Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

CAPITAL FUNDRAISING APPEAL: Scotland’s heritage hub We have a unique opportunity to secure a new home, ensuring that our work reaches people today and creates a lasting legacy for generations to come. Every conversation sparked by sharing the video brings us closer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1cY...

Over 2,000 years ago, residents of a wetland village in Dumfries & Galloway may have used plants to make an Iron Age first aid kit 💊 This included a bowl holding willow leaves, which have long been known to effectively treat pain, fevers, joints and arthritis: www.digitscotland.com/the-archaeob...

From Burntisland and Portnahaven to the Gillis Centre and Brechin Cathedral, it’s been a busy few weeks for ReACH! ⛪️ Our latest blog reflects on heritage recording, community stories and the generosity of everyone who has welcomed us. 📖 Read more: churchheritage.scot/2026/10/22/f...

OPEN ACCESS: Society Publications Celebrate International Open Access Week by reading 'Scottish Historical and Archaeological Internet Reports', selected editions of the 'Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland' or one of our varied e-books: www.socantscot.org/publications/ #OAWeek

NEWS: Society Publication Shortlisted for National Book Award We are delighted that 'The Archaeology of Finlaggan, Islay: Excavations at the Centre of the Lordship of the Isles, 1989–1998' by Dr David Caldwell HonFSAScot has been shortlisted for The Saltires: www.socantscot.org/news/society...

Want to hear the latest research into the rich past of Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Outer Hebrides) and Shetland? 🌊 Join a free hybrid event on 30 October to celebrate Scotland's Islands Research Framework for Archaeology and ask the experts your questions: www.digitscotland.com/events/scotl...

NEWS: Growing Inequalities in Volunteering to be Tackled Through New Funding We are thrilled to announce that @makeyourmarkvol.bsky.social—a cross-sector partnership project hosted by the Society—has received funding to help a wider range of people volunteer: www.socantscot.org/news/growing...

NEW SHAIR: 'The SESOD Project: The Development of Oak Tree-Ring Chronologies for the Last Millennium in South-East Scotland' by @dendrochronicle.bsky.social Read the latest issue in the Scottish Historical and Archaeological Internet Reports (SHAIR), our open access journal: doi.org/10.9750/issn...

Our October newsletter is now available🍂 Click the link to find out more about the upcoming SIRFA launch event, a brand-new draft chapter for the SWSARF project, and updates on our final two regional research frameworks: bit.ly/4ywzjXM #HESSupported

NEWS: New Impact Report Celebrates Recent Society Achievements Highlights include over 56,000 downloads of our open access e-books, over £30,000 of grant funding awarded to research projects, and over 1,500 total attendees at our public events programme: www.socantscot.org/news/new-imp...

The ReACH team will be at Brechin Cathedral on Saturday 10th October for our next open day. Come along to visit the cathedral, join us for short talks by experts on medieval churches, the Pictish stones and the stained glass at the cathedral, or take part in our family fun activities.

SOCIETY-FUNDED RESEARCH: St Moulag Monastery, Isle of Lismore Find out how grants from the Society helped to support two seasons of community excavation on the island of Lismore as part of a project which is 'establishing the national importance of the site': www.socantscot.org/society-fund...

GRANTS ANNOUNCEMENT: Audrey Henshall Legacy Fund Reopens We are offering a grant of up to £10,000 for the successful applicant to develop and undertake a significant research project which supports research or fieldwork on pre-Roman antiquities in Scotland: www.socantscot.org/news/audrey-...

OCTOBER LECTURE: History in Our Bones: Uncovering Stories of Disability Through Time Through Pictish case studies, discover a project which is restoring disabled people as participants in the social worlds of the past at this free hybrid event on 15 October: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-in...

This weekend we are heading to Portnahaven Church on Islay! Join us on Saturday 26th September, 11am-3pm for our ReACH open day! We are looking forward to hearing more about its heritage and, most importantly, meeting people who have their own memories and connections to the building.

ONLINE EVENT: The Lord Lyon: A Perspective on Scotland’s Heraldry Explore how heraldry and genealogy can tell powerful stories and help people across the world connect with the past at this free online event on 1 October: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-lord-l...

