Lost medal tells story of sacrifice

Council archaeologist Murray Cook on unearthing history

Many people ask me why Stirling Council has an archaeologist and what can I possibly do?

Some people think I have a team which works alongside me, while others are of the view I work for the University or the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

The truth is it’s just me and I work with the council three days a week.

My job is to comment on planning applications and ensure archaeological remains are either protected from development or recorded in advance. My job description is huge and my wider role is to protect and promote Stirling’s past so I stick my nose into every nook and cranny of the council’s business.

I get involved in tourism, I speak to schools and volunteer groups, I run excavations for the council, I organise archaeology month every September and I answer public queries.

This last part is very important. I’m your archaeologist, it’s your past, you all pay my wages and I am very keen to ensure you get value for money.

Most queries are about finds from gardens or from metal detection.

Any objects you find in the ground potentially belong to the Crown and could be treasure trove. That is not just precious items such as gold and diamonds but also coins, musket balls and stone tools.

Of course, while everyone has the right to roam, you have to have the landowner’s permission to carry out metal detecting. Some places are protected by law governing the use of scheduled monuments.

Many objects that are dug up have stories: who lost them and when. Did they return to look for them?

My friend Jimmy Bain found this medal in Stirling. It is the France and Germany Star and was awarded to anyone who fought in Europe after D-Day, the most important event in world history, which brought about the beginning of the end for Adol Hitler and the Nazis.

We don’t know who won it so I can’t give it back and I use it to teach schoolchildren about the war and the sacrifice of brave soldiers over the years.

A small gesture to remember and thank the fallen.