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The BMT Archaeology Group was gradually established as a
sub group within the Biggar Museums as a consequence of some museum volunteers
becoming involved in archaeology. The Group has been extremely active since
1981. At that time the Trust had a small collection of mostly poorly provenanced artefacts, but had no archaeological
displays or even a remit for collecting such material. Locally found items
were generally acquisitioned by museums in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
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When the Moat Park Heritage
Centre was opened in 1988 much of the ground floor was given over to
archaeological displays, by which time the local group had completed a
number of projects of local and national importance. Collections from these
and other projects have since been gathering at a significant annual rate.
The material is mostly pre-historic but large assemblages have been
retrieved from the Clydesdale Bastle Project. Other objects are now
acquisitioned via the Treasure Trove Panel and the Small Finds Disposal
Panel.
The voluntary group are active entirely under the aegis
of Biggar Museum Trust. They sustain their activities through fund raising
and grants from other organisations, while using the facilities of Biggar
Museums.
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The project work of the group
has provided important new evidence of the past material culture of Scotland, and in particular, the area of the
Upper Clyde and Tweed valleys.
Membership is informal and
free and is open to anyone who wishes to participate in voluntary
archaeology. The fieldwork is mostly carried out at weekends with museum
work taking place in the evenings.
The group occasionally work
in association with other archaeological societies, museums and
organisations.
There is no committee structure within the Group. The
leader of the group, who reports to the Trust on all activities, undertakes
principal decisions. The Group is responsible for its own publicity,
volunteers, resources, fund-raising and bank account. Expenditure in excess
of £1000 has to be agreed by the Trust and annual accounts are required to
be audited.
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Purpose of the Group
The purpose is to maintain a
watching brief on the landscape of Upper Clydesdale and Upper
Tweeddale and to participate and mediate in any issues
pertaining to the recording, preservation and management of the sites,
monuments and artefacts.
To promote and engender an
interest in the past by offering opportunities to practise most aspects of
archaeology, provide displays of objects and interpretations, provide
information through publications, lectures, events and the media.
To liase with other
archaeologists, groups and organisations, to share information and to seek
help and advice.
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To operate a Young Archaeologists Club.
To organise field excursions.
To engage in survey, excavation and fieldwork programmes.
To secure objects disposed by the Treasure Trove and Small Finds Disposal Panels.
To raise funds in support of the aims and objectives.
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To maintain a local sites and monuments record and to
provide heritage trails.
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Display panel at Lyne Cemetery
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To curate and develop the archaeological collections and
exhibits in Biggar Museums.
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Bastle House display at Biggar
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To provide educational and leisure facilities, and
opportunities to the local and wider communities.
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Glenochar Bastle Schools Project
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Young Archaeologist's cartoon
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Our People
During the past twenty-five years many people have
helped out on our various projects. Some came for a day and found that
archaeology was not for them; others have remained constant for many years.
The original trio have stuck with it through thick and thin. People, young
and not so young, from all walks of life have been involved in our
activities.
Their personal dedication and commitment to
understanding and preserving the past has been fundamental to our success.
They have not been 'fair weather' archaeologists, rather having suffered
some appalling rigours of weather conditions - and unreasonable requests by
their leader!
We have and still do benefit greatly from a number of
professional archaeologists from Universities, Institutions, Museums and
Societies throughout Scotland.
Their help, advice and encouragement have been necessary in allowing us to
continue with our activities and in our efforts to enhance the quality of
our work.
All are recorded in site acknowledgements and in our
extensive photograph and video archive.
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