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20th November 2012 - Local Archeaology. Tam Ward The President, Robert Kirkhope, welcomed a large number of members and guests to a talk by Tam Ward, a well-known local member of the Biggar Archaeological Group. Tam first chose to dispel some myths about local history including the history behind the Biggar Ride out and the annual Hogmanay bonfire, neither of which is as long established as people would believe. While Tam talked principally on the richness and abundance of the finds in the local area relating to the Bronze and Stone ages, he mentioned the local feudal Lords, the Flemings and their building of Biggar Church. It is an interesting fact that this was originally a Catholic church until the demise of its patron at the Battle of Pinkie and the ascendancy of Presbyterianism. Over the last two years Tam and the group have excavated 44 sites out of a total of 250 found in the Daer Valley and have discovered an incredible landscape going back 14,000 years, unprecedented in Scottish archaeology. Artefacts found include jewellery, axe heads, flint arrowheads and burial goods, some of which are on display in the National Museum in Edinburgh. Tam explained that the work the group has done over the last years has contributed immensely to the understanding of ancient peoples and their lifestyles in Scotland. It was an altogether fascinating insight into the world beneath our feet, revealed in photographs of some of the excavations and finds. Euan Douglas gave a vote of thanks and it was noted that the next meeting on the 4th December will be an Open Day when all members of the public are welcome and some senior pupils from Biggar High School will give short talks. |