Trust is hosting an Archaeology Fact Finding Event in Glasgow. Designed for all those who have an interest in and take part in archaeology and heritage in a non-professional capacity, this one-off event will give you the opportunity to get up to speed with the incredible range of techniques, specialisms and services across the sector and meet the experts and practitioners face to face.

The day will be structured into 2 parts: short presentations throughout the morning and timed surgeries in the afternoon where you will be able to find out more about specific techniques and services, discuss project ideas and meet specialists and contractors.

The event will be held at the Western General Lecture Theatre and more information can be found at SCHARP’s website.

Scottish Coastal Heritage At Risk Project (SCHARP) Workshop

A group of ACFA members attended this interesting day which began with a classroom introduction to the website. An interactive map gives access to the data from various coastal assessments with links to site records and the ability to view in satellite mode which gives a good view of your chosen site. We were shown how to record changes to an existing record or report new sites. The afternoon was spent on the southern shore of the Clyde under the Erskine Bridge learning how to use the smart phone app in the field.

Mavis Valley

In conjunction with East Dunbartonshire’s commemoration of the centenary of a fatal fire in Cadder No 15 pit, ACFA carried out a survey of Mavis Valley, a mining village, which was home to six of the men who died.

The first houses were built around 1855 and the latest between 1900 and 1910. The village was abandoned to squatters in the late 1940′s and finally demolished in 1955. Later the site was used, and subsequently abandoned, as a tree nursery which made the survey particularly difficult, but we were able to identify some of the oldest houses and locate the position of the local co-operative society’s shop.

One group of houses was better built with a slate damp-proof course and decorative brickwork. Behind them were steps up a bank to a raised area, possibly a drying green. The bricks used for the latest houses were from several brickworks suggesting different construction dates.

Further work may be undertaken at another deserted mining village, Lochfaulds, and there is a possibility of excavation on one or more of these sites in collaboration with Glasgow Museums Outreach programme.

Survey Director: Carol Primrose

AGM 2013

The 26th Annual General Meeting of ACFA was held on Saturday Ocober 26. There was a good turn out by members who enjoyed the opportunity to socialise once the business of the evening was finished. They were delighted to welcome seven new associate members to their ranks. Members also welcomed the news that the Certificate in Field Archaeology (Glasgow University Centre for Open Studies) is due to recommence in 2014. A full report of the evening will appear in the next issue of the Newsletter.

Next Social event Saturday February 22 2014

Photography Competition 2013 Results

The winners of the 2013 ACFA Photography Competition announced at the AGM on Saturday October 26 were:

Archaeology in the UK: The Stones of Stenness by Janie Munro

Archaeology Abroad: The Lion in Winter (Nemrut Dag) by Jean Hirst

Humour: "Has anyone seen my parrot?" by Fred Hay

…and the winner of the ACFA Memorial Quaich was The Stones of Stenness by Janie Munro