Archaeology & History

The Archaeological and Historical Section of the PSNS was founded in 1948 under the guidance of Dr Margaret Stewart, a very notable and distinguished local archaeologist. In the early years, the section carried out and published important excavations and surveys under her guidance, and she also organised courses and seminars to share her skills and knowledge with the section. Accounts of her excavations appeared in specialist journals such as Discovery & Excavation in Scotland.

For more information about A&H activities contact the section secretary, Eva Bennett, at psns1948@yahoo.co.uk. We welcome visitors and new members.

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The Neolithic Standing Stone at Murrayshall near Scone.

Members of the section are still involved in occasional excavations and surveys under the guidance of professional organisations, but our main activities are a monthly lecture series during the winter, and excursions to monuments, historic buildings and excavations, generally in the summer. We have close links with Archaeology Scotland, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Tayside and Fife Archaeological Committee and various professional and voluntary organisations. Over the years, as well as contributing papers to the Society’s journal, the Section has issued several important complete publications:

The following booklet by Dr Margaret Stewart describes an abandoned farmstead, Allt Lochan Nan Losgunn, near Queen’s View (Tay Forest Park) that was excavated in 1972 & 1974 (not a PSNS publication, reproduced by courtesy of Scottish Forestry).

WINTER LECTURES 2019 – 2020

Tuesday 24 September at 19:30 in Perth Museum & Art Gallery – extra talk
Note different from usual day and venue. 

‘Revisiting Scotland’s Neolithic Carved Stone Balls’ – Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark (National Museums Scotland)

This special lecture will look at enigmatic Neolithic carved stone balls, and the recently-discovered Sheriffmuir carved stone ball in particular.  Booking essential – to reserve a place, email psns1948@yahoo.co.uk. 

16 October 2019

‘The Galloway Hoard’ (Margaret Stewart Lecture) – Andrew Nicholson

13 November 2019

‘Al-Andalus: the History of Islamic Spain 711-1492’ – Dr Roger Collins

04 December 2019

‘“Forget the silly notion that I’m here to teach you Botany” – Patrick Geddes in Dundee’ – Matthew Jarron

15 January 2020

‘Perth suffragettes’ – Ajay Close

12 February 2020

‘The Declaration of Arbroath’ – Norman Atkinson

11 March 2020

AGM + ‘Over the Sea to Uist: an Udal adventure’ – Mark Hall

All regular indoor meetings are held are held on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Soutar Theatre, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth PH2 8EP. Evenings conclude over tea and coffee.

Occasional newsletters of the Section

AGM and other papers circulated to Section members