For immediate release - 26th April 2007


THE RURAL PAST OF MULL AND ISLAY IS BROUGHT TO LIGHT

A team of highly experienced archaeologists from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) will be visiting Mull and Islay next month (14th -23rd May) as part of a nationwide initiative to record Scotland's rural past.   There will be talks and exhibitions as well as training field trips for local groups to discover their own rural past. 

Since its inception last October, Scotland's Rural Past, a five year project, has already seen forty volunteers receive professional training with over forty abandoned rural settlements recorded, including previously undiscovered prehistoric carved rocks and a hut circle.    

The projects premise is to support local communities to investigate the remains of long abandoned settlements in their area that often date back hundreds of years.  It hopes to encourage members of the public to discover more about historic rural settlements, by learning valuable new techniques and skills in archaeological building surveying and recording, to rediscover a sense of place and gain a greater understanding of the changing historic landscape around them.  The survey material produced by these volunteers will become part of the national archive of the RCAHMS, housed in Edinburgh, where it will be made accessible to the general public and preserved for years to come.

On Islay, the team will give a talk to local people, in partnership with Bowmore Islay Single Malt, who will be providing the refreshments. There is a long tradition of distilling on the islands, and one of the possible projects in the pipeline for Islay is to locate and record illict whisky stills dating back to the 18th and 19th century.  The local community will hopefully gain a greater understanding of this illegal activity which was commonplace on the island at this time. The team will also visit a number of abandoned rural settlements in association with local people, and are offering a guided tour of one site for the general public.

Tertia Barnett, project manager for Scotland's Rural Past said: 
 "We are delighted to be bringing The Scotland's Rural Past project to Mull and Islay where we hope some exciting discoveries will be made and the local community will gain a greater sense of their past."
									

Scotland's Rural Past Islay and Mull event details:

* Scotland's Rural Past exhibition

   At Ionad Chaluim Chille Ěle, the Columba Centre, Islay.
   During normal centre opening hours
In partnership with Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Monday 14th - Thursday 17th May   Free.

At An Tobar, Tobermory, Mull
   During normal centre opening hours
   Free
   Saturday 19 - Thursday 24 May

* Talk and exhibition on Getting involved with Scotland's Rural Past
   Free, everyone welcome!  Refreshments provided.
    
    At Ionad Chaluim Chille Ěle, the Columba Centre, Islay.
    In partnership with Bowmore Islay Single Malt 
    Wednesday 16 May 7-9 pm  

   At Creich Hall Fionnphort, Mull
   Friday 18h May 6-9pm

At An Tobar, Tobermory, Mull
Monday 21 May 6 - 9 pm 

Craignure Hall, Mull
Tuesday 22nd May 6-9pm

* Site visit to Lurabus near Port Ellen, Islay
Thursday 17th May 10am to 1pm
Everyone welcome.   To book contact srp@rcahms.gov.uk by 10 May

* Field work training on Mull in association with Isle of Mull Museum, Mull Historical and Archaeological Society, Ross of Mull Historical Centre and Pennyghael in the Past Archive. 
Saturday 19th and Sunday -20th May
   For further information contact: srp@rcahms.gov.uk

* Site visit to a site on Mull (to be arranged)
Wednesday 23rd May 4pm-7pm
For further information contact: srp@rcahms.gov.uk

									Cont'd...

   Notes to editors:

1. Scotland's Rural Past is a nationwide project launched and supported by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. 

2. The project was developed through the work of the Historic Rural Settlement Trust which recognised the need to improve our understanding of rural sites and encourage their conservation by involving local people.

3. Scotland's Rural Past will run for five years, finishing in September 2011.

4. Tertia Barnett, project manager, and other members of the team are available for interview.  

5. Members of the press are welcome to attend the talks, exhibition and training field trips.  To make arrangements please contact Colman Getty Scotland Consultancy.  Tel: 0131 558 8851.

6. Logos and images are available from Colman Getty Scotland Consultancy. 
          Tel: 0131 558 8851.  



For further information please contact:
 Rebecca Salt or Nicky Stonehill at Colman Getty Scotland Consultancy  
Tel: 0131 558 8851.  email: Rebecca@colmangetty.co.uk


/end/
Colman Getty
April 2007