School and community groups from Arran are digging into the island’s past as part of an exciting educational arts project.
“Arran Archaeology” is a joint venture between Arran Theatre and Arts Trust, Arran Arts Resource and the National Trust for Scotland’s Countryside Rangers at Brodick Castle.
Funded through The Heritage Lottery Fund, The National Trust For Scotland and Argyll and the Islands LEADER programme the project runs until December 2012 giving lots of the island’s young people opportunities to explore the island’s cultural heritage through site visits, practical workshops and creative activities.
Arran is rich in archaeological sites with evidence of permanent human settlement dating back 5000 years.
So far three groups have taken part in the project - Brodick Primary 5,6,7 class, Shiskine Primary P4 –7 class and the Arts Outreach Group.
They have been investigating distinctive periods in Arran’s history, starting with site visits for a day of archaeological exploration.
During our visit to Brodick Castle we gathered evidence about the castle’s history from the building, from objects we examined and from information passed on by experts. We took part in a dig, discovered remnants of ancient buildings and learned how the castle has changed over the centuries.
We worked with experts – archaeologists, historians, rangers and artists, learning the skills of archaeology – examining the evidence through observation, recording and documenting our findings.
We took part in an archaeological dig with some surprising results!
We had a wet and chilly fieldtrip to visit the standing stones, burial mounds and hut circles of the Machrie Moor area, in the company of an island-based archaeologist and a National Trust For Scotland Countryside Ranger, where, despite the weather, we learned a lot about our Neolithic ancestors. We gathered information, took measurements and examined artefacts to help us build a picture of the landscape from 5000 years ago.
The groups then followed these visits up with a series of arts workshops, which provided opportunities to delve deeper into the life and times of people from our past.
Our investigations on our site visit helped us in our school sessions where we explored the life and times of Brodick Castle, imagining what it would have been like to live and work there in days gone by.
In the 1300s the castle used to be a garrison for soldiers. We acted out short scenes showing the soldiers on guard duty, under attack and after a fight with the enemy. We used mime and movement skills to show actions and express feelings. We thought how sometimes being a soldier would be exciting but sometimes it would be boring and you might be cold and hungry.
During the 19th century Brodick Castle began to change into the building we know today. As a country house the castle would have had a staff of servants. We used photos and documents to find out about the life of Victorian servants. In our drama we built up servant characters and acted out “A Day In The Life” to show what being a servant would have been like.
We also looked at the construction of the castle and how it changed over 800 years. In particular we investigated the materials used – where they came from and how they were used.
These photomontage designs are a record of what we discovered and demonstrate the new digital skills we learned in presenting ideas and information.
In our art workshops we looked at the period of the Cromwell occupation. We made an image of the castle during that time using painting and collaging techniques. We looked at the dress and weapons of both the English and Scottish soldiers. We examined the patterns on seventeenth century defence shields called targes and made our own using paper and paint. Lastly we looked at heraldry and the meaning of the symbols used and using some of these symbols created our own coat of arms.
Our visit to the Machrie Standing Stones and Hut Circles gave us lots of questions about the landscape of the moor and the people who lived there 4 -5000 years ago.
In our school sessions we used what facts we had and our imaginations to help us explore their lives.
We created drama improvisations about everyday tasks like collecting firewood, fishing, gathering berries and hunting. We wondered what the Standing Stones were used for. We thought they might have been used at special times in the year like midsummer, and we made up ceremonies and dances that could have been performed to mark these times.
We explored Neolithic Culture through different digital media in the classroom. By combining photographs from the fieldtrip and other photographs of artefacts that were lent to us by Arran Heritage Museum, we created images in various ways to imagine the past.
In our art workshops we looked at some actual Bronze Age artefacts, like flint arrowheads, and we made some closely observed drawings of these trying to record as many aspects of the artefacts as possible. Secondly we made coil pots based on Bronze Age design and manufacturing processes. Finally we looked at Neolithic and Bronze Age rock carvings, we imagined important events and recorded them drawing with earth pigments on paper, using pigments that were available to Bronze Age man
We explored both inside and outside Brodick Castle, looking at how the building has changed over time and imagined what it was like to live there in the past.
We created a guided tour of the Castle and its gardens with different members of the group devising, acting, filming and editing. Our short film explores historical features in the Castle building, reveals characters from the past, such as the Duchess, her maid and butler and discovers something of the activities that may once have taken place there.
In our art sessions we used a variety of techniques and materials. We designed and made hats inspired by images of medieval hat styles. We used collage and mixed media to make medieval jewellery and, after looking at the paintings in the castle, we made pastel drawings of the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton.
At the end of the arts workshops we held a Sharing Day where the participants, their teachers, friends and families came together to find out what everyone had learned and to see all the work created.
Some comments from project participants:
“History is important because it is good to find out about people who live in the past and compare it with our lives today.”
“I enjoyed making the pottery and jewellery.”
“In the past they had animal skin for furry clothes.”
“I enjoyed ICT because it was fun and I found out how to do a picture.”
“Bronze Age children didn’t go to school.”
“I enjoyed Drama when we made our own story.”
The Arran Archaeology Project is co-ordinated by Sarah Cook, Josephine Broekhuizen and Ed O’Donnelly of the Arran Arts Resource and administered by Ian Watt of the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust.
Running concurrently with the arts project the NTS Rangers are making preparations for the construction of a replica Neolithic roundhouse within Brodick Castle grounds. Using resources available locally where possible, the building process will be opened up to interested members of the public, giving people of all ages a chance to get involved in an exciting experimental archaeology project and to learn new skills.
We look forward to working with other school and community groups in the second phase of the project when we will be unearthing more of Arran’s diverse and fascinating archaeological secrets!