1. Orkney Gateway to the
Atlantic Project:
Community Outreach
2012
Coastal Archaeology, Heritage and
Education for Sustainable
Development
Alison Keir
University of the Highlands and Islands

2. Rinyo and
Bigland Valley
Knowe of
Swandro
• Rinyo and Bigland Valley: Small scale programme of non-
intrusive archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research.
Aimed to put the known Neolithic remains in their spatial and
temporal context.
• Knowe of Swandro: Archaeological excavation of multi-period
structures and deposits eroding from the coast.

4. • Engage local children in the archaeology and folklore
of their island through the on-going work of the
Orkney Gateway to the Atlantic Project.
• Link together the landscape survey undertaken at
Rinyo with the excavation at the Knowe of Swandro.
• Work closely with archaeologists from each project
to investigate Rousay’s rich archaeological remains,
learn archaeological skills, and explore the concepts
of environmental change, landscape change, and
human adaptation and resilience over the last five
thousand years.

5. Interpretation of an ancient landscape:
Rinyo Neolithic settlement and Bigland Round Tomb
Introduction to Rinyo and Bigland Valley

6. Interpretation of an ancient landscape:
Rinyo Neolithic settlement and Bigland Round Tomb
Field trip to Rinyo and Bigland Valley

7. Field trip to Rinyo and Bigland Valley

8. Field trip to Rinyo and Bigland Valley

9. Interpretation of an ancient landscape:
Rinyo Neolithic settlement and Bigland Round Tomb
Animal bone investigation

10. A Race Against the Tide:
Archaeological Survey, Excavation and Analysis at the Coast
Survey of a Viking house

11. A Race Against the Tide:
Archaeological Survey, Excavation and Analysis at the Coast
Excavation at the Knowe of Swandro

12. A Race Against the Tide:
Archaeological Survey, Excavation and Analysis at the Coast
Soil sample sorting and artefact analysis

13. The Archaeology of a Myth: Excavating a Hogboon's Home
"Hogboons take their name from the old Norse 'Haug Bui' meaning
mound dweller. They lived in a mound next to a house, and could
bring luck to a family if they were treated with respect. Offerings of
food were left on the mound for the benefit of the Hogboon. They
seem to have a particular tie with one specific family, leaving their
mounds to follow them to a new home."
Muir, T. (1998) The Mermaid Bride and other Orkney folk tales. The Orcadian Limited.

23. The Archaeology of a Myth: Exhibition and Film Screening

24. The Archaeology of a Myth: Exhibition and Film Screening

25. The Archaeology of a Myth: Exhibition and Film Screening

27. Reflection
• Between 4-8 kids on each activity which is a good turn out
considering there are only 20 kids on the island and it was
during the summer holidays
• Make it a bigger media affair – more involvement from local
radio, newpaper, magazines
• Make better use of social networking to promote club
activities
• Collaboration is key
• More formal integration of sustainability education into
activities directly related to archaeological research
Outcomes
• Film
• Website
• Connections made with local primary school
• Interest from local youth group association
• Exhibition and film will be on show over winter in the
Orkney Museum

28. • Engage local and wider community with work of
Orkney Gateway to the Atlantic Project
• Raise awareness about the threat of coastal erosion to
Rousay’s rich archaeological heritage
• Explore community perceptions of coastal archaeology
for PhD research

32. ©BradfordUniversity/
UHI

38. Reflection
• More tours/tour guides to meet demand
• Questionnaires for immediate feedback
Outcomes
• Positive feedback and constructive criticism from
participants about how to improve future tours
• Successfully attracted local Rousay residents, greater
Orkney residents, and tourists
• Boosted local economy by bringing people to the island
who spent money on local services and amenities (ferry,
bus, shop and pub)
• Generated discussion with the Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre
Development Trust about how to develop the walk and
turn it into a tourist friendly attraction:
Signage
access
app
guide book and audio tour

40. website

41. Institutions and organisations