Author: Acfa Editor

Due to ongoing concerns over Covid-19 the 2021 AGM was once again held online. Members approved the accounts and the re-appointment of committee members and office bearers. After the formal business updates presented by Elaine Black (Tiree/Ben Hynish), Fred Hay (Eric Cregeen archive), Susan Hunter (Broom, Thorntonhall and Kirkhill surveys) and Dugie MacInnes (Halter Burn Valley).

Photo Competition Results 2021

The winners of the online photo competition were announced at the AGM. The Humour category was won by Christine MacDiarmid for her photo “We’re going to need a bigger trowel”. Janie Munro won the Home category with “Machrie Moor II”, the International category was won by Ewen Smith with “A Maoi looks to his birthplace” and Simon Davies won the Still by Drone category with his image of a shieling site. The overall winner was Janie Munro. Congratulations to you all.

Twenty five members and partners had fun exploring the archaeology of Arran. Sites visited included King’s Cross Dun and Viking Grave, the stone circles of Machrie Moor, King’s Caves, Torrylinn and Auchengallon cairns and the Drumadoon enclosure where members debated the status of a stone – standing stone or cattle rubbing stone. Finds of Neolithic pottery and its proximity to the recently excavated cursus brought the weight of opinion down on standing stone.

Our first Zoom talk was a exploration of the archaeology of Ben Hynish, Tiree from member Dugie MacInnes. A chronological account of features recorded during ACFA’s surveys, Dugie’s talk covered features from putative Mesolithic rock shelters through Neolithic and Bronze Age cairns, Iron Age duns to 19th and 20th century agricultural remains.

Coming up are:

March 11 7.30pm Kenneth Tomory “The Farms of the Dukes of Hamilton, through the rental records of the Hamilton estate.

April 1 7.30pm Simon Davies “The Intertidal Archaeology of Coastal Uist”

April 21 7.30pm Mary Braithwaite PhD FSA Scot “Curiosities on Luing”

Non-members are welcome to join us. Email acfacommitte@gmail.com for invitation.