The Tarradale Through Time project is a 3-year archaeological excavation in Scotland that has uncovered evidence from the Mesolithic to modern periods. In 2017, excavation of a shell midden along the coastline dated to the Mesolithic period around 6000 years ago. Radiocarbon dating of artifacts found at three excavation sites, including antler tools, animal bones, and charcoal, provided dates from the Neolithic period. The project aims to educate the local community about heritage through an outreach program and social media. Continued funding is needed for further excavation and laboratory analysis.

1. EXCAVATION OF TARRADALE
Alternative Public Archaeology Project
Zachary N. Brown

2. INTRODUCTION
• The Tarradale Through Time Project is located on the Tarradale Plane of
Black Isle, near the Muir of Ord in the Highlands of Scotland.
• 3-Year archaeological project that began in 2017 to discover more about
Scotland’s history and heritage.
• Excavation has uncovered evidence from the Mesolithic, Neolithic,
Bronze Age, Medieval Age and up through the Modern Age.
• There are currently a total of six archaeological sub-projects.
• We will focus on the primary project of 2017, the Shell Midden
discovered along the coastline of the Beauly Firth on Black Isle.

3. TARRADALE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEAM
• Dr. Eric Grant, Chair and Lead Archaeologist of the Tarradale Through
Time project.
• Anne Coombs is the Vice Chair along with Tim Blackie, Jonie Guest, and
John Wombell.
• Roland Spencer-Jones, Chair of the North of Scotland Archaeological
Society (NOSAS), is the supporter of Anne Coombs’s team.
• The Future 2019 excavations of Barrow Cemetery will be directed by
Steve Birch of West Coast Archaeological Services (WCAS).
• Lachlan McKeggie, Outreach Coordinator.
• James McComas, Information Technology. Runs all social media
platforms.
• Alex Gallacher, Administration.

4. METHOD AND THEORY
MESOLITHIC SHELL MIDDEN
(PRE-EXCAVATION)
• Excavations were conducted in the Summer of 2017.
• An old raised beach about 9 meters above the coastline, originally was
avoided due to limitations of archaeological machines. The shoreline
appears more inland, possibly due to isostatic rebound after the last Ice
Age.
• A Shell Midden is a area of discarded shell fish that would have been
eaten by hunter-gatherers.
• Occupation of the Tarradale Plane was estimated to be during the
Mesolithic period, around 6000 years ago (Grant, 2018a). However,
radiocarbon dating has provided a more accurate means of determining
what time periods the plane may have been occupied.

5. METHOD AND THEORY
MESOLITHIC SHELL MIDDEN
(EXCAVATION AND ANALYSIS)
• The Tarradale Plane was first surveyed by aerial drone with a camera.
• Area was separated into three primary sites: 2B, 1C, and 2A.
• Volunteers ploughed the top soil to reveal the Midden.
• The “Shovel Testing” technique was utilized. According to UMUC (n.d.-b),
This technique involves using a grid system; while small test pits and
trenches are dug in intervals using shovels to reveal artifacts.
• Wet-Sieving was utilized to record smaller discoveries such as charcoal and
fish bones.
• Upon discovery, artifact location was recorded on the grid and then taken
for laboratory analysis to be measured and dated.
Fig. 1 Location of Primary Sites. Source: Tarradale Through
Time Blog. Photo by Eric Grant (2018a). Retrieved from
http://www.tarradalethroughtime.co.uk/blog.asp?blogid=
14661

6. METHOD AND THEORY
MESOLITHIC SHELL MIDDEN
(DATING TECHNIQUES)
• Radiocarbon Dating is an absolute dating method involving the measure
of decay of the unstable radioactive isotope Carbon-14 into Carbon-13
(UMUC, n.d.-a). The range of accuracy for this method is between 500
and 70,000 BP.
• Radiocarbon Dating has been utilized on the wood charcoal and bone at
the Tarradale sites. Antler remains have also been found, but the team
did not date them as there is a requirement of partial destruction. The
antler T-bones are a rare find as only three have been discovered in
Scotland so far.

7. PUBLIC OUTREACH
• Many artifacts were found among three primary excavation sites.
Discoveries include antler T-axes, cow and pig bones, charcoal, and a
possible harpoon.
• The Tarradale Through Time archaeological project website has many
pictures of the various artifacts found including the size, description,
and location the artifact was found.
• A Tarradale Through Time display was set up at the Inverness Library in
Scotland explaining each season of excavation. Artifacts found were
given a description along with a visual. Each discovery is associated
with a specific site, indicated by a designator (2B, 1C, 2A).

