31 July 2013

RoCAS and West Coast Archaeological Services will be leading a community archaeology project in Cromarty on the Black Isle (near Inverness) this summer.  Volunteers are invited to take part in the Cromarty Medieval Burgh Community Archaeology Project excavation, which aims to investigate the origins of the Medieval burgh of Cromarty, located on the Black Isle near Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. The dig takes place from 26 July 2013 through 11 August 2013 in Reeds Park, Cromarty - on the East side of the village by the Cromarty allotments.

This year the project will be targetting the northwest corner of the field near the site of the exposed erosions on the shoreline. Recent test trenches on the Cromarty allotments has revealed excellent survival of archaeology deposits with structures, pottery sherds and other finds dating to the 13-15th centuries - promising potential for the community dig!

Further details are available here. Contact ampeteranna@aol.com or 01381 600726 for more information and to book your dates.

31 July 2013

‘Art in our hands’: Exhibition Workshops 10:30am – 12:30pm every Wednesday, 24th July to 21st August 2013. Installation on Thursday 12th September. Participants are asked to sign up all workshops.

Ever wanted to get behind the scenes at the museum? Would you like to curate an exhibition at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery? The recent acquisition of the Post Medieval Coin Hoard from Muir of Ord, including an half-crown from the Hartlebury Castle emergency mint, into our collections – thanks to the gift of over 50% of the purchase cost from the Art Fund - presents an ideal opportunity to augment and celebrate the variety of ‘art in the everyday objects’ at the museum. These objects, tokens; miniatures; seals and seal stamps and dress accessories bear express political and social messages throughout what were often periods of tremendous change in the Highlands. What is particularly attractive about these items is that they were personal objects, everyday articles: handheld art. These workshops will enable participants to research and interpret museum objects, practise ‘behind the scenes’ museum work and create an innovative exhibition of previously un-shown objects for display in the museum this autumn. This session is FREE, but booking is essential, as places are limited. To find out more and to book your place contact Cait McCullagh at cait.mccullagh@highlifehighland.com or 01463 237 114