Ancrum Artefact Roadshow
Date:
21 May 2011
Time:
10AM - 4PM
Archaeological experts to roll into Ancrum
Saturday 21 May, 2011 marks the first ever Borders Artefact Roadshow. The public are invited to Ancrum Public Hall between 10am and 4pm. Experts will be on hand to assess artefacts from any period in history or prehistory.
The purpose of the Artefacts Roadshow is to give Borderers the opportunity to bring in objects that they have found, whether in a field or a loft, for a quick assessment by archaeologists and curators from Scottish Borders Council, the National Museums of Scotland and Treasure Trove. Artefacts are vital to our overall understanding of the past, and can often point us in the direction of important archaeological sites that we never knew existed.
We are particularly keen if people have any artefacts from in and around Ancrum. Ancrum has been an important place since at least the Iron Age when an impressive fort was built on Castle Hill. A medieval church, the sites of mighty towers and historical records of a possible Bishop’s palace show that Ancrum was a prosperous place well into the Middle Ages.
The Artefact Roadshow is part of a wider project funded jointly by Scottish Borders Council and Historic Scotland to search for the lost Bishop’s Palace. It will be followed later in the year by a geophysical survey at Mantle Walls where it is hoped a key site in Ancrum’s history will be found.
SBC’s Archaeology Officer, Chris Bowles, says: ‘The Artefacts Roadshow is a great opportunity for people to find out more about what they’ve found. For us, we really need to know where things are being found so we can see if there are any patterns emerging that might pinpoint archaeological sites.’
Shona Sinclair, Curator of Hawick Museum, said, “This event will allow people in the Borders to discover more about their heritage from visiting and resident experts. If objects can be connected with a particular place then we may get a greater picture of settlements in the area. We welcome the interest that the National Museum of Scotland has shown in potential artefacts.”
Venue information: Ancrum Village Hall
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