A Roman Dig

Linda Moyes

Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated with history and archaeology and love going round ancient monuments and sites. Despite completing a course on archaeology I still felt that something was missing, the chance to get my hands dirty digging up the past.

If I lived in England then the opportunity to do this would be plentiful but it is not quite so easy in Scotland. However, a chance remark by a friend put me in touch with the archaeologist for Perth & Kinross and I discovered that he was looking for volunteers to help with the Roman Gask Project. For those wondering what this is, and, yes I did too at first, it was an excavation run by a University down south to uncover the remains of Roman forts and camps in the Crieff area. Being further north than Antonines wall and built some 70 years earlier, it really was one of the earliest known frontiers for Roman soldiers and this was the Universitys third year of digging at a site beside Innerpeffray Library. Not being put off by the fact they were looking for volunteers able to commit themselves for a week at a time I phoned Mr Strachan. When I explained that I could only manage a weekend, he sounded doubtful.

Most places are taken up and I dont know if they would accept you for only a weekend. ... (continues)