Eddleston Parish Survey
Project outline
1. Introduction
Since its formation in 1994, Peeblesshire Archaeological Society (hereafter, PAS) has undertaken an active programme of archaeological fieldwork, initially under the leadership of Tam Ward, Biggar Museum Trust. To date, the main project has been a survey of the Manor Valley, to the west of Peebles (see note 1). That project culminated in the publication of a popular booklet (2) describing the archaeology of the valley and published with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Russell Trust. Having completed our work in Manor, the Society's field research group has now turned its attention to Eddleston parish.
2. Eddleston: proposed survey area
The parish is approximately 15 km N-S by 8 km E-W, and is divided into two roughly equal parts by the Eddleston Water, which rises in the extreme N of the parish and flows through it before continuing S to Peebles where it joins the Tweed. To E and W respectively, the parish is bounded by the Moorfoots and the Cloich Hills. The economic base is still principally based on sheep-and cattle-farming, and, in terms of current land-use, most of the area is given over to pasture ranging in quality depending on altitude and land management. Considerable areas have been afforested (particularly Cloich). It is worth noting that sizeable blocks of land have been identified as having potential for planting, should the forestry sector expand (3). Extensive sand and gravel quarrying has been carried out in the past and continues on a much reduced scale. All these have or have had a significant bearing on the survival of archaeological remains and their potential for detection.
3. Methodology
Approaches to field survey have altered significantly since the publication of the RCAHMS Peeblesshire inventory in 1967 (4). In particular, greater emphasis would now be placed on the recording of the landscape as a whole, rather than focussing on unitary monuments. Changing patterns of land-use and their effects on the survival of the archaeology have now to be brought into the overall reckoning. In addition, classes of monument that either did not merit survey or were not then recognised, have also to be taken into account.
The group proposes to undertake a comprehensive walkover survey (extending the area beyond the administrative boundary where appropriate). Preliminary reconnaissance during 2000 revealed that while the lower flanks of the valley have been heavily improved, a range of previously unrecorded archaeological features survive on the higher ground. As the project develops, detailed surveys will be undertaken as and when required. When fieldwork is restricted (e.g. during lambing), there is scope for the recording of standing buildings, graveyards (5) etc. It is also clear from published sources and from our own initial reconnaissance, that the improved ground may well prove amenable to field-walking. For example, inspection of rough pasture at Shiplaw, at the very start of our initial reconnaissance, revealed a diffuse lithic scatter including Mesolithic material. This site was subsequently investigated by Graeme Warren, Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, with assistance from members of the society. The interim results of test-pitting suggest that we have located a short-stay hunter/gatherer campsite (6). Archival and museum-based research is also under way, and this too promises to yield useful results, while we also wish to complement the fieldwork with specialist research on the historical documentary sources. Finally, a sites and monuments record will be created for the survey area, and on completion, copies will be lodged with Scottish Borders Council, NMRS & Tweeddale Museum.
4. Outreach
In the year 2000, PAS was awarded grant-aid by the Heritage Lottery Fund (Awards for All Programme) and the Russell Trust to develop an archaeological outreach programme in Tweeddale. An important element of the Eddleston survey will be promotion of links with the local community, particularly through the involvement of the Primary School, liaison with landowners, farmers, and groups such as the SWRI, Community Council etc.
5. Time scale
Our projected time scale for completion of the project is now 5 years from the postponed starting date of January 2002 (7).
6. Outcomes
In addition to the information to be lodged in NMRS and regional archives, the principal products of the survey will include:
- popular publications (e.g. booklet; interpretative leaflets)
- exhibitions (in conjunction with Tweeddale Museum)
- public presentations
- survey report.
Notes
- Interim reports have been submitted to National Monuments Record of Scotland; for progress reports see Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1995, 10; 1998, 81; 1999,77. The final technical report is being prepared by Tam Ward.
- Cowie, T (ed) '… a winsome grace peculiarly its own': an Introduction to the Archaeology of the Manor Valley. Peeblesshire Archaeological Society 2000.
- Borders Regional Council The Scottish Borders 2001 The Way Forward (= Borders Region Structure Plan 1991).
- RCAHMS Peeblesshire: an Inventory of the Ancient Monuments, 2 volumes, HMSO Edinburgh.
- PAST, November 2001, 1-2 [= Peeblesshire Archaeological Society's quarterly newsletter]
- Warren, G Shiplaw 2000 Interim Report. Unpublished interim report, University of Edinburgh.
- Work originally commenced in January 2001 but was brought to a halt by the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
Project Team
The fieldwork (see Project Outline) is principally being carried out by the members of the society's field research group, co-ordinated by Mr Bob Knox, Secretary, and under the general supervision of Trevor Cowie, Chairman.
Professional expertise will be available as follows:
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