We had a lovely night at the An Lochran centre in Partick, Glasgow, exploring the results from our recent excavations in Glencoe and how Gaelic – through placenames, storytelling and song – can contribute to our understandings of these landscapes and help us tell new stories!
The session began with an introduction to Glencoe’s archaeology and the placenames of the Glen.
We then ran three storytelling sessions featuring the Glencoe Hoard, a short film about water horses (each-uisge) and water bulls (Tarbh Uisge), and a tale of ‘big archie‘ (Gilleasbuig Mòr MacPhàil) a local character in 17th c Glencoe recorded in the Dewar Manuscripts. Between these we were lucky to be joined by Gaelic singer, Eilidh Chandler, who led us in local songs including ‘Bothan Àirigh am Bràigh Raithneach‘.
We ended the session with an opportunity to artefacts from our excavations including coins from the hoard, pottery from Scotland, France and Germany, spindle whorls, a knife handle, a comb and a dress pin.
Thanks to Moira Piazzoli of An Lochran for inviting us to deliver this session and supporting the workshop, Eilidh Chandler for their wonderful singing, and to all those who turned out (missing a pub quiz at the Park Bar!) to attend. This workshop was delivered by Prof Michael Given, Dr Lizzie Robertson and Dr Edward Stewart.
Post by Dr Edward Stewart
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