Community archaeology programme, Can You Dig It, run by the Galloway Glens Scheme, will carry on to 2022 after the boost from Historic Environment Scotland. And it means anyone interested in archaeology and the past has a chance to get involved and learn alongside professionals from Rathmell Archaeology.
To date, they have carried out digs and investigations at sites up and down the Galloway Glens area, from the deserted settlement at Polmaddy above Carsphairn, to Moat Brae and Castledykes in Kirkcudbright. They also uncovered a deserted kiln barn and farmstead on the Raiders Road, dug for an iron-age fort on Little Wood Hill on the NTS Threave Estate and surveyed various churchyards. Helen Keron, education and community engagement officer for the Galloway Glens, said: “We were so impressed by the enthusiasm and knowledge of our Can You Dig It volunteers last year, it’s absolutely wonderful to get continuation funding from HES so that we can continue working with them and with new participants to learn more about the fascinating archaeology of the Galloway Glens area.”
Due to Covid-19, the course has temporarily moved online and onto social media but Helen hopes they will be back in the field next summer. She said: “A big focus of the project will continue to be on accessibility and participation, so if you’ve always wanted to find out more about archaeology but are worried about whether you’d be able to manage it, just get in touch and we will make all the adaptations we possibly can.”
Meanwhile, Tom Rees, of Rathmell Archaeology, said: “The Galloway Glens contains an amazing archaeological resource that can illuminate how people in the past lived and worked in this landscape. It is a privilege to continue to work with the local communities to explore, reveal and present these ancient stories.”
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