Work commences on Fort William archaeology investigations
Local Highland Councillor Dr Michael Foxley will this Thursday (30th August, 2007) welcome a crack team of archaeology experts to the Lochaber town of Fort William as they begin the first stages of a major investigation into the area’s past.
The Fort William and Inverlochy Archaeological Project is being undertaken by an expert team of field archaeologists from the Centre of Battlefield Archaeology and Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) in liaison with The Highland Council’s Archaeology Service in the Planning and Development Service.
Over three days, Dr Pollard (co-presenter of the BBC series “Two Men in a Trench”) will be co-ordinating a geophysical survey of the remains of Fort William, which was first built in 1654; and the grassy area called the parade to attempt to locate the remains of a 17th and 18th Century settlement known as Mary Burgh.
On Thursday, Dr Pollard, Director of the internationally renowned Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow and Dr Iain Banks, Director of GUARD - Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division, and Dorothy Maxwell, Highland Council’s Project Asset & Archaeology Manager will commence a geophysical survey, which will last until Saturday 1st September. The results of the geophysical survey will help the project team to identify the exact locations for the following trial excavations.
Following completion of the geophysical survey and analysis of data the team will be looking for local volunteers, especially metal detectorists to assist further with the investigations during the second two weeks of September from the 10th to the 21st. Anyone who is interested should contact, Dr Tony Pollard on tel: 0141 330 5541 or e.mail: t.pollard@archaeology.gla.ac.uk .
Local Councillor Dr Michael Foxley has worked with Tony Pollard and Council Ward Manager Dot Ferguson and Dorothy Maxwell Highland Council’s Project Asset & Archaeology Manager for over two years to bring this project to fruition. Councillor Foxley said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Fort William and the Highlands to have an international battlefield expert lead this work which will involve local school pupils and local volunteers helping them and the local community to discover more about our own history.
“I see this as the start of having Tony and his team involved with many other battle sites in Lochaber and throughout the Highlands. My intention is that he will present his findings at a public meeting during Highland Archaeology Fortnight and the MOD fringe at Fort William. We strongly support and welcome them into our community.”
The Fort William and Inverlochy Archaeological Project is being funded by The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service, the Council’s Lochaber Ward discretionary budget; Highland 2007 and the Heritage Lottery Fund. On completion of the project interpretation leaflets summarising the findings of the survey will be published through Heritage Lottery Funding.