Type of AtA project: 8 x AtA taster sessions
Size of AtA group: Groups numbers ranged from 2 – 35. 106 pupils in total.
Age range of groups: 11 – 18 years
Dates of project: November 2021
Location of project: Site of Bedrule Castle, Bedrule, Scottish Borders
Heritage Hero Award: Participants achieved Heritage Explorer Awards
Aim of project:
The aim of the archaeology project was to explore a number of the features of the Bedrule Castle site through test-pitting, trial excavation and survey. Small trenches were located for the purpose of understanding the relationship and phasing of the interior building, possible terraced ground, the gatehouse and ditch and the square shaped interior building. The Learning Team worked alongside DYW Borders and secondary schools in the Scottish Borders to get pupils out on site, increasing their awareness of archaeology and the role of an archaeologist while developing skills used in archaeological excavation and recording.
Investigate the Site
Background to the site
A survey was carried out by the Ordnance Survey in the 1940s and in the subsequent report the site is described as a castle with a roughly 13th century layout, comprising of possible corner towers, curtain walls and a large square interior building (RCAHMS, 1956). The gatehouse lies in the northwest corner of the castle and, when visited in 1946, the track which led up to the castle from the Rule Water was still visible (Ibid). The notes from this survey, available on CANMORE, offer a succinct history of the castle’s owners, it begins with the castle being under the ownership of the Comyn’s in the 13th century, in which time it was visited by Edward I of England in 1298 (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot, 1984). After the death of Sir John Comyn, in the early 14th century, the castle was bestowed to Sir James of Douglas by King Robert the Bruce. It then passes into the ownership of the Turnbulls who continue in ownership through the reign of the Stewart Kings. The castle is the traditional seat of the Turnbull Clan and it was a William Roule of Bedrule who is said to have saved Robert the Bruce from a rampaging bull, hence the clan earned the name of ‘Turnbull’, according to legend (Turnbull Clan Association).
Desk based Research
Students looked at historic maps of Bedrule to locate the church and the castle and other key buildings in the village.
Archaeological Excavation
Students took part in the archaeological dig on the site of the castle, learning basic archaeological excavation techniques.
Historic Building Recording
Bedrule Church dates to 1804. It was largely rebuilt in 1877 and enlarged in 1914. Students were given some training in historic building recording and, with the support of Archaeology Scotland staff, recorded the walls of the church. They completed Elevation Recording Forms, sketching the elevation and taking photographs with scale.
Gravestone Recording
The process of gravestone recording was explained to students and the reasons for doing so, discussed. In pairs, they recorded gravestones, completing gravestone recording forms and sketching gravestones.
Feedback from Participants
50 out of 106 (47%) S1 – S6 pupils completed the feedback survey.
After the session, 90% of participants could describe to someone what an archaeologist does, compared to 48% before the session.
After the session, 78% of participants could name some of the skills used by archaeologists, compared to 4% before the session.
90% of participants said they had learnt new skills
83% said they would like to do something like this again
Learning Outcomes and Skills
By engaging with this project participants:
- gained an understanding of archaeology and how archaeologists study the human past
- learned that we can find out about the past by looking at different types of evidence, historical and archaeological
- were able to interpret different types of historical and archaeological evidence
- understand the principles of archaeological excavation, building recording and gravestone recording and why they are important
- gained the skills required to complete gravestone recording and building recording tasks.
- gained skills associated with archaeological excavation, such as troweling and basic artefact identification.
- have gained new knowledge and understanding of their local area, its history and archaeology.
Participants also developed a number of transferable workplace skills:
- Timekeeping- completing tasks on time
- Completing a task when asked
- Problem Solving – participants are able to consider and discuss why we are finding particular features and artefacts
- Good observational skills – noticing changes in features and soil types and using communication skills to discuss what these changes tell us
- An understanding of health and safety issues – site and tools/equipment
- Working individually and as a team to complete tasks