Departments
Scottish History & Archaeology
Welcome to the Scottish History & Archaeology department.
We care for one of the most representative national collections of archaeological and historical artefacts anywhere in the world.
Nearly 250 years of systematic collecting has built a material record of the place we now call Scotland, placed within its wider European and global contexts.
Contact list of staff members
Scottish History & Archaeology department
Our collections
The collections have been developed over generations through antiquarian collecting, chance finds, archaeological excavation, targeted purchases, donations of treasured family possessions and dedicated efforts to collect the contemporary.
Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology
Archaeological collections from the first human settlement of Europe during the Palaeolithic up to the end of the Roman period.
Medieval Archaeology and History
Covering the material evidence of a crucial thousand-year period from the fifth to the fifteenth century AD through a range of archaeological finds and assemblages.
What we do
Our team of archaeologists and material historians research, share knowledge and continue to build the Scottish collections.
Scottish History & Archaeology stories
- Discover
A runic revelation: Who owned the Galloway hoard?
With any hoard, some of the most common questions are about who buried it, and why. Usually, Viking-age hoards of silver are a mix of anonymous ornaments, often hacked into pieces. If we’re lucky, there may be coins which at least help us… - Discover
Early Modern Scottish belief in 10 objects
These 10 key objects help paint a picture of belief and devotional practice in Scotland. By showing how people used and interacted with these objects, we get a glimpse into the everyday experience of faith in early modern Scotland. In… - Discover
An unsolved mystery: the coffins found on Arthur's Seat
Satanic spell, superstitious charm or echo of Edinburgh’s grisly underworld history? We examine the strange tale of these tiny coffins, discovered on Arthur’s Seat almost 200 years ago.
