MBBDFAS Special Interest Day, Half Day Visit
Tour of Clarkly Hill Dig, Burghead
Wednesday 18th September 2013
Dr Fraser Hunter, Principal Curator responsible for Iron Age and Roman collections at the
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, is leading a dig at Clarkly Hill, Burghead, to find
out more about the Iron Age community there and their relationship with the Romans.
Recent finds by metal detector users have included gold jewellery and a curious form of gold
ring money believed to date back to the Bronze Age, which are currently on view at Elgin
Museum. A site survey in 2009/10 established that there were artifacts and features
worthy of further investigation so excavations took place in the summer of 2011 which
revealed settlements including late Bronze Age roundhouses.
Following the hugely successful visit to his excavations at Birnie in September 2010, Fraser
has kindly agreed to take MBBDFAS members on a Guided Tour of Clarkly Hill to reveal the
latest archaeological finds. This tour will start at 2pm and should last about two hours. We
will do our very best to provide refreshments afterwards but this very much depends on the
facilities at the site, which won’t be known until the dig starts in early September.
Alternatively, refreshments may be provided at The Bothy in Burghead.
GETTING THERE
The dig will take place on the south side of Clarkly Hill but Fraser has yet to decide exactly
where excavations will start. However, I think it is safe to say that there will be no disabled
access – there is a possibility that anyone attending the tour will have to climb over a stile or
low stone wall to get to the dig area. More precise details regarding location and parking
will be available at the September lecture or on the website from the end of August.
COST
Fraser has offered his services free of charge but we would ask for a donation of £8 which
can be made in advance or on the day. This will allow Fraser to do further research on finds
from the dig, eg carbon dating. Cheques should be made payable to MBBDFAS.
If you have any queries please contact Nicky Torbet on 07747 678933/njtorbet@gmail.com.
Please send completed forms to Nicky at Cruach Lodge, Boharm, Craigellachie, AB38 9RL.
Tear Here-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MBBDFAS SPECIAL INTEREST HALF DAY VISIT TO CLARKLY HILL DIG
Name(s) _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone _____________________________________________ Email ________________________________________
Paid _______________________________________________________