Report from the field – notes on a PhD research trip to Orkney
PhD student Sophie Durbin looks back on her summer research trip to Orkney.
Category: Student Stories
A day among the monuments for new archaeology students
To mark the start of the academic year, 27 of our new undergraduate and postgraduate students – from all over the globe – experienced all the weather Orkney could throw at them today on a field trip to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.
Coast & Cairn exhibition in Stromness
An exhibition by Jemima Hall, part of her MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology final project, runs at the Clook Gallery, Stromness, from September 12 -16.
Outstanding archaeology undergrad is UHI Orkney Student of the Year
UHI Orkney has named Katie Joss as its Student of the Year in recognition of her academic achievement, dedication and resilience throughout her studies.
Congratulations Lucy! Ness documentary is a film awards finalist
A film by MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology graduate Lucy Carr-McClave is one of the finalists in the 2026 West Lothian Film Festival awards.
MA student selected for Shetland-Norway residency
MA Contempoary Art and Archaeology student Susan Pearson is in Norway after being selected for the 2026 Brig∂i Residency.
‘feel’ at Southampton’s Old Sail Loft
Artist Lucie Smith, who is currently studying for an MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology, will be leading ‘feel – an afternoon of conversation, listening, and collective making tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, at The Old Sail Loft, Southampton.
Looking back at 2026’s international medieval congress in the USA
A guest post by Sophie Durbin, UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student, on her recent ICMS conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
‘Suðreyjar | Innse Gall’ – exhibition of new work by Eòghann Mac Colla
Eòghann Mac Colla, who is in the final stages of the MA Contemporary Art & Archaeology, is currently exhibiting at the Hunter Saville Gallery in the Isle of Cumbrae.
Hill and shore – coring gives students a glimpse of Orkney’s prehistoric landscape
The annual, two-week practical environmental archaeology module drew to a close on Friday with a field trip focusing on coring.
The bere experience – student excursion to Birsay’s Barony Mill
Students on the practical environmental archaeology module took a break from lab work and lectures yesterday for an excursion to Orkney’s last working water mill.
Students congregate for annual environmental archaeology sessions
The second week of our environmental archaeology “shortcourse” gets under way today, with the focus switching from zooarchaeology to archaeobotany.
‘Behind Closed Doors’ exhibition at the New Glasgow Society
Rowan Ormiston, who has just completed the MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology will be exhibiting at the New Glasgow Society as part of the Q Canvas collective from May 30-June 2.
Student’s work features in ‘Where Threads Meet’ exhibition
MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology student Cathy Snelling is currently showing at Andelli Art, Wells, Somerset, until May 30.
Student selected for Edinburgh’s ‘Earth Matters’ exhibition
MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology student Becky Little is one of the selected artists taking part in the Earth Matters exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Inverleith House Gallery.
Congratulations Michael – Conan Stone researcher’s MRes success
Congratulation to Michael Zambon who has passed his MRes viva examination with minor corrections.
MLitt student talks souterrains at Scottish Crannog Centre on Friday
UHI Archaeology Institute postgraduate student Annie Anderson is giving a talk on Iron Age souterrains at the Scottish Crannog Centre on Friday, May 1, at 3pm.
Publication and funding success for PhD student
Sophie Durbin, a UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student, has published an article in a special edition of Different Visions, which puts forward a novel approach to Orkney’s Norse and Neolithic archaeology through the lens of post-modern performance.
More from the Shetland field trip…
The UHI Archaeology Institute field trip to Shetland ended on Friday after three days exploring the islands’ historical sites.
Exploring Shetland’s archaeological delights on students’ Easter field trip
A group from the UHI Archaeology Institute headed north to Shetland for this year’s annual student field trip.