In November 2022, we celebrated 10 years since the launch of the National ScARF with an event exploring the Past, Present and Future of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework. The one-day event took place at Augustine United Church in Edinburgh, as well as being live-streamed on Zoom for those joining us from home.
Event programme
After an introduction by ScARF Project Manager, Dr. Helen spencer, we enjoyed talks in three sessions by key ScARF contributors, from the original steering group to those managing our most recent regional framework projects (such as PKARF and SIRFA).
Past
The first session explored the birth of the project – from the original idea, the project to create the original National ScARF, as well as the following project to add the first new thematic framework – Future thinking on Carved Stones in Scotland – to the ScARF resource.
Session speakers:
Simon Gilmour, Director Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – A look back at the conception of ScARF
Jeff Sanders, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and first ScARF project Manager – Creating ScARF
Diana Murray, Steering Group member of the original ScARF project – Reflections on the creation of the national ScARF
Sally Foster, University of Stirling – Future Thinking on Carved Stones
The ‘Past’ session recording is available on the Society of Antiquaries YouTube channel here.
Present
The second session was about the current projects ongoing at ScARF, hearing from some of our recently completed and current projects – in particular the regional research frameworks – and the perspective of people in different parts of the sector involved in these recent projects.
This session was a summary of recent work in the past few years and ScARF’s latest regional framework projects. Plus, a perspective from Andy Heald from an applied ‘development’ archaeology perspective and as the current chair of Scotland’s Strategic Archaeology Committee who lead on Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy.
Session speakers:
Helen Spencer, ScARF Project Manager – ScARF in 2022 – where we are now?
Susan Kruse, Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands – The Highland Archaeological Research Framework
Rebecca Rennell, UHI – Scotland’s Islands Research Framework for Archaeology
Andy Heald, AOC – ScARF – an applied archaeology perspective
The full ‘Present’ session is available here.
Future
The final session of the event focussed on the future of ScARF. Helen Spencer, ScARF’s Project Manager, offered an update of some of the projects already planned for the next few years. Some new technical advances coming to the ScARF website soon were also explored. These include the development of a new website that will bring all the UK research frameworks together in one place.
The talks concluded with news about how research questions from these frameworks will be linked to OASIS V – the main portal for archaeology work to be reported in the UK and in Scotland reported to Discovery and Excavation in Scotland.
The session ended with an open panel discussion on plans for the future of ScARF, offering thoughts on where it could and should head in the next 10 years.
Session speakers:
Helen Spencer, ScARF Project Manager – The Future – ScARF and Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy
Gavin Macgregor, Director, Archaeology Scotland – Developing the next phase of regional frameworks – a community perspective
Alex Hale, Historic Environment Scotland – International Network for Contemporary Archaeology and working towards a new thematic framework
Dan Miles, Historic England – The new UK Research Framework Platform and OASIS
Click here to watch the full ‘Future’ session, including the panel discussion.
The day ended with a toast to the journey so far and the next 10 years of ScARF. Overall, we welcomed over 70 guests in person and online, shared interesting discussions and learned not only how ScARF was developed, but where it could go and how to get there in the future.
The full playlist of the event can be accessed on YouTube. If you’d like to know more about ScARF, or have any questions about our projects, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.