Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 151

Professor George Eogan, Professor Emeritus of Celtic Archaeology, University College Dublin (UCD) was an internationally renowned archaeologist, best known for his work and publications on the Neolithic passage tomb complex at Knowth in the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage site, but also for his studies of the metalwork and goldwork of the Bronze Age in Ireland and Britain.

Caroline was a prolific, dedicated and accomplished academic of Scotland’s prehistory with an exemplary publication record.

In 2018 on behalf of Transport Scotland AOC Archaeology Group undertook archaeological investigations in advance of the construction of the 9.5km A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam. Six archaeological sites were excavated, revealing evidence of activity spanning the Early Neolithic to the early medieval period. Neolithic activity was confined to four sites, consisting of a palimpsest of pits, post holes and vestigial structures, some of which were associated with assemblages of handmade ceramics, struck lithics and a small but revealing ecofact record. This paper focuses on the ceramic assemblages and, in particular, the comprehensive group of Late Neolithic Grooved Ware vessel sherds. It considers the form and function of the vessels, investigating aspects of decorative style alongside lipid analysis of surviving organic residues on the surfaces of the sherds and a suite of radiocarbon dates with a view to expanding our current understanding of the function, style and chronology of the later phases of Grooved Ware in the region and eastern mainland Scotland more broadly.

Excavation of a well-preserved stretch of the rampart of the Antonine Wall east of Watling Lodge, at Laurieston, allowed for the first micromorphological study of its earthen building materials. This revealed that the rampart core, as well as the cheeks, were constructed in well layered courses of turf blocks – but sourced from different grasslands. The evidence differs from macroscopic observations made at other sections in this area where the rampart material had been interpreted as representing a loose earth core with clay cheeks. Our results show that even when the characteristic striped sections indicative of turf are not visible in the field, thin-section analysis can confirm the use of intact soil blocks with the remains of grassed surfaces. It now seems possible that the visible variation between materials in the eastern and western sectors of the Antonine Wall may simply be due to different types of turf used, varying in subsoil composition and topsoil formation, and representing differences in landscape management and survival of vegetation. Combined with macroscopic field recording to identify Roman building practices, our analysis of this section at Laurieston also shows the care that was taken to construct a level, well-draining base for the rampart to avoid slumping and moisture build-up. Further excavations and thin-section analysis elsewhere along the Wall are now needed to confirm whether turf was more extensively used than so far anticipated for the eastern sector and whether the Antonine Wall could possibly have been built completely of turf. Such conclusions would suggest a much more standardised construction process and more extensive grassland exploitation than considered up until now. While our results demonstrate the importance of micromorphological analysis for understanding this earthen UNESCO World Heritage site, our interdisciplinary approach may also have wider relevance for research on linear earthworks in different geographical and chronological settings.

Previous interpretations of the courtyarded quadrangular structure surviving on the summit at Tarbert Castle, Argyll had suggested this was the earliest upstanding building on the site, and a potent symbol of increased crown authority in the region during the early-13th-century reign of Alexander II. This paper will present a consistent suite of archaeological, architectural and documentary evidence which indicates that this building is a multiphase early-14th-century structure that post-dates the surrounding L-shaped enclosure, as well as documentary evidence suggesting that a later 13th- to 14th-century transition from private to direct royal control of the site took place.

This article presents a study of Scottish heart brooches, primarily from the 18th century, using the collections of the National Museums Scotland, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, the Highland Folk Museum and those reported to the Treasure Trove Unit. By researching over 350 heart brooches it has been possible to gain a fuller understanding of their purpose and meaning, their various styles and their production centres. A re-evaluation of these objects is important because an understanding of them exists that may not be wholly accurate, such as their connection to Edinburgh through the locked booths in the High Street which has given rise to their more commonly known name, ‘luckenbooth brooches’. However, the reality from the study is that more were produced in northern Scotland, particularly from the mid-18th into the early 19th centuries. There is also a deeply ingrained romantic notion of them, and while this is certainly true in many cases, other meanings exist such as protection, religion and health. Furthermore, by studying a quantity of brooches from the 13th to early19th centuries, it has also been possible see regional variations between Inverness and Aberdeen and how the heart form changed through time.

Joseph Anderson (1832–1916) was an influential figure within the history of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Scottish archaeology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But while Anderson is best known for his contribution to the development of Scottish prehistoric and early medieval archaeology, there has been less focus on his role in expanding and studying the Society’s Scottish historical collection. This article considers the ways in which Scottish historical material culture was displayed in the Antiquities Museum and investigated by Anderson from 1869 until 1892, with arrangements in Scotland compared to other national museums in the British Isles and Europe. The Society’s archives and Anderson’s publications have been critically examined within this study to demonstrate that Anderson’s archaeological background influenced his approach to studying historic objects and contributed to his vision of a unified Scottish cultural history contextualised through international comparisons. This article also seeks to show how Anderson was in a privileged position as keeper of the museum for 43 years, allowing him to systematise and apply ideas and methodologies to the Scottish historical collection that had been developing within the Society both prior to and during his keepership.