Week 1: Two Sides of Archaeology

Katelyn Scott (MAFS 2026; Student at the University of Tennesse, Knoxville)

Most non-archaeologists have little to no idea what goes into the process of excavation. Even I did not, (mostly) as a third year archaeology student. Digging is obviously involved in most, if not all situations. How it looks, however, is entirely unique to each site.

At Lindores Abbey, we have sectioned out four areas called trenches as pictured on the left. In these trenches we will use archaeological trowels to work away soil and reveal any finds. We have gorgeous architectural ruins to work off of, and we are looking for anything that can tell us more about the daily lives of the monks who called the abbey home. Anything from wall structures to clay pipes can provide valuable knowledge to our research.

Since Lindores is a 12th-century structure, we have to learn from what little existing record we have, and use other well known sites to connect the dots. However, every abbey is different, which is exactly the reason we are excavating Lindores.

A large aspect of archaeology is heritage. At sites like Lindores, because monks usually do not have any direct descendants, and written records are scarce, heritage usually presents as an admiration of the structure and the devotion that occurred inside of it. With the establishment of a distillery by the same name meters away, this heritage has expanded to those coming to the distillery and engaging in the story. By contrast, an archaeological site like Culloden Moor would give us a much different interpretation of heritage.

The Clan Stewart monument at Culloden Moor

A recent trip to Culloden Moor and battleground provided many insights into the different illustrations of archaeological work and heritage. Because the event occurred in relatively recent history, many Scots and others have a direct association with those affected by the battle of Culloden and its aftermath. Furthermore, pop culture phenomena like Stars’ Outlander extend the heritage realm to lovers of the popular TV show.

Victims of the battle of Culloden were buried in mass graves, and monuments like the Clan Stewart headstone pictured to the right were laid many years later with little to no information to provide an accurate picture. Furthermore, there is tremendous foot traffic at the site. Things like this complicate archaeological research. Digging sectioned trenches like at Lindores is difficult, and much of the evidence has been disturbed or removed from its original context. Additionally, there is much (however biased) written record of the event, so the archaeology is mostly supplementary to much of what we already know. To cap it all off, Culloden is a war memorial, therefore it has severe restrictions on excavations, especially regarding human remains. However, similarly to Lindores, sites contemporary to Culloden can provide much insight into what might have occurred there.

 The beauty of archaeology is that no two sites are exactly the same, and the stories are endless. Comparing sites like Lindores and Culloden has helped me understand the scope of archaeology and heritage, because they go hand in hand, no matter the type of site. However, if there are any advantages to a site like Lindores, it is that the unknown holds the door wide open to revelations and possibilities.