ScARF newsletter – June 2025

Our June newsletter is now available! We’ve had a busy year so far with events across Scotland and four regional research frameworks ongoing. Read what we’ve been up to here.

Top: Conservation work at NTS Mar Lodge Estate © Shaila Rao; Bottom left: Participants of the Culloden Rock Art workshop at the Clava Cairns © ScARF; Bottom right: Tom Rees presenting at the CVARF Symposium 2025 © ScARF
Top: Conservation work at NTS Mar Lodge Estate © Shaila Rao; Bottom left: Participants of the Culloden Rock Art workshop at the Clava Cairns © ScARF; Bottom right: Tom Rees presenting at the CVARF Symposium 2025 © ScARF

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ScARF newsletter – May 2025

Our May newsletter is here! Some exciting events on the horizon and a brand new regional research framework is on the way!

Follow the link to read the full newsletter: https://bit.ly/4k04ljK

Top: Participants of the SIRFA Symposium in Shetland at the Broch of Mousa; Bottom left: ScARF bursary recipients at the 2025 SSASC in Edinburgh; Bottom right: Rock Art Workshop participants at the Auchnacraig stones in Faifley © ScARF

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CVARF Symposium 2025 – book now!

We are pleased to invite you to the second CVARF Symposium on Saturday the 7th of June at Lanark Memorial Hall. This free, one-day symposium will involve short talks and group discussions about the archaeology of the Clyde Valley region and the ongoing project to create the research framework.

The Clyde Valley Archaeological Research Framework (CVARF) began in 2023 and is a collaborative project between Archaeology Scotland, University of Glasgow and West of Scotland Archaeology Service (WoSAS). This 3-year project will offer an insight into the diverse archaeology of the Clyde Valley area, which is home to over one third of Scotland’s population. CVARF will comprise the eight local authorities surrounding the Clyde river catchment: East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Ingrid Shearer leading a fieldtrip in Govan during the 2024 CVARF Symposium © ScARF

If you have worked with, or are interested in the archaeology of this region, please join us for our second symposium and have your say in the creation of the Clyde Valley framework.

You can register now at our Eventbrite page

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ScARF newsletter – March 2025

Our March newsletter is available now! We have some exciting announcements, including a brand new website for the INCA Scot project and booking information for our upcoming CVARF Symposium.

Click here to read the full newsletter.

Top left: Ingrid Shearer leading a fieldtrip in Govan during the 2024 CVARF Symposium © ScARF; Top right: Archaeologists working at the Waggonway excavation © ScARF; Bottom: Astro Turf replacing the natural grass on a cattlefield © Gavin MacGregor
Top left: Ingrid Shearer leading a fieldtrip in Govan during the 2024 CVARF Symposium © ScARF; Top right: Archaeologists working at the Waggonway excavation © ScARF; Bottom: Astro Turf replacing the natural grass on a cattlefield © Gavin MacGregor

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INCA Scot website now live!

A brand new website for the International Network for Contemporary Archaeology in Scotland (INCA Scot) is now live! We celebrated the new home for Contemporary Archaeology in Scotland at an online event yesterday with the INCA Scot team.

Contemporary Archaeology is not only the archaeology of the contemporary and recent past, but the exploration of the opportunities and challenges presented when undertaking archaeological research in the present day. This website, hosted and managed by ScARF, showcases what has now been established as a significant discipline within the sector over the past few decades. 

Visit scarf.scot/incascot to learn more about Contemporary Archaeology in Scotland and see how you can contribute to future research. 

A Pictish standing stone encased in a large glass structure against a blue sky, with the sun bouncing off the glass case.
Participants of the INCA Scot retreat in May 2023 at Suenos Stone in Moray © ScARF

About INCA Scot

The International Network for Contemporary Archaeology in Scotland (INCA Scot) is a project funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and supported by the ScARF project at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

The original project was a two-year collaborative effort which established a network of academics and arts practitioners, community activists and a diverse range of heritage sector participants, to address the challenges that Scotland and other nations face in the 3rd millennium. 

The project is led by Dr Alex Hale (HES), Dr Kenny Brophy (University of Glasgow), Dr Antonia Thomas (UHI) and Dr Gavin MacGregor (Archaeology Scotland).


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Rock Art Workshops – book now!

We are delighted to invite you to join us at our upcoming workshops exploring the future of rock art research across Scotland. These events will build on the legacy of the Scottish Rock Art Project (ScRAP) and the first three workshops will take place in Faifley, Kirkcudbright and Culloden.

Cup marked stone at Clava Cairns in the Scottish Highlands © HES

These workshops, funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, will be used to develop new thematic sections of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework, complementing Future Thinking on Carved Stones and the regional research frameworks. Although the workshops will be tailored to the specific region, each event will involve short talks, group discussions and an interactive fieldtrip to a local rock art site. 

You can now book a place at the following workshops:

5th April 2025 – Faifley, West Dumbartonshire

26th April 2025 – Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway

17th May 2025 – Culloden, Highlands

Please head to our Eventbrite page to book your place, or get in touch if you have any questions. We hope to see many of you there!


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ScARF newsletter – February 2025

Our February newsletter is now available! Click here to read the latest updates from the ScARF team, including some exciting events on the horizon.

Top: Chesters hillfort, East Lothian © ScARF; Bottom left: Fellows at the Scottish Crannog Centre for the 2024 summer excursion © Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; Bottom right: Cup marked stone at Clava Cairns in the Scottish Highlands © HES
Top: Chesters hillfort, East Lothian © ScARF; Bottom left: Fellows at the Scottish Crannog Centre for the 2024 summer excursion © Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; Bottom right: Cup marked stone at Clava Cairns in the Scottish Highlands © HES

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ScARF Newsletter – January 2025

Our first newsletter of 2025 is now available! It’s already shaping up to be a busy year, from our upcoming SESARF Symposium to Rock Art workshops and so much more.

Click here to read all about our exciting events coming up, and how you can get involved.

Top: Rock art at High Banks, Kirkcudbright © HES; Bottom left: Old College, Edinburgh © Chrysi Chrysochou (CCBY-SA); Bottom right: Tantallon Castle, East Lothian © ScARF
Top: Rock art at High Banks, Kirkcudbright © HES; Bottom left: Old College, Edinburgh © Chrysi Chrysochou (CCBY-SA); Bottom right: Tantallon Castle, East Lothian © ScARF

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SESARF – Research Questions now available!

The final three chapters of the South East Scotland Archaeological Research Framework are well under way, and you can now access the draft research questions on the SESARF page.

Questions and recommendations for the Medieval, Post Medieval and Modern chapters can be read online, or downloaded as a Word document. We’re keen to hear your feedback on these drafts – if you have a question to add to the list, an idea for a case study, or any feedback, please email us at scarf@socantscot.org

Official document drawn up on lodging the regalia of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle, 1707
Official document drawn up on lodging the regalia of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle, 1707 © NMS

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Take part in our Rock Art Survey!

We are currently planning a series of workshops, funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which will be used to develop new thematic sections of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework, including Future Thinking on Carved Stones and our regional frameworks. Building on the Scottish Rock Art Project (ScRAP), these workshops will be held across Scotland in 2025 and will explore future research into Scotland’s rock art. 

In advance of these workshops, we are looking to capture people’s thoughts and priorities for future research relating to rock art across Scotland. Please take part in our rock art survey to help us identify key sites and research gaps. Your views will feed into our workshops, as well as guide future research into rock art in Scotland.

Click here to access the survey.

10 standing stones sit in a flat field of grass surrounded by trees and tall hills of Kilmartin Glen
Nether Largie standing stones, Kilmartin Glen © ScARF

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