Interesting Times: the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in a devolved Scotland

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Interesting Times the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland in a devolved Scotland Dr Simon
Gilmour Society of Antiquaries of London
Tercentenary Colloquium Antiquaries in Europe
the role of national antiquarian societies
today 17 May 2008 The Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland is a registered Scottish charity No SC0
10440 www.socantscot.org
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The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is a
charitable organisation whose purpose is set out
in the first of its Laws The purpose of the
Society shall be the study of the antiquities and
history of Scotland, more especially by means of
Archaeological Research.
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• Brief History
• The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the
  oldest antiquarian society in Scotland. It was
  founded by David Steuart Erskine, the 11th Earl
  of Buchan, in 1780 and incorporated by Royal
  Charter in 1783.
• 1851 Deed of Conveyance made the Society
  collections National Property in return for fit
  and proper accommodation at all times.
• 1949 Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries
  recommend to the Prime Minister and Secretary of
  State that the museum should be given, definite
  status as a National Institution with a Board of
  Trustees appointed ad hoc on which the Society of
  Antiquaries should be strongly represented.
• 1951 Philip Committee investigate the scope and
  status of the museum.
• 1954 National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland
  Act transferring the powers and duties relating
  to the Museum, previously vested in the Society
  of Antiquaries and the National Galleries, to a
  new Board.

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Mission Statement The Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland will promote the research, understanding
and conservation of the archaeological and
historic environment of Scotland for the benefit
of all. It will actively support research in the
field and advocate good practice. It will
promote the results of its research and that of
others to the widest possible audience.
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CouncilPresident Professor Roger Mercer
OBEVice President (Fellowship) Dr Jane
GeddesVice President (Staff) Dr Alison
SheridanVice President (External
Affairs) Professor Ian RalstonTreasurer Dr
Brendan OConnorCouncillors Twelve Elected
Members Nominated representative from NMSEx
Officio members of Council Aberdeen NE
Section President Conveners of Committees
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StaffDirector Dr Simon GilmourManaging
Editor and Sales Manager Erin
Osborne-MartinAssistant Treasurer Jan
PatersonAdministrator Jacqueline
ClabbyScARF Project Manager Dr Jeff
SandersPublications Production Manager Alison
RaeSAIR Editors Debra Barrie Helen Bleck
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FellowshipHonorary Fellows 23 persons eminent
in any branch of antiquarian study nominated
by Council and elected by the
FellowshipOrdinary Fellows 2567 (new Fellows
elected annually)Family Fellows 177 Retired
Fellows 730 Libraries 281
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• Objectives
• To encourage first-class research
• To disseminate the results of research and
  endeavour in archaeology and history
• To further the cause of archaeology and history
  in Scotland
• To recognise and encourage excellence

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• Activities
• Grant aid in 2008 to 14 high-quality projects
  totalling over 11,000
• Evening lectures in Edinburgh and Aberdeen
• Rhind Lectures in 2008 by Dr Ole
  Crumlin-Pedersen
• Regional Lectures in 2008 Buchan Lectures in
  Whithorn and Orkney
• Lindsay-Fischer Lectures in 2008 by Ola
  Storsletten in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Orkney
• Conferences, including annual Archaeological
  Research in Progress with Archaeology Scotland
  (CSA)
• Joint events and projects with other learned
  societies such as the Royal Society of Edinburgh
• Publication of the online Scottish
  Archaeological Internet Reports
• Publication of high quality books/monographs
• Production of our own Proceedings

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• Advocacy
• Membership of various organisations to help
  forward the cause of archaeology and history in
  Scotland, including the Built Environment Forum
  Scotland (BEFS) and The Archaeology Forum
• Responses to consultations including the various
  Historic Scotland Scottish Historic Environment
  Policy documents and other Government
  consultations
• Meetings with Ministers of the Scottish
  Parliament
• Representation on various other Boards and
  Committees
• Development of a Scottish Archaeological
  Research Framework (ScARF)

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Recognising Excellence The RBK Stevenson Award
The Chalmers-Jervise Prize The Gunning Jubilee
Gift Young Fellows Bursaries Dorothy Marshall
Medal
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• Publications
• Scotlands Parliament Site and the Canongate
  Archaeology and History edited by the Holyrood
  Archaeology Project Team
• The Lands of Ancient Lothian by Olivia Lelong
  and Gavin MacGregor
• In the Shadow of Bennachie a field archaeology
  of Donside, Aberdeenshire by the Royal Commission
  on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of
  Scotland
• 41 titles in total
• 10 titles in preparation

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• SAIR Publications
• Archaeological excavations in St Giles'
  Cathedral Edinburgh, 198193 by Mark Collard,
  John A Lawson and Nicholas Holmes
• Excavations at Maybury Park, Edinburgh (19902)
  by Colm Moloney and John A Lawson
• Cist burials and an Iron Age settlement at
  Dryburn Bridge, Innerwick, East Lothian by Andrew
  Dunwell
• 24 titles in total
• 15 titles in preparation

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• The Future
• continue the evening meetings, the Rhind
  Lectures, the conferences in Scotland
• Scottish Transatlantic Material Culture
  conference in Winterthur Museum, Delaware, USA
• Traprain Treasure and Hacksilber in Europe with
  the NMS international seminar and conference
• continue the publications of the Proceedings,
  books and SAIRs
• Production of a Scottish Archaeological Research
  Framework