Projects | National Museums Scotland

Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard

This 3-year project aims to challenge our understanding of the process of hoarding through an interdisciplinary study of one of the best-preserved hoards found in Britain.

Reclaiming Romance

The aim of this two-year research project is to survey and re-interpret the Highland dress and tartan fashion holdings of National Museums Scotland, assessing them for further research and display potential.

Baggage and Belonging: Collecting practices of the British Army

This collaborative research partnership investigates cultures of collecting by members of the British armed forces while on campaign and garrison duty in Africa and India during the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Intricately decorated stone with men riding horses in the middle and ornamental motifs on the sides.

Glenmorangie Research Project into Early Medieval Scotland

From Pictish symbol stones to Viking silver hoards, the early medieval period (around AD 300 – 1100) was a time of great creativity, from which the kingdom of Scotland was born.

A white porcelain teacup with text written on it placed on a saucer set against blurry background.

The Matter of Slavery in Scotland

Four alternating red and black flowers with leafs set against wavy white background. Black floral motifs separate white and red backgrounds.

Colouring the Nation

Prehistoric Gold in Britain

Four large horizontally laid silver chains with geometric and curve-shaped carvings

Silver, Status and Society

A royal banner of Scotland showing a red lion framed in a double border with fleur-de-lis motifs.

Wha' bears a blade for Scotland?

Trading Places

Doctoral research projects

The Elect and the Damned: the material culture of belief in post-Reformation Scotland, 1560-1750

Whisky label with a mostly green and black illustration of a landscape for The Usquebaugh

Material Spirits: Objects, Past and Landscape in Contemporary Scottish Whisky

Three views of a gold ring with inscription reading CASPAR, MELCHIOR, BALTAZAR

Dress and the individual in medieval Scotland, 1200–1600

Silver coin, set against red background,with embossed writing to the edge of the coin that centers a bust portrait of a man with shoulder length hair, wearing a crown.

Coinage, landscape and society in the borderlands: economy, politics and identity in Scotland and northern England, 1136-1603

Art Deco style necklace with five purple coloured gemss set in oval green and white enamel settings arranged in a V shape. One gem in a shape of a drop is set off the five gems.

The Material Culture of Mass Politics in Scotland, c. 1815 - c. 1914

Close up of a circle shaped ring, with a clear gem stone. "JR" initials formed from a light brown thread and a red brown crown design above it.

Loyal Exchange: the material and visual culture of Jacobite exile, 1716-60

A man photographed standing with one leg raised on a plinth in front of museum case displays. Large display cabinets are visible in the background.

Collecting the Nation: Scottish history, patriotism and antiquarianism after Scott, (1832-91)