{"id":3127,"date":"2025-09-02T15:40:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T14:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk\/heritage-resources-portal\/?p=3127"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T11:24:16","slug":"attainment-through-archaeology-with-stirling-young-carers-at-bannockburn-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk\/heritage-resources-portal\/2025\/09\/02\/attainment-through-archaeology-with-stirling-young-carers-at-bannockburn-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Attainment through Archaeology with Stirling Young Carers at Bannockburn House\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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During a very warm, humid week in July 2025, 18 young people from Stirling Young Carers participated in an intergenerational 10-workshop Attainment through Archaeology project at Bannockburn House with Stirling Field and Archaeological Society.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young people explored and investigated this local heritage site alongside members from the local archaeology society. They gained hands-on archaeology experience, improving their understanding of the past, developing new skills and increasing their confidence before sharing their learning with others through a dramatic presentation, site tours and the creation of a comic. The young people earned Bronze Heritage Hero Awards for their valued and unique contributions to this project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim of the project was to build and support intergenerational community connection and collaboration by working with the young people and the local archaeology society together, in partnership, learning together. Groups involved in this project:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stirling Young Carers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stirling Young Carers service supports carers aged between 7 and 17. They offer support and guidance, and organise activities and trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stirling Field and Archaeological Society<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society have been undertaking archaeological excavations across Bannockburn House\u2019s grounds, involving the local community. We worked with them to excavate and record an area in the beautiful grounds. The Society aims to inform and educate its members and the wider public in environmental subjects affecting the Stirling area, relating to natural history, local history and archaeology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bannockburn House Trust<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main aim of Bannockburn House Trust is to safeguard the property, its grounds, architecture and history for future generations. You can find out more about their research, work, Master Plan and how to get involved by visiting their website, or following them on social media. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to Archaeology<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Map: Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. Stirlingshire, XVII.3 (Stirling) Survey date: 1858 to 1860, Publication date: ca. 1863, NLS Maps <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The young people had a hands-on introduction to how archaeologists find out about the people who lived in the past, by playing a ‘rubbish game’ and handling real artefacts and replicas. We discussed their materials, what they could have been used for and how old they might be. <\/strong>The group had their first glimpse of the site from above, using aerial photos and historic maps to locate places they knew nearby, before focusing in on Bannockburn House, its outbuildings, ground and gardens, looking for signs of change over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring Bannockburn House<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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After getting to grips with how an archaeologist finds out about the past, the group had a brilliant tour of Bannockburn House, and a closer look at some of the artefacts that have been found at the site, including 19th century pottery and what might be the oldest lemon in Scotland! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The engaging house history tour by Cat from Bannockburn House Trust brought the past owners of the house to life and captured the imagination of the group. They asked questions, shared local knowledge and were also given a comic about the history of the site, to take home. We got a behind-the-scenes view of the work being done to preserve and repair the historic building and its features. Since 2017, Bannockburn House Trust have been working hard to safeguard the property and its grounds for future generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the archaeology<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo from Bannockburn House Trust Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Comparing pieces of Medieval pottery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Stirling Field and Archaeological Society (SFAS) welcomed us to their excavation and shared more of the coal mining history of the grounds. They explained how they investigate the area using maps, historical records and excavation. SFAS pointed out features in their dig site, including a coal mine shaft, road, trench and drainage pipe. They explained how archaeologists carefully remove layers of soil called \u2018contexts\u2019, and how the finds from each context tells us about what was happening here in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group got to hold some of the finds from the site, including coal and pottery. One young person recognised the pottery SFAS had found and compared it with one of the artefacts they remembered from our very first handling session. Their pottery identification skills were correct, it was a piece of Medieval Green Glaze Ware. SFAS gave the group a great taste of what they would be doing, and what they might find. They explained how our project would contribute to the overall site excavation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our excavation <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Stirling Field and Archaeological Society tasked the group with investigating a new area – a Victorian Water Garden and Rockery, named \u2018Clementina\u2019s Garden\u2019. The young people were trained to use the tools correctly and made aware of all the hazards on an archaeological excavation before starting to dig. We carefully used trowels to excavate and uncover the feature and finds. We gently washed some of the finds and recorded what \u2018context\u2019 they came from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As well as uncovering finds, we recorded the \u2018contexts\u2019 (different layers of soil) these were found in, completing \u2018context sheets\u2019. It is important to record contexts to provide a bigger picture of what was happening in the area, and when. We measured depths of specific features, and took recording photographs and made 3D models using photogrammetry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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