Perthshire Archaeology week in June saw Derek leading a guided tour around Perth, in search of the burgh’s medieval heritage. In August, he led another group, this time from the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, terminating the tour at the site of the almost-completed Perth Concert Hall, formerly our excavations at the Horse Cross.

In April, the Council for Scottish Archaeology held their Archaeology Fair in Perth City Hall. Attended by all the major Scottish units, voluntary societies and local authority archaeologists, this event is the place to meet old friends while informing local people of all ages and depth of interest. Catherine, David Perry and Sapphire Sherwood manned the exhibition and hands-on activities and even managed to have fun while doing so. The Fair was deemed a great success by all who took part.

A more local event took place in Perth Museum in May: Catherine was invited to take part in a Medieval Fun Day. Somewhat disappointingly, there was no requirement to dress accordingly. A hands-on activity and display based on medieval cooking, plants and herbs was visited by what seemed like innumerable hordes of people. Several children went away fired with a gleam of enthusiasm which was a delight to see. The museum staff and volunteers all agreed the event was a great success, kindly overlooking the mess of spice and flour created by over-energetic use of the mortar and pestle and a borrowed quern stone around the SUAT table.

Catherine was invited to Tulloch Primary School to talk to Primary 4 pupils studying the Vikings, as part of the National Curriculum ‘People in the Past’. The children responded enthusiastically to the gory details of how to butcher an animal, the best way to make horn combs and so on, and became archaeologists for the day as they handled, described and recorded real bones and skulls. The Young Archaeologists Club (YAC) also hosted a ‘Dry Bones’ event in Perth Museum on 12th November where Catherine’s collection of skeletons was again enthusiastically received.