JOIN US: Support Our Work We believe that Scotland’s past is for everyone to research, share, enjoy and protect, at home and abroad. By becoming a Fellow, you can help us work towards this vision while learning about Scotland from the prehistoric to the present day: www.socantscot.org/join/

WORK WITH US: Finance Manager and Finance & Operations Officer The Society is looking for a Finance Manager to develop, manage and coordinate our financial operations and a Finance & Operations Officer to deliver our financial, HR and operational workflows: www.socantscot.org/news/#appoin...

We are pleased to invite you to the hybrid SIRFA launch event, streaming live from Cnoc Soilleir, South Uist, on the 30th Oct! Join us for an afternoon of talks, discussions and the celebration of this highly anticipated framework. Sign up free: bit.ly/4xbBjmH #HESSupported

NEWS: Society Launches 2026-27 Public Events Programme Uncover stories of disability through time, learn how authors craft Scottish fiction from historical fact, explore Scotland’s ‘smellscapes’, meet women in Roman archaeology and more at our free hybrid events: www.socantscot.org/news/up-and-...

It's been a busy summer for the ScARF team! We are excited to share a brand-new update to the Archaeological Science framework focussing on human remains, and to invite you to three upcoming events. Read more in our September newsletter: bit.ly/4cupAbA #HESSupported

FELLOWSHIP BENEFIT: Post-nominal Letters Founded in 1780, today our Fellows use FSAScot to identify themselves as part of Scotland's oldest learned society. If you would like to become a Fellow in 2026 and help safeguard Scotland’s past, apply before 30 September: www.socantscot.org/join/

GRANTS ANNOUNCEMENT: Society Funds New Archaeology Project Investigating Medieval Carved Stones Led by @celticist.bsky.social, the fieldwork will help to record, analyse and preserve “one of Scotland’s most under-exploited, at-risk historical resources”: www.socantscot.org/news/society...

Are you interested in the early medieval archaeology of South West Scotland? Join us at the SWSARF workshops at the Dick Institute (2nd Oct) and Dumfries Museum (3rd Oct) to hear all about the South West framework so far and contribute to the early medieval chapter. Register now: bit.ly/3SrJgpJ

THE NEED: Scotland's Heritage Hub The heritage sector is shifting rapidly, shaped by changing expectations, financial pressure and more. By establishing a national hub, we can create a space for the future of Scottish heritage, building resilience for generations: www.socantscot.org/support/what...

What memories do you have of Burntisland Old Parish Church? On 5 September, ReACH will be there for our next case study open day, and we'd love to hear your stories - weddings, baptisms, Christmas services, childhood memories, family connections or simply moments that have stayed with you.

The 77th Sachensymposion Conference is taking place at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social this year and is proudly sponsored by @socantscot.bsky.social. We are offering bursaries for students and ECRs to help with the costs of attending the conference. More info and apply now at scarf.scot/student-netw...

JOIN US: Under 26 / Student / Unemployed Fellows For £27 per year, Fellows in these subscription categories can support our work and enjoy a range of benefits, including FSAScot postnominals, access to all articles in our annual journal and invitations to exclusive events: www.socantscot.org/join/

PROJECT NEWS: Regional Research Frameworks We are pleased to share that our @scarf-scot.bsky.social project has launched new social media accounts and webpages for the final two regional research frameworks, covering North East Scotland and the Forth Valley & Fife: scarf.scot/2026/08/05/n...

⚖️ What does it take to become an anti-racist organisation? Dr Jeff Sanders FSAScot from @socantscot.bsky.social shares the changes they’ve made, the challenges they’ve faced, and their plans for the future.

RESEARCH GRANTS Submit your funding application for the next round of Society Research Grants, which are available to anyone wishing to undertake high-quality research relating to Scotland’s past, including visits to museums, collections or archives: www.socantscot.org/grants-prize...

FREE ONLINE RESOURCES: Scottish History and Archaeology Read our peer-reviewed journals of Scottish history and archaeology, watch recorded lectures by eminent specialists and enthusiasts, access the go-to research resource for Scottish archaeology and more: www.socantscot.org/publications...

