In November 2024, the Society announced funding for a major new project to investigate Scotland’s Early Neolithic megalithic chambered and passage tombs, with the aim to answer key questions about when they were built and who built them.

Thanks to a large bequest left to the Society by the late Audrey Henshall OBE HonFSAScot, £50,000 was awarded to Archaeology Scotland for the project entitled Scotland’s Earliest Megalithic Monuments.

These types of ancient monuments are found in western Scotland, Ireland and along the coast of Wales. There are also similar sites in north-west France. They are arguably the earliest stone-built megalithic monuments in Britain (even older than Stonehenge), however few of these types of tombs have been scientifically dated.

Because they appear at the same time as the first evidence of farming in Scotland, experts currently believe that these monuments were built by Scotland’s first farmers somewhere between 6,300 and 5,800 years ago (c. 4300 BC to 3800 BC) at the start of the Neolithic period. The change from mobile hunting-gathering to a more settled farming way of life was the point in Scotland’s history where core elements of our current society began, such as a more sedentary lifestyle and substantial stone architecture.

Scotland’s Earliest Megalithic Monuments is carrying out small scale excavations at a handful of sites to find material that can be dated by radiocarbon, with local communities given the opportunity to get involved.

According to Dr Helen Spencer FSAScot, Head of Research at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: “This was a hugely important time in Scottish prehistory”; “these results would help answer what are arguably some of the biggest questions in Scottish archaeological research.”

The project also hopes to identify opportunities for enhanced management and interpretation of these internationally important sites going forward, while improving documentation for local communities and people further afield by creating photogrammetric models of the Scottish examples which will be available for free online.

At this exclusive online Fellows’ meeting, project leaders Phil Richardson and Dr Gavin MacGregor FSAScot, both of Archaeology Scotland, will discuss the research, engagement and excavations that have taken place so far and their plans for the rest of the project.

Phil Richardson is a Project Manager at Archaeology Scotland. Phil has wide-ranging experience and a good knowledge of Scottish cultural heritage and archaeology. Since joining Archaeology Scotland Phil has been responsible for the development of the Adopt-a-Monument Scheme, other engagement programmes and exciting projects designed with external project partners. Phil has significant interest in the delivery of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy and the role archaeology can play in contemporary society.

Dr Gavin MacGregor FSAScot MCIfA is Director of Archaeology Scotland. Gavin has worked in Scottish archaeology since graduating in 1992, with experience in Academic, Commercial and Community archaeology. He has also provided consultancy services about wider community development and heritage management issues, including to a range of Landscape Partnership Schemes, and including development of Historic Environment strategic frameworks.

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Throughout the year, Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland are invited to exclusive online and in-person events. They are one of the benefits of Fellowship and provide opportunities to network, meet other Fellows, and learn and discuss areas of shared interests related to Scotland’s past.

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Image Credit: Dr Gavin MacGregor FSAScot.

When: Thursday 13 November, 5pm GMT

Where: Online via Zoom