@helspencer.bsky.social
Head of Research at Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. PhD in archaeological glass science. Consultant in museum and heritage collections care. Trustee at Tarbat Discovery Centre. Interested in all things #archaeology #museums #glass #Scotland #heritage
Top: Cramond causeway, Edinburgh © Bess Rhodes; Bottom left: Fulton Tower, Scottish Borders © Jane Bower; Bottom right: Settlement Fort in Carved in Stone © Anine Bösenberg
New chapters of the South East Scotland Archaeological Research Framework (SESARF) are now live on the ScARF website and ready for your input!
Read all about the framework, how you can contribute, and more exciting updates in our November newsletter: bit.ly/4ohXxPO
Have you joined our ReACH Heritage Action Group mailing list yet? We’re getting ready to announce our first event, bringing together people who research, record or care for Scotland’s church heritage. If that sounds like you then sign up here! socantscot.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
19.11.2025 11:17 — 👍 2 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 1
Calm sea, green hills and Blue Sky
Returning from a flying visit to the Isle of Bute - to give a talk to the Bute Museum and Natural History Society.
Gorgeous crisp, sunny day and island views. #BlueSky
Photo of two people in ancient clothing in front of a replica Iron Age roundhouse
FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE: Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland
Explore the links between archaeology and wellbeing in the 2025 edition from Scotland's Archaeology Strategy, featuring our @digitscotland.bsky.social and @scarf-scot.bsky.social projects: archaeologystrategy.scot/magazine/
#ScotArchStrat
Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2025 is here! This year’s issue is packed full of delightful articles featuring discoveries, important progress on sector issues, and how archaeological practices help support people and change lives. #ScotArchStrat archaeologystrategy.scot/magazine/
15.11.2025 17:23 — 👍 22 🔁 11 💬 0 📌 1
An illustration of several people with different skin tones – some with animals and baskets – who are wearing early medieval clothing and travelling through a forest
The 'Carved in Stone' book opened to the ‘Cuisine’ section, with text on the page bordered by an illustration of Pictish food and drink
An illustration of the Pictish promontory fort of Burghead from an aerial perspective, which includes a sandy bay, boats, roads, farmland and a variety of structures, including fortifications
"The Picts emerge from the shadows and step forward in technicolour" 🤩
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
Photo of the book Carved in Stone.
Carved in Stone is officially out!
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
Roman Frontiers ECR network aims to connect young people working and studying Roman Archaeology with senior professionals. As part of their mission, they also run online CPD webinars.
The next is on the 27th November, at 5pm UK time, and free to attend.
www.bajr.org/roman-fronti...
Our next research grant deadline is approaching. Carrying out research into any aspect of Scotlands past? Then we may be able to help.
06.11.2025 14:14 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0If you have a community archaeology project in the UK, the Community Archaeology Radiocarbon Dating (CARD) Fund is still accepting applicants for this year's round of funding, but the deadline is 30th November, so get your applications in asap.
To learn about the Fund and to apply: www.cardfund.org
Carved standing stone in front of mountain landscape with the words Crowdfunding Campaign Launch over it
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’
Please pre-order or donate before 6 December to enable us to print this book by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot, which will have a major impact on the study of Pictish kingship and society: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
The deadline for applications for Chair of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy Committee is approaching soon! Are you interested in leading the committee as it launches Scotland’s next Archaeology Strategy in the Spring of 2026?
archaeologystrategy.scot/scotlands-ar...
A few years ago I was invited to take part in the History Hit documentary "Mysteries of Prehistoric Scotland". I thought you'd need a subscription to watch the whole episode, but it just randomly appeared as a suggestion for me to watch on YouTube. But you can watch the whole thing here...
10.10.2025 15:19 — 👍 24 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 0
Image of church on corner of the road, with purple doors. Road has yellow boxes painted on. The corner of the church has turret and arched windows. Above is a blue sky
Our visit to East Church, Inverness, offered a glimpse into transformation in progress ⛪️ thanks to Murto for opening the doors and showing us around the interior whilst work continues - scaffolding and plans all mixed together! #ReACH #churchheritage
15.10.2025 10:23 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0We are pleased to be supporting this event, which includes a talk on Ursula Clark’s photographs for ‘Architecture of Scotland’ by George Hay. A Fellow of the Society from 1953 to 1986, George was one of the most accomplished practitioners and interpreters of the distinctive architecture of Scotland.
