Battle Hill Scotland, 16th to 26th July 2024

Location: C6Q6+JC Huntly, UK

Season: July 16, 2024 to July 26, 2024

Application Deadline: June 16, 2024

Deadline Type: Exact Date

Website: http://www.rampartscotland.co.uk/index.php/join-the-team/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Project Director:
Dr Murray Cook

Project Description:

Battle Hill, Huntly named after a daring raid in 1307 during the Scottish Wars of Independence contains a variety of previously unmapped prehistoric and medieval sites including Neolithic and Bronze Age cairns and a newly discovered Iron Age to Pictish hillfort.  Battle Hill preserves a prehistoric landscape built on higher more marginal ground at a time when the climate was warmer meaning it was possible to live here. As the climate worsened the structures were abandoned. Avoided by subsequent farmers who built and farmed around them, the remains eventually became preserved within the forest itself.

Join us as we continue the first excavation of Battle Hill and uncover its rich secrets!

The Battle Hill Prehistoric Landscape Project is the 22nd season of a long-term, relaxed and open series of research and training excavations into Prehistoric Aberdeenshire and will run from the 16th to 26th July 2024. The project has to date produced over 12 publications and Murray Cook’s PhD.

For more information, or to book your place contact the Project director Murray Cook.

The Battle Hill Prehistoric Landscape Project is the 22nd Season of research into Aberdeenshire’s prehistoric settlement patterns. Previous seasons have explored Roman marching Camps, vitrified forts, Pictish settlement and Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age lithic sites and cairns.

The training is relaxed and easy going and you can learn as much or as little as you want to. You will have the opportunity to excavate archaeological remains that have never been examined before.
• Project Dates: 16th to 26th July 2024
• Location: Huntly, Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland.
• Contribution: £550 UK pounds or £55 a day. The price excludes accommodation and, food. Transport to and from the site can be organised for those staying locally. (N.B. Deposit of £200 is non-refundable). There are a small number of bedrooms in the dig house which will be at cost…please ask for details.

Period(s) of Occupation: Early Medieval (Pictish); Iron Age and Neolithic

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 day

Minimum Age: 16

Experience Required: none

Room and Board Arrangements:
Not included but there are lots of options locally and there are a small number of free bedrooms in the dig accommodation available at cost.