HAF 2023 Conference

On the 7th and 8th October Edward Stewart and Elizabeth Robertson from our team attended the Highland Archaeology Festival Conference in Inverness (braving the weekends storms) to present research on Glencoe at this community conference.

Presenting on the results of upland surveys in Gleann Leac-na-Muidhe, and his shieling excavations of 2021 and 2022, and preliminary results of the recent department field school excavations of the ‘Summerhouse of MacIain’ in 2023, Edward Stewart gave an overview of the archaeology of this Glen, considering how a ‘repopulating’ approach focused on archaeological busyness through identifying areas of activity, interaction and movement, can produce richer narratives of the upland landscape, in light of movements such as rewilding in the contemporary.

Elizabeth Robertson presented on her PhD research into the use of audio-installations and site specific audio performances to engage public audiences with complex narratives within upland landscapes, exploring her recent case study pieces based in Gleann Leac-na-Muidhe, Achtriochtan, Queenshouse and Ba Cottage. Both presentations generated considerable interest in the questions break!

The rest of the conference was a great opportunity to see other research being carried out across this vast region, with some exciting presentations exploring community led and co-produced projects across the Highlands, and commercial excavations. One highlight was David Jarmans presentation on the ‘stalker path’ phenomenon in the NW Highlands, based on an impressive body of intense fieldwork and archival research, with a strong interpretative angle.

Discussions in the breaks offered a great opportunity to hear the amazing work groups like NOSAS have been carrying out across the Highlands including surveys and excavations at a number of upland Post-Medieval sites!

Congradulations to all the organisers of what was a fantastic conference!

– Edward Stewart