Roll of Fellows

Nigel Allen Ruckley

FSAScot

Born 22 December 1944; died 26 June 2024

 

By Geoffrey Stell FSA FSAScot and David Caldwell FSA FSAScot

Second son of a distinguished aeronautical engineer, Nigel Ruckley was born in Portsmouth and educated at Stamford School, from where, in 1963, he was appointed by the British Geological Survey (BGS) in Edinburgh, initially as a cartographic draughtsman. He worked through the ranks to become a petrologist, and between 1978 and 1993 he assumed wider, underwater responsibilities as diving officer on a major offshore mapping project of the Continental Shelf. Elected FSAScot on 13 October 1986, from 1990 onwards, he also became BGS geo-archaeological coordinator for Scotland with a remit ‘to promote geo-archaeology in Scotland by initiating an awareness of the importance of geological techniques in archaeology and related disciplines’. Throughout his professional career he operated out of the BGS offices in Edinburgh, where he also resided, but, in 1997, after 34 years’ service, he took early retirement and moved to Kirkbuddo in the heart of rural Angus where he spent the rest of his life.

A lifelong keen and committed geologist, Nigel soon developed a range of archaeological and historical interests which he had first demonstrated at school. Fortuitously, his job at BGS allowed him, along with David Long and Caroline Wickham-Jones, to make a significant contribution to Upper Palaeolithic studies in 1986 with the publication of a flint artefact from a core extracted from the seabed about 150 km north-east of Lerwick. It was identified as evidence for former human habitation in the middle of what is now the North Sea.

From an early age, Nigel had also been greatly interested in castles, especially in their water supply. This remains a relatively under-researched aspect of fortification studies to which he brought a geological understanding and for which he remains a prime authority. He also brought that knowledge and understanding to many major excavation reports such as those relating to Edinburgh and Stirling Castles and Fort Charlotte (Shetland), and to his own sharply focused study of the heavily fortified island of Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth. Encouraged by the late Andrew Saunders, he also produced a general synthesis on this theme which was based on data from over 400 castle sites across the United Kingdom and was published in the short-lived journal, Fortress, in 1990. The index record cards which formed a proto database on which that study was based still exist, and it is to be hoped that his seminal work in this field will be taken forward.

Unilateral studies and publications of this kind were, however, the exceptions rather than the rule, for Nigel was at his happiest and most fulfilled when collaborating and interacting with others. Several Scottish-based archaeologists and historians discovered that here was a man who was not only interested in what they were doing but who could contribute a specialist geological perspective. His naturally amiable and sociable demeanour was always a boost to the collective effort, and, from the mid-1980s onwards, he became a greatly valued and well-liked team member on many field surveys and archaeological excavations.

Geographically speaking, work on the geology and water supplies of sites which were closely associated with the eastern and western ends of the Atlantic slave trade were probably his furthest-flung projects: in the east, he formed part of a Kirkdale Archaeology team under Gordon Ewart which carried out archaeological appraisals of Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, Ghana, in 1991, while in the west he was in a squad charged with the examination of Brimstone Hill Fortress, St Kitts, West Indies, under the direction of Victor Smith in 1990-2.

In 1992 he was also a member of a six-strong Fortress Study Group team in the less exotic surroundings of Holderness in East Yorkshire, which carried out a pilot study of wartime defences on behalf of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England (RCHME). A major outcome of that study was the compilation and publication, in 1995-6, of a field guide to wartime remains which served as the foundation of the UK-wide Defence of Britain project and which to this day still serves as an essential vade mecum to the subject (Bernard Lowry (ed.), 20th Century Defences in Britain: an Introductory Guide (York: Council for British Archaeology, 1995 and 1996).

It can now be revealed that, behind the scenes, Nigel was quietly but effectively influential in recommending, firstly, that his long-standing friend, Bernard Lowry, be added to the Holderness squad as editor of the handbook, and, secondly, that one of his close FSG team-mates, John Guy, be commissioned by Historic Scotland to carry out a survey of 20th-century defences in Scotland. The result of the Guy initiative was a series of 11 region-by-region unpublished reports which Nigel made full and handsomely acknowledged use of in an extended essay on Scottish public defences which appeared in 2003 and which, at 39 pages, probably stands as his largest single publication.

Defence works, including those of 20th-century concrete, remained an abiding passion among Nigel’s many and widespread geo-archaeological interests, but, especially after retirement in 1997, he became increasingly committed to the technical study of medieval stonework in Scotland, especially monumental slabs and sculpture from the Pictish era onwards.

