An abandoned settlement at Inversnaid. Crown Copyright RCAHMS

A heritage project launched in Scotland a year ago to investigate and document the country’s abandoned rural settlements is celebrating its first birthday with the launch of a new website.

Scotland’s Rural Past is a five year project that supports local communities in investigating the remains of long abandoned settlements in their area and the website featuring them will be officially launched on October 14 2007.

Many of the settlements date back hundreds of years and the project encourages members of the public to discover more about historic rural settlements by learning new techniques and skills in archaeological identification, surveying and recording.

SRP training session. Crown Copyright RCAHMS

In its first year the scheme has identified and recorded several abandoned settlements and deserted villages with highly successful field trips and workshops held in Killin, Bute, Lanarkshire, Braemar, Glen Cova, Mull, Islay, Edinburgh, East Lothian and Inverness.

“We are delighted that this important project has been such a success over the past year,” said Dr Tertai Barnett, project manager for Scotland’s Rural Past.

“Communities have worked together to learn new skills and to engage with their environments. A significant contribution has also been made to Scotland’s recorded heritage.”

Overgrown remains of farm at Ben Lawers. Crown Copyright RCAHMS

The scheme has worked closely with archaeologists from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments Scotland (RCHAMS) to provide training for volunteers in archaeological field techniques and documentary research.

Seventy volunteers have now received professional training and ten local projects are so far underway around Scotland with volunteers busily researching and recording their local rural heritage. The project also offers support to develop educational projects.

The website celebrating the first year of the scheme's achievements is now live and will be officially launched at the Highland Archaeology Fortnight Conference in Inverness on Sunday October 14 2007.

Deeside Training 2007. Crown Copyright RCAHMS

“We’ve had some wonderful discoveries over the past year and this fantastic new website will go a long way to raising awareness of Scotland’s rural heritage more widely, as well as helping to develop over the next four years,” added Dr Barnett.

To find out more see www.scotlandsruralpast.org.uk.