Have you explored our brand new rock art case studies yet? Our latest case study of the month showcases the unique discovery of Bronze Age animal carvings on a capstone at Dunchraigaig Cairn, Kilmartin. Read all about it on the ScARF website: bit.ly/4pwUsgQ

This year marks the 10th anniversary of me being a Fellow of the @socantscot.bsky.social. Its wild to think of how I initially joined as a MSc student in my first year living abroad in the UK, and now I'm not only still a Fellow, but also a member of Council.

HERITAGE HUB: Become a Heritage Hub Champion Our vision is to establish a national, independent gateway for heritage, connecting the public and sector in one visible and accessible place. Help write the next chapter of Scotland’s story with a small monthly gift: www.socantscot.org/support/heri...

RECORDED LECTURES: Martial Fervour: The Representation of Scottish Officers and Highland Regiments During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793–1815 Now available on YouTube, the 2026 Rhind Lectures offer a profound introduction to this wartime period: youtube.com/playlist?lis...

"The creators...have made a real contribution to furthering its enduring legacy" 🎨 We are pleased to share that "Carved in Stone" has been awarded the 2026 Certificate of Achievement for Ogham Excellence for its depiction of this ancient writing system: ogham.glasgow.ac.uk/index.php/og...

WORK WITH US: Make Your Mark Campaign Coordinator The Society is looking for a new member of staff to develop, manage and coordinate @makeyourmarkvol.bsky.social, which supports everyone in Scotland to volunteer with history, culture and nature organisations: www.socantscot.org/news/work-wi...

FELLOWSHIP BENEFIT: Society Announces Free Entry for Fellows to Roman Scotland Exhibition Opening on 14 November, the exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh will reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world: www.socantscot.org/news/society...

'I became a Fellow because I wanted to be part of the community that’s around the Society. I find it’s a great way to network and meet people across lots of different research disciplines.' – Maya Hoole FSAScot Apply before 30 September to join this global community: www.socantscot.org/join/

Have you heard the news? A possible new stone or timber circle has been discovered at Machrie Moor on Arainn (Arran) using geophysical survey 🏔️ How do these techniques reveal hidden features below ground? Find out from the investigation's lead archaeologist: www.digitscotland.com/what-is-geop...

RECORDED LECTURES: Watch or Listen Missed any of the events in our last public lecture programme? Learn about Scotland’s Ice Age people, Picts, Edinburgh Castle, queer suffragists and more on YouTube (www.youtube.com/@SocietyofAntiquariesofScotland) or Spotify (open.spotify.com/show/6K0WDCD...).

NEW OPEN ACCESS E-BOOK: 'Radar in Scotland 1938-46' by Ian Brown FSAScot Featuring unpublished photographs taken during WWII and first-hand accounts, our latest e-book gives an accurate account of these vital early warning and navigational aid stations: www.socantscot.org/news/new-ope...

An exciting month for ScARF... We were delighted to receive funding from Historic Environment Scotland to continue our work along with @digitscotland.bsky.social. Our final two regional research frameworks are now underway, with 3 new team members! Read all about it: bit.ly/4xKrQEv

Archaeologists are digging into the mysteries of Scotland's past this summer - and you're invited! 🌞 From Edinburgh to Orkney, the public are invited to visit sites and participate in investigations which could plug gaps in our knowledge of Scottish history: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...

FUNDING NEWS: Society’s National Archaeology Projects Celebrate Funding Success We are thrilled that Historic Environment Scotland has granted £876,115 to the Society to continue coordinating @scarf-scot.bsky.social and @digitscotland.bsky.social: www.socantscot.org/news/society... #HESsupported

NEW ARTICLE: ‘Early medieval iron production at Glenlee, Dumfries and Galloway’ Read about the largest iron smelting assemblage and the only known bloomery site recognised so far from this period in Scotland in the ‘Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’: doi.org/10.9750/PSAS...

WORK WITH US: Make Your Mark Campaign Coordinator The Society is looking for a new member of staff to develop, manage and coordinate @makeyourmarkvol.bsky.social, which supports everyone in Scotland to volunteer with history, culture and nature organisations: www.socantscot.org/news/work-wi...

We had a wonderful day at the third Clyde Valley Symposium in Gourock! Thank you to all the attendees for your insightful questions and discussions. The first drafts of the CVARF project are now available at scarf.scot/regional/cva... #HESSupported