NOSAS NEWS - January 2006

As I write this the snow is driving horizontally passed my window! - hardly the weather for being outside, but yet, this being the season for low vegetation, we will hopefully be making the journey to the West Coast next weekend, to investigate the remains of the Fishing Stations on the Dry Island and Eilean Horrisdale at Badachro, near Gairloch. At this time of year these types of trip are very weather dependent and arranged very much at the last minute. If you are interested in joining us please make your feelings known to any committee member.
The Christmas dinner in early December was enjoyed by 19 members. It was a good occasion to bring everyone together and have a recap of the years achievements. Maybe this will become an annual event? - Meryl Marshall, 10 Riverford Crescent, Conon Bridge, Ross-shire, IV7 8HL, tel 01349 861824 or email Meryl.Marshall@tesco.net
Stop Press - Eilean Horrisdale was postponed because of the weather after all! However not to be daunted, 4 intrepid members sought out a previously unrecorded motte at Foulis Castle and were fortunate enough to be given a guided tour around the Castle in the afternoon!

Welcome to new members:-
Gordon Sleight - Elderbank, Stoer, Lochinver, By Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4JE. Tel. - 01522 855207
Email - gordon@sleight.freeserve.co.uk
Mary Peteranna - Craigview, Craigton, North Kessock, Inverness IV1 3YG. Tel - 01463 731019
Email - ampeteranna@aol.com
Sheena Coyne - Upstairs Flat, 24 Douglas Row, Inverness, IV1 1RE. Tel. - 01463 235512

Subscription reminder - Members are reminded that subscriptions are now due - £12.50 single, £20 double . Please send to Allan Mackenzie, at Braeval, Brae of Kinkell, Conon Bridge, Ross-shire, IV7 8HZ

NOSAS Annual General Meeting - Was held on October 15th, in the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Inverness. About 25 members attended. Jim M resigned and John Wombell was elected as chairperson. Hazel Anderson resigned as a member of committee and Barbara Hiddleston was elected in her place. All other members of committee continued.

NOSAS weekend at Wag of Forse, Latheron, Caithness - 11th/12th March
organised by Emma Sanderson and Meg Sinclair. An event filled weekend starting at Dunbeath Heritage Centre, 9.45am on the Saturday, where we will view the temporary display on the Wag of Forse, including the bronze sword. This will then be followed by a guided walk around the archaeological landscape of Wag of Forse, where there is just about everything from burnt mounds, through wags and brochs to doo'cots. There will be a talk on Saturday evening by Nan Bethune entitled "Placenames of Caithness" and then on Sunday we will be plane tabling some of the previously unrecorded sites in this fascinating landscape.
We will be based at the Portland Arms Hotel at Lybster, which is offering a special rate for b&b. Book directly with them, 01593 731269, mentioning that you are part of the NOSAS group. There are other b&bs in the area. Please also let Emma know if you intend to attend, or contact her if you wish more information - 01593 731269(daytime), 07855875619(mobile) or email -
email@caithnessarchaeology.org.uk

"Aspiring" to the Sites and Monuments Record
As many will be aware Andrew Puls of the HC Archaeology Unit is redesigning the Sites and Monuments Record (It will become an HER - Historic Environment Record). A large part of the remit is the development of a new site recording system in conjunction with the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments, Scotland (RCAHMS), the intention being that all appropriate parties should adopt this new system. The new system is called ASPIRE (Archaeological Standard Protocol for the Integrated Reporting of Events!). Andy will be giving training in the use of it to NOSAS members on Monday afternoon, 6th March, 1.00pm to 4.00pm at Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness. Please contact me if you are interested in coming. It would be good to get as many people as possible, this is very relevant to us and the projects that we do.

NOSAS goes into publishing! I am pleased to say that the Glen Feshie book is now available and is receiving a good reception! It has not yet been publicised and will be distributed to outlets in the near future. It is available from me at a cost of £8 (post and packing free to members, £1 extra for non-members). Cheques to be made out to "NOSAS Publications" A formal press release and launch is to be held in early March in conjunction with the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie. The following is an extract from the preview by Prof. Chris Smout: "Glen Feshie is one of the most beautiful places in the Cairngorm National Park, iconic for its ancient pine forests, towering mountains and sparkling waterfalls, famous for its black grouse, crossbills and deer. Wild though it is, however, like everywhere in the Highlands, it is steeped in history: it is the interaction between nature and people that makes it so interesting.

This excellent short book tells it all, from the old shieling systems and the deserted farmtouns high in the glen once growing grain (it seems incredible now), to the days of the nineteenth century deer stalkers. Particularly fascinating are the high jinks of the Duchess of Bedford, holding parties in her "huts" with her friend Sir Edwin Landseer and other guests, playing at turning their backs on civilisation. It is all a far cry from the usual idea of Victorians as prim and proper.
There are lots of illustrations - maps, archaeological drawings, photographs, paintings, some contrasting what Landseer saw with the same scene today. Finally, there is a suggestion for a short walk and a long walk, with plenty to see on the way. What a useful book!""

The book is written by myself and I am very grateful to NOSAS members for the help and encouragement they have given me in the task. We have received help with the publishing of the book in the form of a grant from the Cairngorm National Park Authority and Leader +, and our sincere thanks go to them too.

"Skills Building for the Future"
A variety of training courses have been specially developed for museums and local heritage organisations in the Highlands and Islands. They are free to attend and all reasonable travel and subsistence costs incurred by participants will be refunded. For more information or bookings contact Hazel Anderson, Helen or Gayle, on 01463 718505 or 01463 715225, email: haw@rowan-tree-scotland.co.uk, booking forms can be found online at www.heritage-skills.co.uk. A wide range of courses have been arranged, at a variety of locations:
At INVERNESS Museum, 29TH Jan 2006 - "Introduction to Conservation", 9.00am - 12.30pm, and "Introduction to Museum Documentation" from 1.00pm -5.00pm, , both with ESTELLE QUICK.
At INVERGORDON Museum, 16TH Feb 2006 - "Interpretive planning for the 21st Century Museum or Heritage site" from 10.30am - 4.30pm, with Verity Walker
KINGUSSIE, 18TH Feb 2006 - "Exploring Local History" from 10.00am -4.00pm, with Norman Newton
Mackays Hotel, WICK, 21ST Feb 2006 - "Working with schools and young people" from 10.00am - 4.00pm with Patricia Weeks
In HELMSDALE/BRORA 23rd FEB 2006 - "Attracting new Audiences: Managing an Education Outreach Project", 10am - 4.00pm with Verity Walker
In THURSO Town Hall, 25TH Feb 2006 - "Caring for your collections 1 - An Introduction" 10.00am - 4.30pm with Wilma Bouwmeester
PORTREE, 11TH Mar 2006 - "Exploring Local History" 10.00 am - 4.00pm with Norman Newton

Future events:
Lakenbuie Excavation - 20th May to 3rd June
Ronnie Scott is continuing his investigations of this interesting, bronze age, ring-cairn site about 2 miles south of Nairn, at GR NH 907523. He would welcome help. Please contact Ronnie at ronnie.scott878@btinternet.com or ring 01667 493375

We have received funding for a further 2 years work on the Loch Hourn project, subject to the usual conditions. This years week will take place in early May

Glen Feshie Excavation - 15th - 20th July. We will be continuing where we left off in Sept, 2004, extending the project to include excavation of the 2 nearby sheilings, in an attempt to discover more about the site and perhaps find dating evidence. I am in process of compiling a project design and have booked Milehouse, which we will be using as a base again. I am also applying for a grant. Please contact me if interested in helping. MM