Bulletin
1, 1995
Archaeological Programme: Timetable
The archaeological programme began with an evaluation which has determined its subsequent course. The evaluation was completed in 1995. It is now to be followed by an excavation, conducted in five annual summer seasons of 8 weeks each. At the end of the excavation, the publication programme begins, in which the finds and discoveries are analysed and prepared for publication in different media. It is then proposed to begin a reconstruction project, in which examples of the structures discovered are to be rebuilt experimentally. This is intended to maintain visitor momentum, as well as being part of the publication. The whole project should be complete in 8 years.
Before 1994: Site Evaluation Stage 1
1994: Site evaluation Stage 2:
- Geophysical and topographical survey
- Deposit testing
1995: Site evaluation Stage 3:
- Area testing excavations (non-destructive mapping only)
- Evaluation of Church site.
Proposed Excavation Programme
1996-2000:
- Five seasons of Excavation over four sectors [see plan, Fig.
19]. The seasons will be 8 weeks long, between July and September,
and will include at least one 3-week field school.
1996:
- Sector 1, west
- Sector 2, north
- Sector 3
- Sector 4, west end and north aisle
1997:
- Sector 1, west
- Sector 2, north
1998:
- Sector 1, east
- Sector 2, centre
1999:
- Sector 1, east
- Sector 2, centre
2000:
- Sector 2, south
Provisional Publication Programme
2001-3:
- Analyses and syntheses, supporting publication and display programmes. These include academic, popular and children's publications in various media.
Management Programme
1995:
- Temporary exhibition put in place and public communication strategy designed.
1996:
- Investigation of the Church preparatory to its incorporation in the display; the excavations and the recording operations are visitable by the public.
- Excavation of the North half of Sector 2, preparatory to the construction of the car-park for the Tarbat Discovery Centre. Visitable by the public.
1997-2000:
- Development of the church as the Tarbat Discovery Centre, fully integrated with visits by the public and schools to the ongoing excavations.
2000-3:
- Programme of experimental reconstruction of early buildings, souterrain, ovens etc on part of the excavated area. With public participation.
2004:
- End of research programme. Visit to the Tarbat Discovery Centre is supported from now on by programmed events.
Participation
The Tarbat Discovery Centre Board of Management is responsible for the overall direction of the project, and consists of representatives appointed by Tarbat Historic Trust and its partners including the University of York.
An Archaeological Advisory Committee is to be appointed by the Tarbat Board, on which local specialists will be invited to serve.
The Archaeological Field Team: The proposer and research director of the archaeological programme is Martin O H Carver, Professor of Archaeology at York.
The excavation director is to be Justin Garner-Lahire, who will direct a small professional team and a larger group of students and volunteers.
The University of York proposes to offer the project 10 weeks of Prof Carver's time and 36 man weeks of student excavators' time per annum.
Participation will be encouraged from students at Scottish universities and from local volunteers on both the excavation and reconstruction programmes.
The archaeological team will collaborate closely with the Tarbat Discovery Centre staff, and with the staff for the reconstruction programme.
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Last updated 10 October, 2003.
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