The prehistoric Skye settlers have been making themselves known to a group of enthusiastic heritage sleuths in southern Skye, and their findings are now on display in Broadford Library until early January, before going on tour around the island.

 

Led by Susan Kruse of Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH), the group has been meeting in Broadford since September, investigating local heritage from the earliest settlers up to recent times. The class was part of ARCH's Community Timeline programme, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Community Highland LEADER 2007-2013 Programme, with support from Highland Council. Participants came from across southern Skye to find out more about the island’s past. Many of the sites and finds discovered during the classes are new records, and these will be submitted to Highland Council's Historic Environment Record (HER) - the  database of all known heritage in the Highlands.

 

Susan commented: “ We had a great time learning together. The course was a mix of class work, research and field trips to look at archives and objects at the Museums of the Isles. In November we had a walk around Ashaig in glorious November weather - quite a contrast to the wind-lashed final day when we completed our work on the display and sadly participants from Raasay couldn’t get across to join us. It’s wonderful to see the results of all the work that class members have put in, and I’m sure that visitors to the display will find it as fascinating to read as we have researching it.”

 

Class members have enjoyed the experience as much as Susan has enjoyed leading it - with one participant commenting that: “The classes turned a passing interest into a

near-passion.”

 

The display in Broadford  illustrates some of the sites, finds and buildings which the group researched. A binder of resources which gathers together all the work which will also be lodged at Broadford Library and the library at the Museum of the Isles at Armadale. 

 

You can find out more about ARCH and the courses and events on offer on www.archhighland.org.uk, or by contacting them on info@archhighand.org.uk or on 01349 868230.