Orkney Archaeology Society

Orkney Archaeology Society
Name	Orkney Archaeology Society
Formation	1968
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose	Archaeology, heritage conservation
Headquarters	Orkney
Region served	Orkney Islands

Orkney Archaeology Society The Orkney Archaeology Society is a volunteer-led heritage organisation based in the Orkney Islands, dedicated to the study, conservation and promotion of Neolithic and later archaeological sites across Mainland (Orkney), Hoy, Stromness, Kirkwall, Rousay and surrounding isles, working alongside institutions such as the Orkney Museum, Historic Environment Scotland, University of Bradford, University of Aberdeen and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

History

Founded in the late 1960s, the Society emerged amid renewed interest sparked by excavations at Skara Brae and scholarly work from figures associated with Colin Renfrew, V. Gordon Childe, Stuart Piggott, Marion Stenton and teams linked to the Orkneyinga Saga translations; early collaborations included contacts with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, National Museum of Scotland, British Museum and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Over subsequent decades the Society developed links with archaeologists affiliated to Cambridge University, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews and international partners such as researchers from University of Oslo, University of Bergen and the Institute of Archaeology, London. During the 1980s and 1990s the Society supported fieldwork alongside projects like the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, interventions at Maeshowe and survey work informing conservation initiatives with Historic Scotland and later Historic Environment Scotland.

Objectives and Activities

The Society's objectives include promoting archaeological investigation of sites such as Barnhouse, Yesnaby, Bu Ness, Broch of Gurness, Midhowe Broch, Tomb of the Eagles, Stenness, Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae, while liaising with bodies like Orkney Islands Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund to secure funding and advocacy. Activities routinely involve site survey, artifact recording, archival research in collections at the National Library of Scotland, publication of finds in collaboration with the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and participation in conferences hosted by institutions including the British Archaeological Association, European Association of Archaeologists, World Archaeological Congress and university departments such as Department of Archaeology, University of York.

Projects and Excavations

The Society has supported and co-directed excavations and surveys at a range of sites, often in partnership with professional teams from Time Team, Orkney College UHI, National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, British Geological Survey and specialists from the University of Sheffield and University of Manchester. Projects have included peatland palaeoenvironmental studies near Loch of Stenness, maritime archaeology around Scapa Flow connected to studies of HMS Royal Oak and surveys of Viking-era settlement patterns tied to research on figures and sources like the Vikings, Norse earls of Orkney, Earl Rognvald Kali Kolsson and material culture comparable to finds from Jórvík (York), Gokstad, Oseberg, Lofoten and Dublin. Excavations have produced artefacts later catalogued alongside collections referenced in works by Sir William Flinders Petrie, Aubrey Burl and contemporaries publishing in the Antiquity and the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Publications and Research

The Society issues reports, monographs and a regular newsletter summarising site work, laboratory analyses and radiocarbon determinations calibrated with databases used by teams at the NERC Radiocarbon Facility and published in outlets such as the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Antiquity, Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology and the Norwegian Archaeological Review. Collaborative research has produced studies addressing Neolithic architecture at Skara Brae, chambered cairin design comparable to Newgrange, Viking-Age settlement parallels with Trondheim and paleoenvironmental reconstructions referencing cores curated by the British Antarctic Survey and sediment studies using methods developed at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the Natural History Museum, London.

Education and Outreach

Educational work includes guided tours that contextualise sites such as Yesnaby Cliffs, Isbister Chambered Cairn and Dwarfie Stane, public lectures given in venues like St Magnus Cathedral, Linklater Pavilion and community halls across Sanday and Westray, school programmes coordinated with Orkney Islands Council Education Service and teacher resources aligned to curricula from the Scottish Government and museums including the Maritime Museum, Stromness and Pier Arts Centre. The Society partners with festivals and events such as Orkney Folk Festival, Stromness Shopping Week, Westray Heritage Centre activities and heritage open days promoted by the Historic Houses Association to disseminate findings and engage volunteers, coordinating with media outlets like the BBC Scotland and academic broadcasters from Channel 4 and National Geographic.

Governance and Membership

Governance follows a voluntary committee structure with officers elected at an annual general meeting, working with trustees and auditors experienced in charity regulation under frameworks related to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and reporting to stakeholders including Historic Environment Scotland and funders such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and private benefactors. Membership draws amateurs, fieldworkers, students from Orkney College UHI and professionals affiliated with the Council for British Archaeology, Society of Antiquaries of London, European Association of Archaeologists and international partners from institutions such as the University of Copenhagen, University of Leiden and Trinity College Dublin.

Category:Archaeological organisations in Scotland Category:Culture in Orkney