New SESARF chapters now available!

We were delighted to launch new chapters of the South East Scotland Archaeological Research Framework (SESARF) at the Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders Archaeology Conference this month.

The new chapters, including the Neolithic, Roman and medieval periods, highlight the significance of the South East region and explore the priorities for future archaeological investigation through useful research questions. 

Cramond causeway, Edinburgh © Bess Rhodes

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the chapter authors, local archaeologists from East Lothian, Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders councils, our Society colleagues and everyone who attended our SESARF events over the past few years. 

Click here to explore the framework!

Have your say

All the SESARF chapters are now open for consultation. If you have any suggestions for key sites, additional research questions, references or updates, we’d love to hear from you. You can contribute to SESARF by adding comments directly to the website using our inline commenting feature

Registered ScARF users can submit comments throughout our frameworks. When logged in, you’ll see the speech bubble with a + symbol when you hover over paragraphs.

Clicking this will allow you to add a comment in the text box. You can submit your comment to the ScARF team by clicking Post Comment. 

The ScARF team will review all comments and update the frameworks with the information provided. Full instructions for registering and adding comments can be found here, or by going to About ScARFc(at the top of the page) and clicking Commenting on the ScARF website. 

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about commenting on our frameworks. 


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ScARF newsletter – November 2025

We’re excited to share all of our latest news, including the SESARF launch, a brand-new book for Pictish enthusiasts and more! You can read all our updates in our November newsletter here.

Top: Cramond causeway, Edinburgh © Bess Rhodes; Bottom left: Fulton Tower, Scottish Borders © Jane Bower; Bottom right: Settlement Fort in Carved in Stone © Anine Bösenberg
Top: Cramond causeway, Edinburgh © Bess Rhodes; Bottom left: Fulton Tower, Scottish Borders © Jane Bower; Bottom right: Settlement Fort in Carved in Stone © Anine Bösenberg

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ScARF newsletter – October 2025

Read the latest news from the ScARF team, including an update for our SWSARF project, some upcoming conferences and an exciting announcement for the SESARF project.

You can read the full newsletter here.

Top: Louise Turner speaking to the participants of the SWSARF event in Brodick Public Hall, Arran © Rathmell Archaeology Limited; Bottom left: Keiss Broch, Wick © ScARF; Bottom right: Kelso Abbey, South East Scotland © Bess Rhodes
Top: Louise Turner speaking to the participants of the SWSARF event in Brodick Public Hall, Arran © Rathmell Archaeology Limited; Bottom left: Keiss Broch, Wick © ScARF; Bottom right: Kelso Abbey, South East Scotland © Bess Rhodes

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SWSARF draft chapters now live!

The first draft chapters for the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework are now available on the ScARF website. The SWSARF team are keen for ScARF users to contribute to the framework from the offset, and the Palaeolithic & Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Chalcolithic & Bronze Age drafts can now be accessed here

We’d love to hear your feedback on these drafts and welcome you to submit comments directly through the website using our inline commenting feature (full instructions here). 

Surveying the site of a high ground airplane wreck dating to World War 2 on the Corserine in Galloway © Rathmell Archaeology Limited

We have also created a brand-new SWSARF homepage, which includes a valuable collection of resources, information about upcoming SWSARF events and the latest draft chapters, which will continue to grow as the framework develops. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements as the next SWSARF drafts go live!

If you have any questions about the SWSARF project, please contact us


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Contribute to ScARF!

The ScARF team are always striving to keep our frameworks up-to-date, accurate and relevant, and we need your help! We welcome updates, corrections and new information from our users at any time. The easiest way to contribute to ScARF is by commenting on our frameworks directly through the website.

Participants of the SIRFA Symposium in Shetland © ScARF

All you need to do to contribute a comment is register as a ScARF user on our website, and enter your comment using our inline comments feature. When you’re logged in, you can comment on any of the main framework pages by clicking the speech bubble on the right hand side, entering your text and clicking submit. All comments will be reviewed by ScARF, or the relevant research framework team, and once accepted they will be incorporated into the framework.

Detailed instructions for creating your account and adding your first comment can be found here.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or need assistance to register as a ScARF user. 


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SWSARF events – register now!

We are delighted to invite you to the first set of consultation events for the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework (SWSARF). These two events will explore the early prehistory draft chapters of the framework which will soon be available for ScARF users to read and review. 

Both events will cover the same material from the Palaeolithic & Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age draft chapters and offer you the chance to be involved in the creation and consultation of the early prehistory chapters of this highly anticipated framework. The events will involve short talks and group discussions, and we are keen to hear feedback, suggestions and new perspectives on the drafts.

The first event will take place on the 27th September at Brodick Public Hall on the Isle of Arran, from 12.30-3.30pm. Click here for more information and to book your place now. 

The second event is on the 4th October at CatStrand, New Galloway from 2.30-5.30pm. Tickets and information can be found here

Please note that, while you are welcome to attend both events, they will cover the same material and follow the same structure. 

The events are free to attend, and tea and coffee will be provided.

Cairn Holy Neolithic Chambered Cairn © ScARF

Look out for links to the brand-new draft chapters and instructions for commenting on the ScARF website in our next newsletter! 

Email us at scarf@socantscot.org if you have any questions. 


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ScARF newsletter – August 2025

Our August newsletter is now available! Click here to learn all about our first events for the SWSARF project and the upcoming conference season.

Top left: Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland at the Innerpeffrey Library on the annual summer excursion © Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; Top right: Telford's Bridge, Dunkeld © ScARF; Bottom: Machrie Moor 2 stone circle © ScARF
Top left: Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland at the Innerpeffrey Library on the annual summer excursion © Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; Top right: Telford’s Bridge, Dunkeld © ScARF; Bottom: Machrie Moor 2 stone circle © ScARF

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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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