As part of our new project to develop a Clyde Valley Archaeological Research Framework, we are pleased to be able to share a much loved resource focussing on West Central Scotland. Exploring Our Past: Essays on the Local History and Archaeology of West Central Scotland, published by Glasgow Museums in 2015, was aimed at anyone with an interest in the local history and prehistory of West Central Scotland.
Exploring Our Past provides a fascinating insight into the cultural heritage of the region, with chapters written by specialist authors spanning the Neolithic period to modern times. Each essay focuses on a specific period or topic, reviewing the available evidence and identifying areas for future study. This collection of essays provides us with an accessible overview of West Central Scotland, illustrating the significance of this region throughout the past.
The West Central region includes the local authority areas of East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire. These have been kindly provided by Glasgow Life as individual PDFs for each essay which are now available to read as a download by using the links below.
Click the PDF links below to download and read each essay.
Essay title | Author(s) | PDF Link |
The Mesolithic | Nyree Finlay | Mesolithic.pdf |
The Neolithic | Gordon Noble | Neolithic.pdf |
The Iron Age | Derek Alexander | IronAge.pdf |
In Search of the Northern Britons in the Early Historic Era (AD 400–1100) | Stephen T. Driscoll | NorthBritons.pdf |
The Archaeology of the Later Medieval Period (1100–1600) | Derek Hall | LateMedieval.pdf |
The Seventeenth Century | John R. Young | 17thCentury.pdf |
The Eighteenth Century | Stuart Nisbet | 18thCentury.pdf |
The Nineteenth Century | Michael Moss | 19thCentury.pdf |
Aerial Reconnaissance for Archaeology | WS Hanson | AerialReconn.pdf |
Designed Landscapes | Christopher Dingwall | Designed Landscapes.pdf |
From Battle to Blitz: Sites of Conflict in West Central Scotland | Tony Pollard | BattleToBlitz.pdf |
Local History through Film | Janet McBain | Film.pdf |
Oral History | Angela Bartie and Arthur McIvor | OralHistory.pdf |
Discovering Pre-Industrial Glasgow | Charles McKean | Pre-Industrial.pdf |
Graveyards | Susan Buckham | Graveyards.pdf |