The excavations at Finlaggan in Islay, directed by David Caldwell, became a particularly prominent part of his working life. His contributions to the Finlaggan project were by no means restricted to geology although his inputs in this field were of considerable importance. With a BGS colleague, John Chesher, he undertook a bathymetric survey of Loch Finlaggan, and, as the project expanded and developed various spin-off fieldwork projects Nigel was there, heavily involved, whether it was recording monumental inscriptions or searching out standing stones and shieling sites. Indeed, he developed such a love of Islay that from the 1990s onwards he felt compelled to visit the island and undertake fieldwork every year.

Nigel’s skills as a petrologist were particularly in demand. In archaeological fieldwork the requirement was often to provide quick but reliable identifications of rock types without the benefit of being able to remove samples or make thin sections. He realised that the solution to this challenge was to collect magnetic susceptibility readings from the material he was studying. This could be done using a handheld, relatively cheap, meter which provided instant data output, and which occasioned no damage to the stone surfaces being examined.

Nigel’s magnetic susceptibility data largely underlay another major project in which he became heavily involved, namely, a reassessment of the large corpus of medieval grave monuments and commemorative crosses in the West Highlands. The identification of specific quarry sources was a key aim of this project since it was thought that that would explain the distribution of the monuments and help provide a new model for their dating and range of styles.

In collaboration with David Caldwell, Suzanne Miller et al., Nigel’s contribution in these fields is clear from the appended list of publications, and he soon expanded his range of interests in monuments to include Pictish sculpture. Nigel’s help was invaluable to Jane Geddes when she was studying the collection at St Vigeans. He could demonstrate that the best sculpture, the Drosten stone, unlike almost all the rest, came from a distant quarry obviously known for its far better carving and preservation qualities. When the Pictish Arts Society organised field trips Nigel was the go-to geologist to provide appropriate geological information, often in the form of a chapter in a booklet of sites to be visited. Much of his work at St Vigeans, and also Portmahomack, is encapsulated in his 2016-17 contribution to the thematic ScARF (Scottish Archaeological Research Framework) report on Future Thinking on Carved Stones in Scotland. Almost inevitably, he was also invited to consider what information magnetic susceptibility could provide on the Stone of Destiny prior to its display in Perth Museum, but sadly he never had the opportunity to complete this project.

Nigel was a veritable man of parts, and no account of his life would be complete without mention of his many other ‘leisure’ interests which he pursued with the same intensity and sociable good humour as his professional commitments. Foremost among these was his love of angling which took him fly-fishing in search of trout at the Lake of Menteith and the Loch of Yarrows in Caithness, or of grayling, locally in the nearby River Isla in Strathmore or distantly, on at least one occasion, as far afield as the Rivers Spengla and Zeimena in Lithuania! Gardening came a close second and processing the produce of water and earth in the kitchen he easily assumed the role of master chef, bearing an uncanny physical resemblance to the legendary Philip Harben. The natural environment was also a source of endless fascination, engaging him an endless daily round of measurement, tracking everything from declinations in the heavens to hours of daylight and the vagaries of the weather via numberless clinometers, barometers and rain gauges! His mechanical universe was dominated by railway locomotives, the occasional steam train on the ex-Great Northern lines around Stamford having been sufficient to generate a deep, life-long passion for all aspects of railway history and rail travel, best measurable by the shelves of books on this theme in his not inconsiderable library, itself a testament to a true antiquarian of deep and wide interests.

In preparing this obituary and list we are grateful for help given by Charles Blackwood, John Borland, Mike Cressey, Gordon Ewart, Morag Fyfe, Jane Geddes, David Henry, Simon Howard, Bernard Lowry, Paul Remfry and especially Emily and Lester Ruckley.

Nigel is survived by his wife Emily and stepson Alex.

 

