International Thing Project Local Day Conference.
The International Thing Partnership Project supported by the EU Northern Periphery Programme has now been ongoing for three years. The Highland Council, in particular the Dingwall and Seaforth Ward, has been an active Project Partner along with Thingvellir in Iceland, Gulen in Norway, Faroes Islands, Shetland, Orkney, and the Isle of Man as an Associate Partner. The three-year Project, having achieved its aims and objectives, reaches its conclusion this year.
On Thursday 13 September a day conference will be held in Dingwall. The purpose of the conference is to present an awareness of the outcomes of the THING International Project to an audience of representatives from local heritage groups and organisations, local councillors - Highland elected members, community councillors - and local businesses and organisations particularly those active in the tourism industry. The outcomes of the International Thing Conference include a well constructed and informative website, a book in which each of the historic thingsites of the Partnership feature, including Dingwall, production of educational and touristic materials, common standards for management, conservation and archaeological investigation of thingsites.
The day conference will receive a number of presentations, particularly from representatives from three of the Project Partners, Shetland, Orkney and Dingwall Highland. Eileen Brooke-Freeman from the Shetland Place-names Project will present an overview of the Thing Project and introduce the Thingsites website; Julie Gibson, UHI lecturer, Orkney Islands County Archaeologist and Heritage Tourism Officer, will present a review of the impact of the Thing Project on Orkney and its heritage tourism; David MacDonald of the Dingwall History Society will report on historical investigation of the Dingwall thingsite and wider aspects of the Viking impact on Ross; Dr Oliver O’Grady, the leading authority on Scottish medieval assembly sites, will speak on archaeological investigations at the Dingwall thing mound and wider aspects of Scottish assembly sites.
Councillor Margaret Paterson on behalf of her fellow Dingwall and Seaforth Councillors said “we are all really excited about hosting the Conference and welcoming speakers from Shetland, Orkney and of course our own Dingwall History Society. This opportunity is important to us as it is the first stage of a journey to promote Dingwall’s Viking heritage”.
Investigative Archaeological Excavation.
Dingwall History Society proposes to commission the undertaking of an archaeological excavation by means of opening an investigative trench at the Cromartie Car Park in Dingwall. This is planned to take place during the week beginning 10 September 2012. The excavation will aim to investigate the site of Dingwall’s ancient Viking Thing. The excavation is informed by recent historical research by David and Sandra MacDonald of the Dingwall History Society and will use the results of radar survey undertaken at the car-park in 2011 to accurately locate the investigative trench.
Permission and support for the project has been obtained from The Highland Council which manages the Car Park. The fieldwork will be largely undertaken by hand and completed under professional archaeological supervision provided by Dr Oliver JT O’Grady, an archaeological consultant and leading specialist on Scottish medieval assembly sites, who will be supported by a contracted machine excavator to open the trench.
The project has been supported by grants from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Hunter Archaeological Trust, Russell Trust, Strathmartine Trust and the Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Members’ Discretionary Budget.
Aims:
• To confirm the Viking origins of the Dingwall Thing mound.
• To enhance public interest and knowledge about Dingwall’s heritage.
• To inform interpretation and management of the Thing site.
Objectives:
• Excavate a trial trench over the site of the historic Thing mound.
• Provide guided public tours of the excavation, an information board and press release.
• Produce a non-technical report about the excavation results.
Benefit:
• The project will be of benefit to the wider Dingwall community and surrounding area.
• Local school pupils, in contribution to local awareness of the International Thing Project, will also learn about the excavations and archaeology.
• The results will benefit wider knowledge about Viking Thing sites.
The project will promote community knowledge and understanding of Dingwall’s history and the town’s importance in wider European history and offers educational opportunities which will be open to all community groups to learn about the past, in particular young people and school pupils.
Anyone wanting further details should contact David and Sandra MacDonald Dingwall History Society on 01349 863063 dmacdon42@aol.com