The second week of our environmental archaeology “shortcourse” gets under way today, with the focus switching to archaeobotany.
Students from outside Orkney head north for the annual module, which provides hands-on experience and an introduction to some of the key concepts underpinning environmental archaeology. Last week concentrated on zooarchaeology, with sessions on identifying, recording and interpreting fish, bird and mammal bone, concluding with a trip to the Kirbuster farm museum in Birsay, Orkney.
On the archaeobotany agenda this week is pollen and charcoal analysis, sampling and coring.
One of last week’s practical sessions – identifying and recording mammal bone.
Kirbuster farm, Birsay.
If you are interested in archaeology, our four Masters degrees – MSc Archaeological Practice, MSc Environmental Archaeology, MLitt Archaeological Studies and MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology – are now enrolling for a start in September 2026.
