Director’s Report

Many of this year’s projects have built on previous years’ work. We have had another round of mini-hydro projects, mainly in upland Perthshire, and the renewal of schools, especially in Perth and Kinross, but also in other local council areas, has continued to generate significant work. Bronze Age excavations near Inverness added a wider than usual chronological range to this year’s operations. The re-emergence of Perth Whitefriars after an interval of 25 years is a sign of the very long timescales on which we sometimes work.

The publication of the Perth Horse Cross excavations in Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal (TAFAJ 13) was an important milestone for us all; this was one of the largest excavations to take place in Perth in recent years, and we were pleased to see it in print so soon, despite various changes in personnel during the post-excavation process.

Standing building records at various levels continue to form an interesting part of our work, often in advance of rural steading conversions, but this year including a walkover of an urban industrial landscape in Edinburgh, and a curious public building in Bridge of Allan.

The writing up of the long-awaited Perth High Street Excavations is gathering momentum. SUAT continues to take a lead in the study of medieval ceramics, both in analysis, and now in fieldwork. Similarly, we have a leading position in archaeozoology in Scotland.

SUAT staff continue to play an important role in the wider structure of Scottish archaeology. David Bowler serves on the Council of the local society (PSNS), and as Publications Convenor of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The Antiquaries have undergone a considerable change of personnel in the past year, and this has been a significant time to be involved in their affairs.

Derek Hall continues on the Tayside and Fife Archaeological Committee (TAFAC) as Assistant Journal Editor, is the Editor of Medieval Ceramics, and is a founding member of Scottish Church Heritage Research, which now has an active HLF-funded project. Catherine Smith serves on the committee of the Abertay Historical Society and on the Council of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

We have continued to provide placements for volunteers, students and school pupils, and have made continuing progress in dealing with the archives and assemblages of older projects.

As always, we have seen staff leave us to move on in their careers, while others join us. We continue to maintain friendly contacts and working relationships with former staff throughout Scotland and the UK. More unusually, and sadly, we have had to mark the passing of two former members of staff this year. It is perhaps a sign of the maturing of what used to be a very young profession, and also of SUAT’s position as one of the longer established organisations in Scotland.

Thanks are due to staff for their hard work in maintaining progress on our various projects. As always, we appreciate the support, advice and encouragement given by the Chairman, Vice-Chairs and Council.

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