This free event, running from 10.00 - 4.00, is organised by ARCH (Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands) as a celebration of community archaeology and Highland heritage and has a packed programme of talks, workshops and activities; and there’ll also be a host of Highland heritage and craft stalls to look at.

 

Two young archaeologists, Lachlan and Lynne McKeggie, who have recently moved to the Highlands will be leading two of the workshops - ‘How to become an Archaeologist’, and ‘Eric the Dead : a hands on look at Viking burials’. 

 

Both Lynne and Lachlan have a passion for their subject, with Lynne commenting,

 

“I love how there are so many questions yet to answer in the subject, and you can really connect with objects people have created and used in the past.”

 

Lachlan  echoes her views, saying “When I was 17 someone recommended I take part in a dig with the National Museum of Scotland in Moray, and I have been addicted ever since. I like getting my hands on the primary evidence and learning about people from the present and the past.”

 

It is a passion that they will be sharing in their workshops at the festival, with Lachlan describing Vikings as his ‘pet subject’ and, as successful archaeologists in a challenging work environment, they are in an ideal position to discuss the opportunities and challenges in becoming an archaeologist with others who might be interested in following this route into the past.

 

Lizzie McDougall (pictured right) has her own routes into the past. She comments, “I have loved traditional stories since I was a child, particularly Highland Stories and started  a collection of Highland stories that feature  animals for my UHI degree dissertation, in part to look at the cultural meaning  associated with animals and partly as source material for art work.

 

“For me part of the magic of storytelling is that it is a shared experience. I find it really exciting that stories connect us with the generations who lived in the Highlands before, and the way in which listening to stories stimulates picture-making in our imagination. These ideas inspired me to make the Storypanels as an art project that visually celebrates these connections. I worked with children in schools throughout the Highlands inspiring and encouraging art work that I then collaged into the panels. I made the panels as pairs, one staying in the school so the children can share their stories, and one which is now part of the Storypanel Collection which I tour with and retell all the stories.”

 

Lizzie will be bringing her Highland Storypanels to the Taking Part in the Past festival, and telling stories throughout the morning. Judging by the response of over 1500 people of all ages who recently heard Lizzie at Cambo in Fife -  ' this is better than books, better than telly '  - the opportunity to hear her in Dingwall shouldn’t be missed.