14.10.2025 14:14 — 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
A museum gallery with a wooden desk, cattle skins, parchment, quills and other materials used to create medieval manuscripts
A page of parchment with colourful early medieval style decoration - and a number of materials used to make the colorants in the background
The Stories on Skins exhibition can be seen at Tarbat Discovery Centre until the end of October when we close for the winter season, along with the original finds from the excavations of site - including manuscript making tools.
🏺#Archaeology
The reimagined manuscript pages created by Thomas for our #NLHF funded #StoriesOnSkins project are amazing pieces or art, using techniques as close as possible to how manuscript pages would have been made at Portmahomack.
15.10.2025 18:26 — 👍 15 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 0
Intricate interlace pattern carved into a stone surface - panel from one of the Early Medieval West Highland graveslabs of Kilmoden, Argyll.
Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy Committee needs a new Chair! Are you interested in leading the committee as it launches Scotland’s next Archaeology Strategy in the Spring of 2026? Follow the link below to learn more about the role and how to apply.
archaeologystrategy.scot/scotlands-ar...
The top half of a worn stone gravestone in a grassy graveyard. There is a carved hand holding a lozenge of glass along with tools - including a blow pipe, a set square and a pinching tool.
Noticed the #31DaysOfGraves tag was #Glass today and couldn’t not share this gravestone in Tranent churchyard, East Lothian.
A gravestone for Thomas Waugh, glazier, dated to 1705 which shows the tools of his trade and a lozenge of glass. He was a glass worker, likely at nearby Morison’s Haven.
Photo of two people kneeling next to a shallow archaeological trench with a grid over it
NEW ScARF CHAPTERS: Our @scarf-scot.bsky.social project are busy creating a free online resource bringing together everything archaeologists currently know about South West Scotland's complex past.
Want a preview? Read (and comment on) the first three draft chapters here: scarf.scot/regional/sws...
Fieldwork at Old High Church, Inverness - one of Scotland's most historic urban churches and is deeply significant to both the local community and visitors #ReACH #churchheritage
07.10.2025 11:47 — 👍 10 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 2
Day 8 of #31DaysOfGraves - Glass
When visiting a graveyard, have you ever wondered what these flat marble plates, reminiscent of chopping boards, are?
They're the bases of Victorian/Edwardian "Immortelles" that once held fragile memorial ornaments under a glass dome. Not many now survive intact...
I have a very small piece on the copper alloy assemblage in the new @socantscot.bsky.social Finalggan Monograph.
I did the conservation and analysis back in 2000 - as a conservation intern - so it’s been 25 years since I first wrote the report!
We had a brilliant afternoon with @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social and @socantscot.bsky.social! More celebrations of our launch event coming soon on our socials and our BRAND NEW website churchheritage.scot
17.09.2025 08:54 — 👍 2 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
What a fantastic launch event yesterday for @churchheritage.bsky.social, our collaborative project with @socantscot.bsky.social supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Pilgrim Trust.
Chaired by @lizzieswarbrick.bsky.social, we heard from 20 wonderful speakers followed by a panel discussion.
Thank you for coming and contributing to our lightning talk session!
An amazing breadth of fascinating research going on across Scotland and we are really looking forward to working with everyone over the next two years on the
@churchheritage.bsky.social project!
What an inspiring, interesting and broad ranging event this was! Some organisational magic must have gone on to get so many institutions in one room! Really brilliant work!
11.09.2025 17:45 — 👍 7 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 1
4 people sat on a stage taking part in a discussion. The venue is an old church building. There are two banners on the stage. The audience is looking at the discussion
Thanks to all our speakers and attendees at our first @churchheritage.bsky.social project symposium.
A busy afternoon of lightning talks, discussion and networking and hopefully the start of lots of collaboration over the next 2 years. @socantscot.bsky.social
@scotchurchestrust.bsky.social
Surveying the site of a high ground airplane wreck dating to World War 2 on the Corserine in Galloway © Rathmell Archaeology Limited
Draft chapters for the South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework are now live and we'd love your feedback!
You can comment directly on the framework through the ScARF website. More info about the drafts and our commenting feature can be found in our latest newsletter: bit.ly/42hUYVx
Hot off the press! We are very excited to be launching this exciting church research project with our colleagues @socantscot.bsky.social, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Pilgrim Trust.
It's Free, in-person & online, but booking is essential 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launch-eve...
