The Trust's Regional Archaeologist, Daniel Rhodes, came for a site visit today. He has newly taken over the role and wanted to check out our archaeological sites on the ground and also chat about future management including possible survey work to try and answer some mysteries associated with the sites. St Abb's Head is mostly associated with its ornithological and scenic value, but there is also considerable cultural heritage associated with the property. Three thousand years of human activity are visible in the landscape, if you know where to look and what to look for.
The most important archaeological site is Kirk Hill, where there is evidence of multi-period occupation of the site. This is where St Aebbe (after whom St Abbs is named) set up her unisex monastery, bringing Christianity to the area from the west of Scotland, before it was carried on down to Lindisfarne. But there are many lumps and bumps on the ground up there (pictured left: Sue and John wander amongst some of them) and no-one is really sure exactly what there is. We hope to use modern technology to unlock some of the secrets without having to disturb the ground.
Daniel is very enthusiastic about the stories there are to be told at St Abb's Head, not only about the ancient sites, but also some of the more modern ones like the lighthouse, the salmon station and jetty at Petticowick and the Mire Loch. So, watch this space!
Picture right: lunch sitting in the remains of the church on Kirk Hill.
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