Known publications and unpublished reports by Nigel Allen Ruckley

Publications

  • (with David Evans) ‘The geology and origin of narrow closed channels in the Sound of Jura’, Scottish Journal of Geology, volume 16 (1980), pages 65-72.
  • ‘Inchkeith: the water supply of an island fortress’, Fort, volume 12 (1984), pages 67-82.
  • (with David Long and Caroline Wickham-Jones) ‘A flint artifact from the northern North Sea’ in Derek Roe (ed.), Studies in the Upper Palaeolithic of Britain and Northwest Europe (British Archaeological Reports, Oxford, 1986), pages 55-62.
  • ‘Water supply of medieval castles in the United Kingdom’, Fortress, volume 7 (1990), pages 14-26.
  • (with H M Pantin et al.) The sea-bed sediments around the United Kingdom: their bathymetric and physical environment, grain size, mineral composition and associated bedforms (British Geological Survey Research Report, SB/90/1, Keyworth, 1991).
  • ‘Geological and geomorphological factors influencing the form and development of Edinburgh Castle’, The Edinburgh Geologist, 26 (Autumn, 1991), pages 18-26.
  • (with R Holmes et al.) Quaternary geology around the United Kingdom (North Sheet), 1: 1,000,000 (British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, 1993).
  • (with R Holmes et al.) Quaternary geology around the United Kingdom (South Sheet), 1: 1,000,000 (British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, 1994).
  • (with Ian Brown et al.) in Bernard Lowry (ed.), 20th Century Defences in Britain: an Introductory Guide (Council for British Archaeology, York, 1995 and 1996).
  • ‘The geological setting’ in Stephen Driscoll and Peter Yeoman, Excavations within Edinburgh Castle in 1988-91 (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1997) at pages 15-21.
  • ‘Sources of the building stone’ in Iain MacIvor and Dennis Gallagher, ‘Excavations at Caerlaverock Castle, 1955-66’, Archaeological Journal, volume 156 (1999), at pages 186-8.
  • (with Andy Johnson) ‘Geology, building stone and water supply’ in Ron Shoesmith and Andy Johnson (eds), Ludlow Castle: its history & buildings (Almeley, 2000 and 2006; revised edition, Eardisley, 2018), pages 1-4.
  • ‘The geology, building stone and water supply’ in Denys Pringle and Gordon Ewart, ‘“an old pentagonal fort built of stone”: excavation of the battery wall at Fort Charlotte, Lerwick, Shetland’, Post-Medieval Archaeology, volume 34 (2000) at pages 138-42.
  • (with Suzanne Miller) ‘The Roman sculpture from Birrens revisited: geological study’, Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Third series, volume 76 (2002) at pages 79-81.
  • ‘Public Defences’ in Geoffrey Stell, John Shaw and Susan Storrier (eds), Scotland’s Buildings (East Linton, 2003), pages 381-420.
  • (with David Caldwell) ‘Domestic architecture in the Lordship of the Isles’ in Richard Oram and Geoffrey Stell (eds), Lordship and Architecture in Medieval and Renaissance Scotland (Edinburgh, 2005), pages 97-121.
  • (with Suzanne Miller) ‘The role of geological analysis of monuments: a case study from St Vigeans and related sites’ in Sally Foster and Morag Cross (eds), Able minds and practised hands: Scotland’s early medieval sculpture in the 21st century (Society for Medieval Archaeology, Leeds, 2005), pages 277-92.
  • (with Suzanne Miller) ‘Pictish geoarchaeology’, The Edinburgh Geologist, 44 (Spring, 2005), pages 26-32.
  • (with Suzanne Miller, Fiona McGibbon and David Caldwell), ‘Geological tools to interpret Scottish medieval carved sculpture: combined petrological and magnetic susceptibility analysis,’ Geological Society London, Special Publications 257 (January 2006), pages 283-305.
  • (with Paul Remfry) Castell Carreg Cennen (Malvern, 2010).
  • (with David Caldwell, Fiona McGibbon and Suzanne Miller), ‘The image of a Celtic society: medieval West Highland sculpture’ in Pamela O’Neill (ed.), Celts in Legend and Reality (Sydney, 2010), pages 13-59.
  • (with Dennis Gallagher) ‘The Gunflints’ in Gordon Ewart and Dennis Gallagher, Fortress of the Kingdom: Archaeology and Research at Edinburgh Castle (Historic Scotland, Edinburgh, 2014), pages 154-5.
  • (with David Caldwell, Susy Kirk and Simon Howard) ‘Oronsay’s sculptural heritage’, History Scotland, volume 15/5 (2015), pages 25-8.
  • ‘Case Study 9: Magnetic susceptibility: a non-destructive geological technique used in provenancing carved stones’ in Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) Future Thinking on Carved Stones in Scotland (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh, 2016-17), published online at https://scarf.scot/thematic/future-thinking-on-carved-stones-in-scotland/ and https://scarf.scot/thematic/future-thinking-on-carved-stones-in-scotland/future-thinking-on-carved-stones-in-scotland-case-studies/case-study-magnetic-susceptibility/
  • (with Suzanne Miller) ‘St Vigeans sculpture: the geology’ in Jane Geddes (ed.), Hunting Picts: medieval sculpture at St Vigeans, Angus (Historic Scotland, Edinburgh, 2017), pages 57-61.
  • ‘Geology of stone used for sculpture and building’ in Martin Carver The Tarbat Discovery Programme, York, 2017, https://doi.org/10.5284/1031216 , published online at https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-2056-1/dissemination/pdf/OLA_7_STUDIES/7-5_Soils/7-5-1_Ruckley_Geology_of_Stone_used_for_sculpture_and_building.pdf
  • (with John Borland et al.) The ‘New Scone’ Cross-slab, a geological reappraisal (Privately printed, September, 2024).
  • ‘Geology’, ‘Architectural carvings and imported stone’ and ‘Roof slates’ in David Caldwell, The Archaeology of Finlaggan, Islay: excavations at the centre of the Lordship of the Isles, 1989-1998 (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh, forthcoming).


