Welcome to the November 2015 ScARF Newsletter
The best way to keep up to date with News and Events from the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework.
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96% of you would recommend ScARF to others!
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In our last newsletter, as well as through our website, Twitter feed and mailing lists, we invited people to complete our user survey.
The survey received 97 responses in total and the report on the results will be available through the ScARF website later this year.
Thank you to everyone who took part and even though the survey is over, we are always open to hearing your views so please get in touch.
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ScARF aiding in the development of other Research Frameworks
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Recently, a number of regionally or object specific archaeological research frameworks have begun to emerge across Scotland. Some of these relate to the existing content of ScARF and others are designed to address gaps that were highlighted as part of the original ScARF research. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and ScARF are very happy to have been asked to advise on many of these new projects and look forward to being part of many others in the future.
One project that has involved ScARF is related to the archaeology and history of Argyll and the surrounding area. The organisers are holding a two day event, 'Unfolding Argyll’s Archaeological Story: Research Framework Symposium', on the 27th and 28th of November to discuss next steps.
The symposium will examine and discuss the archaeological knowledge base for Argyll, where its current research strengths and knowledge gaps may lie and what direction future exploration and research should take.
ScARF will be taking along eight student volunteers to take notes and record discussion. These notes will help to inform the future agenda for Argyll and will also be used, where appropriate, to update the archaeological content on www.scottishheritagehub.com.
Another project ScARF has been involved with is Future Thinking on Carved Stones in Scotland, a project run by the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow. A recent meeting, attended by the project organisers and ScARF, was held to agree the structure of the framework and organise case studies. You can find out more about the new framework on the webpage here.
The outcome will be a research framework for carved stones in Scotland, due for completion by Summer 2016.
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Reconvening the Science in Archaeology Panel
We are looking to reconvene the Science in Archaeology Panel of ScARF in the next few months. Of all the panel reports, it is the one that is becoming out of date most quickly. For instance, there are techniques commonly used in archaeology today that were not mentioned in ScARF three years ago – like photogrammetry. There are other techniques, such as geophysics and laser scanning, that have moved on in three years and could do with the sections being updated.
Another good reason to reconvene the Science panel is that it has one of the most active communities of researchers. A good example of this is that one of the recommendations from the original 2012 report has already led to a Directory of Archaeological Scientists ( http://www.scottishheritagehub.com/ssearch), so the Science panel has already had a direct impact on current archaeological research in Scotland.
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Updates to the ScARF website
As mentioned in the last e-newsletter, ScARF has been sponsoring student volunteers to take notes at conferences. Some of the notes from the Cramond Roman Fort: 60 years of excavation and research conference can already be seen on the ScARF website. Thanks to our volunteers from the Universities of Glasgow, Newcastle and Durham!
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Next ScARF Event
In collaboration with the Scottish group of the CIfA, ScARF will be holding a CPD training event between 9:30am and 11:30am on the 11th December 2015.
The morning training session will focus on showing archaeologists how they can use www.scottishheritagehub.com in their everyday work and research.
For more information and to book your place, please visit the CIfA Eventbrite page using the button below. Note that spaces are limited and so the sign up is on a 'first come, first served' basis.
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Images courtesy of Kilmartin Museum, Future Thinking in Carved Stones and Dr Lisa Shillito (Newcastle University)
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