19 March 2025

The Pageant of Inverness (1951)

Organised by Inverness Field Club. Venue: Columba Hotel at 4 Ness Walk, Inverness. (Note: new venue from that previously advertised). Non members £5. Followed by AGM

Celebrating the Festival of Britain for a week in September 1951, this 21-minute Black and White silent film shot by Inverness cinema manager Jimmy Nairn presents scenes from the history of Inverness and also gives us glimpses of some of the 11,000 people who attended the seven performances. Over 200 performers brought history to life, while a narrator explained to the outdoor auditorium on the Ness Islands what was going on. We are fortunate to have the Pageant brochure published in 1951, with explanatory text.

19 March 2025

Og(h)am: Harnessing Digital Technologies to Transform Understanding of Ogham Writing, from the 4th Century to 21st 

Talk by Professor Katerine Forsyth and Dr Megan Kasten

Organised by University of Glasgow Archaeology Research Seminar programme. Venue: Adam Smith Building (Room 587), 2 Discovery Pl., Glasgow G11 6EY, or Online. Free. For details, and  how to connect to the livestream, see their website.

19 March 2025

Investigating rock art in Kilmartin Glen: experiences and excavations

Online talk by Aaron Watson

Organised by Kilmartin Museum. Free, but donations welcome. For details and to book, see their website

Neolithic and Bronze Age people carved abstract symbols into numerous rock outcrops throughout Kilmartin Glen and beyond. The meanings and significance of these cup and ring markings have long puzzled researchers, resulting in hundreds of diverse interpretations. Archaeological fieldwork has dramatically enhanced our knowledge. Almost twenty years ago, excavations at Torbhlaren and Ormaig uncovered substantial collections of worked stone associated with the creation of rock art. However, an important question remained: were these findings unique, or could similar evidence be discovered at other sites in the area? To explore this, Kilmartin Museum and Archaeology Scotland collaborated to excavate three additional rock art sites in Kilmartin Glen. This Evening Talk will summarise the findings of this community archaeology project and reveal how they have further illuminated our understanding of these enigmatic places.

Aaron Watson is an archaeologist and visual creator who investigates Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments and landscapes. From 2019 to 2024, Aaron was part of the curatorial and interpretation team that helped to deliver Kilmartin Museum’s redevelopment, and he co-directed the archaeological excavations that are the subject of this talk.

19 March 2025

Archive Afternoon at Lochaber Archive Centre evey third Wednesay of the month. Pop in for a visit, chat or to explore some of the collection held at the Centre. Free, no bookings necessary.

For further information please call Lochaber Archive Centre on 01397 701 942 Archives or email us at lochaber.archives@highlifehighland.com 

19 March 2025

Archive Afternoons at Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives. Explore the past and reminiscence, with tea & biscuits. Each session with featured collections and displays.