Participants in successful virtual Archaeology Festival are thanked

Monday night (12 October) marked the end of this year’s first virtual Highland Archaeology Festival. A series of 12 online evening talks were organised by The Highland Council’s Historic Environment Team, celebrating recent archaeological discoveries and the heritage of the Highlands. 

The Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Trish Robertson has expressed her gratitude to all the event organisers and to everyone who took part.  

She said: “Ordinarily we would have had 2 weeks of events and hosted over 160 delegates for 2 days at the Highland Council Chamber for the annual conference. For many people interested in Highland’s history and heritage or that work in the sector, the Archaeology Festival is the highlight of the year and the only opportunity to hear about the work of others, to exchange ideas and network. Despite the current restrictions we were determined to hold the festival in 2020.” 

Over 1,600 people booked onto the online talks, not just from the Highlands or Scotland more widely, but from across the world, including from Australia, USA, Europe, England, Wales and Ireland. 

She added: “This year the rich heritage of the Highlands has been promoted to a wider audience than would normally have been possible. Those that attended praised the Council for going the extra mile in these difficult times with many urging us to continue with virtual talks next year, even if restrictions are relaxed. I think our Historic Environment team did a terrific job in adapting how the conference was delivered and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who took part.”

 ENDS