8. EXCAVATION SITE (2B AND 1C)
• Site 2B is the Main Excavation site where the antler T-bones and a harpoon
were found along with:
NW Quadrant – Animal Long Bone (4832 – 4619 cal BC)
W Quadrant – Cow Phalanx (4038 – 3805 cal BC), Charcoal [apple, pear,
hawthorn, quince, rowan] (3981 – 3805 cal BC)
SW Quadrant – Cow Humerous (3766 – 3643 cal BC)
SE Quadrant – Charcoal [elm] (4231 – 3996 cal BC)
• Site 1C is about 60 meters east of site 2B on the same terrace.
Between sites 2A and 2B - Pig Animal Bone (3710 – 3543 cal BC)
• According to Grant (2018a), Antler bone is hard but resilient, and can be a
good material for a tool such as an axe for chopping. The archaeologists are
still unsure what they were exactly used for, but possibly may have been
used for cutting large pieces of meat.
Fig. 2 Antler T-Bone. Source: Tarradale Through Time Blog.
Photo by Eric Grant (2018b). Retrieved from
http://www.tarradalethroughtime.co.uk/blog.asp?blogid=145
59

9. EXCAVATION SITE (2A)
• About 1 kilometer east of site 2B and 1C, consists of two levels:
• Trench 1 and Trench 2 on Lower Terrace:
Trench 2 – Cow Animal Bone (4225 – 3961 cal BC)
Trench 1 – Charcoal [alder] (3012 – 2895 cal BC)
• Numerous Test Pits on the Upper Terrace:
Test Pit - Charcoal [birch] (4352 – 4261 cal BC)
Test Pit - Animal Bone (6071 – 5925 cal BC) Fig. 3 Antler Tine. Source: Tarradale Through Time Blog. Photo by Eric Grant
(2018a). Retrieved from
http://www.tarradalethroughtime.co.uk/blog.asp?blogid=14661

10. IMPORTANT ISSUES
• The Tarradale Through Time Archaeological project is considered
to be rewriting the pre-history of northern Scotland.
• There is a public outreach program that allows the community to
become involved in the excavations. Many local schools have
been visited to present information about the project, and
hopefully interest more students in the field of Archaeology.
• Grant (2018b) states that the main purpose of the public
outreach to the community is to allow rightful access to their
own heritage, and prove that archaeology is not only for
archaeologists. According to Chrikure and Pwiti (2008),
Communities can be ‘Cosmopolitan’ or ‘Insular;’ the latter refers
to residents that are usually connected through ancestry,
heritage, or culture. Community archaeology can establish this
link with the public in order to promote the conservation and
education about the past.
Fig. 4 Tarradale Through Time Archaeology Display. Source: Tarradale
Through Time Facebook Page. Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/tarradalethroughtime/photos/pcb.422074895
045583/422070991712640/?type=3&theater

11. IMPORTANT ISSUES (CONT)
• The primary issue that this project is facing is funding. According to
Grant (2018a), Laboratory Analysis is the greatest limiting factor and
more money is needed to continue excavating and analyzing the sites at
Tarradale.
• Academic Archaeology in general is believed to be a shrinking discipline
as time goes on. Fagan (2006) states that university funding priorities,
shrinking archaeology departments, and more private institutions
teaching the professional side result in economic limitations. Most
projects will rely on private or organizational donors.
• As stated before, the antler T-bones found are an extraordinary
discovery as only three have been found in Scotland. These types of
finds are the reason funding is important to obtain in order to explore
more of the land and attempt to find more great discoveries pertaining
to Scotland’s past.

12. CONCLUSION
• The pros outweigh the cons of this particular archaeological project.
Overall, this is a small, community-driven project that aims to simply
discover the past and educate. The public outreach via social media and
through local schools as well as the seminars are great ways to spread
archaeological knowledge and awareness.
• There is one suggestion that I would make for this project. According to
Marshall (2002), There is an opportunity with community archaeology in
that it is rare for archaeologists to share their experiences with each
other around the world. One way the Tarradale Through Time project
could be recognized better through an international archaeological
journal. One popular journal is World Archaeology, and could be a way
to gain more recognition and support.

13. REFERENCES
Chirikure, S., & Pwiti, G. (2008). Community Involvement in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Management. Current Anthropology, 49(3), 467–485.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.umuc.edu/10.1086/588496
Fagan, B. (2006). So You Want To Be An Archaeologist? Archaeology, 59(3), 59-64. JSTOR Journals.
Grant, E. (2018a). Muir of Ord's Earliest Settlers [Web blog post]. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from
http://www.tarradalethroughtime.co.uk/blog.asp?blogid=14661
Grant, E. (2018b). Exciting Discoveries in the Black Isle [Web blog post]. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from
http://www.tarradalethroughtime.co.uk/blog.asp?blogid=14559
Marshall, Y. (2002). What Is Community Archaeology? World Archaeology, 34(2), 211-219. JSTOR Journals.
Tarradale Through Time. (2019). Tarradale Through Time Archaeological Display [Facebook post]. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from
https://www.facebook.com/tarradalethroughtime/photos/pcb.422074895045583/422070991712640/?type=3&theater
University of Maryland University College. (n.d.-a). Commentary. Methods: Archaeological Dating Techniques. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/le/content/385787/viewContent/15215322/View
University of Maryland University College. (n.d.-b). Commentary. Methods: Pre-Excavation. Retrieved July 8, 2019, from
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/le/content/385787/viewContent/15215320/View