Journal
A visit to Corrimony chambered cairn, Scotland
Photography and photogrammetry at Corrimony, a Clava Cairn near Inverness, Scotland
Copt Howe artefacts feature in major exhibition at Wordsworth House, Cockermouth
Today I visited Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, the venue for a major exhibition featuring artefacts from an excavation I co-directed in 2018.
Rock art and ice: Achnabreck
Heavy frost adds another dimension to the cup and ring markings at Achnabreck, Argyll, Scotland.
Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 12: Thoughts on the final day of the project
The final day of the excavation. We complete the digging and recording, reflect upon possible interpretations of this unusual site.
Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 6:
As the excavation begins to take shape, we expand our digging to either side of the cup marked rock.
Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 4: Cleaning back the main trench
Another bright day in which we trowel back the trench and are visited by rock art doyen, George Currie.
Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 3: More cobbles and a cup mark
A bright and sunny day. We continued to tidy up the main trench revealing more cobbles and a cup mark.
Visiting rock art with television presenter Paul Murton for BBC TV
The first in a new series of BBC TV's Grand Tours of Scotland's Lochs was broadcast this week, and the first episode features an interview with me at a rock art site in western Scotland.
Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 2: We continue to remove the turf
The weather this morning was blustery and changeable, and we continued to remove the grass and turf from the largest trench.
Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 1: Quartz beneath the turf
In September 2017, I excavated for two weeks at a rock art site in central Scotland, as reported in this Journal. One year on, and our small team is back to continue our investigations.
Excavating at Copt Howe day 11: The end of the excavations
In the midst of a heatwave we backfill the two remaining trenches.
Excavating at Copt Howe day 10: The last day of excavation
It is our final day of excavation and various tasks have to be completed before the trenches can be filled. Stan Beckensall visits.
Excavating at Copt Howe day 9: Recording and replicating
Work continues towards the conclusion of the excavation in a couple of days time.
Excavations at Copt Howe day 8: Flat slabs in Trench 3
Trenches 1 and 3 take centre stage with new motifs and stone deposits.
Excavations at Copt Howe day 7: Light and shadow
Today, the site is visited by a specialist to assess its potential for Optically-Stimulated Luminescence dating. On the theme of light, I also make some observations about the qualities of tree shadows on this sunny day.
Excavations at Copt Howe day 6: Were these tools used to make the rock art?
On the sixth day day there are significant developments in Trench 1, with more rock art being revealed and the discovery of some very distinctive artefacts which may have been used to carve the motifs.
Excavating at Copt Howe day 5: Structured deposition in Trench 1
Trench 1 begins to reveal some exciting features.
Excavations at Copt Howe day 4: Making progress
On the fourth day of the project we continue work on all the active trenches.
Excavations at Copt Howe day 3: Carvings are discovered
The plan today is to open three new trenches to investigate the boulders which display carvings.
Excavations at Copt Howe day 2: The first trench is complete
Day two of the project has dawned overcast but dry. We continue work investigating the mound to see if there is any evidence for it having been constructed.