Unpublished reports

  • (with R Sutherland) Marine geological maps of Scotland, catalogue of available maps (Institute of Geological Sciences, Continental Shelf Unit II Report 74/5, 1974), pages 1-21.
  • (with J A Chesher et al.) Diving report on the geology of Rattray Bay, Aberdeenshire (Institute of Geological Sciences, Continental Shelf Northern Unit, Internal Report Series 77/2, 1977), pages 1-13.
  • (with J A Chesher et al.) Drilling with MS Ferder in northern Scottish waters, report on 2nd leg; period 26 June-18 July 1977 (Institute of Geological Sciences, Continental Shelf Northern Unit, Internal Report Series 77/9, 1977), pages 1-46.
  • (with J A Chesher et al.) Diving report on Sound of Gigha and training dives in Loch Fyne, 4-6 November, 1977 (Institute of Geological Sciences, Continental Shelf Northern Unit, Internal Report Series 77/18, 1977), pages 1-22.
  • (with C G Smith et al.) Investigation of stratified sulphide mineralisation at McPhun’s Cairn, Argyllshire (Institute of Geological Sciences, Mineral Reconnaissance Programme Report, No 13, 1977), pages 1-44.
  • (with David Evans) Catalogue of IGS maps and reports for offshore Scotland, February 1979 (Institute of Geological Sciences, Continental Shelf Northern Unit Report, No 79/1, February 1979), pages 1-38.
  • (with David Evans) Abbreviated logs of CSNU boreholes 1970-1978 (Institute of Geological Sciences, Continental Shelf Northern Unit Report, No 79/2, 1979), pages 1-65.
  • (with J A Chesher) Bathymetry survey of archaeological site, Loch Finlaggan, Islay (British Geological Survey Technical Report, WB/90/32, 1990), pages 1-17.
  • ‘The geological context’ in Kirkdale Archaeology, ‘Cape Coast Castle, an archaeological reconnaissance survey, November-December 1991’ (Unpublished report to the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM), Ghana), pages 9-16.
  • ‘Notes on the geology and water supply of Elmina Castle’ in Kirkdale Archaeology, ‘An archaeological reconnaissance survey, Elmina Castle, November-December 1991’ (Unpublished report to the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM), Ghana), section 3, pages 10-24.
  • (with R Holmes) Marine geology of the proposed electricity cable route, Southend, peninsula of Kintyre, to Glenariff, Red Bay, Northern Ireland (British Geological Survey Technical Report, WB/92/3C, 1992), pages 1-37.
  • (with David Burridge et al. of the Fortress Study Group Database Group) Holderness Pilot Study (Unpublished final report for the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME) of a survey undertaken 9-12 April 1992).
  • ‘The Geology’ in Kirkdale Archaeology, Alloa Tower: a standing building survey (Unpublished report for the National Trust for Scotland, 1995-6), referenced at https://canmore.org.uk/event/1084871 .
  • (with L J Donnelly et al.) Edinburgh Castle: Esplanade to Johnson Terrace slope stability: ground investigation report (British Geological Survey Technical Report, WN/98/5, 1998).
  • Building stones of Morton Castle (NX 890 992) (Unpublished typescript report, 17 February 2003).
  • Notes on the geology of Dunbar Castle with special reference to the cistern discovered at the Vaults, Dunbar, East Lothian (Unpublished typescript report, June 2008), pages 1-8.
  • (with Suzanne Miller, Simon Howard, Diane Mitchell and Yves Candela) The geological analysis of the recumbent stone circles of North East Scotland (Report for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), 2006-7, finalised 2009), RCAHMS, MS 6180/1-3 (https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1157772 , https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1157773 and https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1157774).
  • Notes on geological settings and individual stones for the following unpublished Pictish Arts Society field trip guides: Northern Picts, Northern Neighbours conference in Caithness (2014); Pictish Stones of South-East Perthshire (2015); Pictish Stones around Inverness (2016); Moray and beyond (2018); Angus (2019); and possibly others still to be identified.
  • (with Emily Copland) Some Ayrshire castles in a geological framework: a desktop survey (Unpublished report, October 2020), pages 1-10.
  • Geological reappraisal of the New Scone cross-slab (Unpublished report, October 2021).

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