An ambitious new programme of archaeological research, known as the Assynt Hidden Lives Project begins in November 2009, funded by Leader and the Heritage Lottery fund. AOC Archaeology Group has joined with Historic Assynt in launching a large-scale survey and assessment of the archaeological sites and monuments of Assynt parish in Sutherland. This community-driven programme aims to characterise and record the archaeology of this under-studied area through a programme of walkover and archaeological site survey.

One of the most spectacular areas of natural beauty in Scotland, the archaeology of Assynt has not received the same level of attention as neighbouring areas to the south, east or west, and as such the history of the people who inhabited this landscape is incomplete. The Hidden Lives Project aims to re-establish a connection to past communities of Assynt by creating a high quality archaeological record of the traces they left behind.

AOC will lead a team of volunteers from the local area in carrying out a systematic walkover survey of hundreds of sites in the parish, followed by a programme of archaeological topographic survey in order to create a chronological cross-section of Assynt’s past. Training is central to the ethos of the programme and professional archaeologists will lead field training sessions in all levels of archaeological recording, from written descriptions and interpretation to detailed topographic survey involving total stations, GPS and laser scanning.

You can keep up to date with the progress of the Hidden Lives Project by following the project web diary, or by attending one of the project seminars: details of dates and times can be found here.

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