Ardrishaig Guides receive their Heritage Hero Awards
In September 2023, an Archaeology Scotland Excavation project was undertaken at Carnasserie Farm, Kilmartin, in collaboration with Kilmartin Museum.
The archaeological study area was within the renowned prehistoric landscape of Kilmartin Glen, which has a large concentration of prehistoric rock art sites.
Following on from survey work undertaken in 2007, Archaeology Scotland and Kilmartin Museum undertook excavation around three of the rock art sites at Carnasserie Farm.
Over the two-week excavation period, volunteers from the local community had the fantastic opportunity to take part in the excavation and local schools and groups had the opportunity to visit the excavated trench sites and learn a great deal from the archaeologists on site.
The Ardrishaig Guides and older Brownies agreed to take part in the project and to work towards receiving a “Heritage Hero Award” certificate.
The awards are run by Archaeology Scotland and are an award scheme open to anyone engaging with cultural heritage. The scheme also aims to inspire young people to develop a lifelong interest in the past and to reward achievement.
Prior to their visit to the excavation site, the Kilmartin Museum education team visited the Guides and delivered a “rock art” clay craft activity session, and it was a fun way to inform the group about the importance of Argyll’s rock art carvings, the sites, and the archaeology.
Accompanied by the Kilmartin education team, the group then attended the excavation site and visited all the trenches, which were spread over a large area of rough hilly grassland.
At each trench site, Archaeology Scotland archaeologists Gavin McGregor, Kieran Manchip and Kilmartin museums archaeologist Aaron Watson delivered detailed archaeological explanations to the girls.
There was time also to visit one of the highest Bronze Age Cairn (burial) sites which overlooked the trenches from a distance, it truly is an amazing prehistoric landscape!
To complete their day with the Kilmartin team, the group visited the new Kilmartin Museum and enjoyed exploring the new interactive activities.
The Guides also devoted time in their weekly meetings in October and November to carry out individual research. All this information and their experiences of the sites was included in a short video film which they created. Along with the completed clay work, this evidential work counted towards the group completing the necessary hours required to achieve the Heritage Hero Detective Award.
Feedback from the youth group was positive: “It was fun and interesting to see the archaeologists working together with volunteers on the excavation.”
“It was nice to be up in the hills and seeing a different landscape.”
“It was interesting to learn about the history of the cup and ring marks.”
Kilmartin Museum’s education team, Julia and Jacquelyn, were delighted to present the certificates to each member of the group, saying: “This small project was an amazing fun and informative way for the girls to be involved in the incredible archaeology and the amazing prehistoric landscape of Kilmartin Glen.
“The girls and their leaders worked incredibly hard on many aspects of this small project, especially their research; this is a well-deserved award for every one of them.”