Dig It!

A stone carving of Hercules, found in a back garden in the village of Laurieston (just east of Falkirk) in 1987. It is made of local sandstone, in relief, and was probably attached to a structure such as a shrine. Hercules is shown bearded with thick locks of hair and a muscular body holding a club in his right hand.

Hercules: gatekeeper of…Falkirk? 💪

Found near Falkirk in 1987, this carving depicts Hercules, who was used as a symbol of victory in the Roman Empire, with statues built to the god to mark military triumphs as early as 305 BC (around 2,300 years ago): www.digitscotland.com/top-10-artef...

Looks fantastic! Pink is definitely your colour ❤️

Group of people in outdoor clothes in a rural and hilly area - one person is pointing at something

Want to delve into Bronze and Iron Age settlements, Roman activity and how Reivers, Covenanters and farmers shaped the landscape at Corehead in Dumfries & Galloway? 🥾

Don't miss this free walk with Uncovering the Tweed and the Borders Forest Trust on 9 August: www.digitscotland.com/events/walk-...

Mysterious stone head found on tiny Scottish island of Rousay The head was found during an archaeological dig at Skaill Farm

Mysterious stone head found on tiny Scottish island of Rousay
www.scotsman.com/heritage-and...

Deer looking at camera in a forest

In Orkney, “abundant” red deer remains have been uncovered at Neolithic burial cairns (tombs) on Rousay 💀

The discovery could indicate that eating venison was an important part of mortuary rituals (related to the treatment of the dead) over 5,000 years ago: www.digitscotland.com/the-archaeol...

‘Long-lived and lucky’ ship wrecked off Orkney was at siege of Quebec, experts find Archaeologists and volunteers identify Sanday timbers as from 18th-century Royal Navy frigate turned whaler

‘Long-lived and lucky’ ship wrecked off Orkney was at siege of Quebec, experts find

Black and white sketch of a large boulder with cup marks carved in a line along it

Once called the "Witches' Stone", the symbols on this boulder near Tormain Hill in Edinburgh were carved over 2,000 years ago 🧙‍♀️

Discover this area's rich prehistoric landscape by joining an excavation close to the site from 26 July (no experience required): www.digitscotland.com/events/the-t...

Headstone with a shell decoration on it

Scallop shells are a common symbol of Christian faith and were incorporated in graves from the medieval period onwards, like this one from Stirlingshire 🐚

These shells in particular were used to indicate that a person visited a major pilgrimage site in Spain: www.digitscotland.com/the-archaeol...

Glad you liked Holly's article 😊

Stone and grass mound in a field with a large entrance

Built over 5,000 years ago, Nether Largie South Cairn was a burial place for generations, although its chamber was originally designed so the living could also enter 🚶

It's just one of many monuments you'll visit on Kilmartin Museum's guided walks in Argyll: www.digitscotland.com/events/kilma...

Yum!

Photo of a reconstructed Iron Age house on a beach with islands in the sea in the distance

In 1992, a storm exposed an Iron Age village which had lain hidden under sand on Eilean Leòdhais (the Isle of Lewis) for millennia 🏖️

Using ancient techniques, a team later reconstructed one of the 'Jelly Baby'-shaped houses nearby which can be visited today: www.digitscotland.com/five-histori...

We're now choosing to believe this is the real story! 😆

Aerial photo of archaeologists working in a field with the outlines of a Neolithic building visible in the earth

Construction of football pitches in Angus have led to the discovery of the largest early Neolithic timber hall ever found in Scotland ⚽

Experts say the site was a focal point for festivities for Scotland’s first farming communities some 6,000 years ago: www.guard-archaeology.co.uk/GALNews/?p=742

Photo of the front of a grand mansion with gravel driveway

In 2023, volunteers uncovered a rare visible example of an early mine shaft at a 17th-century mansion in Stirlingshire 👷

Want to help investigate this unusual feature, no experience required? Register to join the team from 19 July before spaces fill up: www.digitscotland.com/events/banno...

Shell in a box with holes that appear to have been created with a sharp implement or by making use of shells that have already been pierced by dog whelks

For as long as shells have been consumed in Scotland, they’ve been turned into beads 🐚

At Tarradale in the Highlands, for example, cowrie shell beads have been recovered from within the Mesolithic shell midden deposits which were created over 6,100 years ago: www.digitscotland.com/the-archaeol...

Thanks for sharing, Stef!

Forest with stones in the foreground

Drawing of archaeological site

Want to give archaeology a go? ⛏️

You're invited to help The Tormain Project investigate and record the archaeological landscape of Tormain Hill near Edinburgh on 5, 6, 26 and 27 July: www.digitscotland.com/events/the-t...

Aerial photo of the stone upstanding remains of a farm building, with several archaeological trenches revealed more underground stone foundations around it

Could the Norse hall found at Skaill Farm in 2019 have been home to Sigurd, a powerful chieftain mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga? 🍻

Visit the site from 7 July when @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social will return to uncover more of its 1,000-year history: www.digitscotland.com/events/skail...

Thanks for writing such a great article!

Photo of red deer stags in a green field close to the camera

In prehistoric Scotland, deer were important for food, tools and clothing, but did people also believe they held a kind of power? 🦌

@orkat3.bsky.social tells us more and explains how archaeology can help us understand our relationship with these animals today: www.digitscotland.com/the-archaeol...

Should be a great event!

Sounds like a great day to us!

A large boulder with several shallow holes carved into it

Carved over 2,000 years ago, only a handful of Scotland's rock art sites have been excavated ⚒️

Want to help investigate one or watch archaeology in action? You can join the Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust at a dig near Aberfeldy in September: www.digitscotland.com/events/commu...

#ScotlandDigs2025

A row of people digging in a rural area on a sunny day

In 2024, the hunt for a medieval village in Stirlingshire unearthed evidence which suggested that the site was also occupied thousands of years earlier 😮

Help continue the investigations with @stirlingdigger.bsky.social and Fintry Museum: www.digitscotland.com/events/fintr...

#ScotlandDigs2025

Person brushing something in a trench

In East Lothian, @1722waggonway.bsky.social are returning to the site where remains of Scotland's earliest railway were unearthed in 2021 🛤️

Drop in to visit or help at the excavation on 5 and 6 September or enjoy a tour on 7 September: www.digitscotland.com/events/1722-...

#ScotlandDigs2025

Several people in trenches in a mountainous setting with buckets and piles of dirt near each trench

In Glencoe, @uofglasgow.bsky.social and @n-t-s.bsky.social are investigating an early modern township from 24 June to 8 July 🌄

Visit or volunteer, or head to their festival on 5 July to enjoy tours, storytelling, artefact handling and more: www.digitscotland.com/events/glenc...

#ScotlandDigs2025

An L-shaped trench with one person on top holding a bucket and one person in the trench digging

"The opportunities to socialise, learn new skills and spend time outdoors when getting involved in archaeology can positively impact our health and wellbeing" ❤️

Richard Bennett, founder of Breaking Ground Heritage, shares his story: www.digitscotland.com/breaking-new...

#ScotlandDigs2025