Amateur archaeologists are to be given the opportunity to help unearth the mysteries of a dramatic Perthshire hillfort which sits high above the River Tay.
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) is appealing for volunteers to get involved with the King’s Seat Hillfort Community Archaeology Project.
The new venture in partnership with Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society aims to find out more about the hill to the east of Dunkeld.
Known as the Fort of the Caledonians, the hillfort is situated on a prominent hill on a major bend in the Tay.
With such a dominating position, King’s Seat is a dramatic geographical feature in the landscape which would have been the ideal location for a fort.
PKHT heritage officer Sarah Malone explained how the project came about.
“PKHT was approached in November 2015 by members of the Dunkeld and Birnam community who were concerned about the lack of access to the top of their local hillfort, and the impact that dense rhododendron and tree cover was having on the condition of the archaeological site,” she said.
“Initial vegetation removal by volunteers in 2016 revealed features that have been hidden secrets until now such as a large outcrop of rock which may offer a clue to the naming of the hill.
“The King’s Seat Hillfort Community Archaeology project is a project funded by Heritage Lottery, the Gannochy Trust, and Scottish and Southern Electric Community Fund.
“It is an exciting opportunity for professional archaeologists to work alongside volunteers and students to archaeologically excavate a portion of the hillfort to better understand the impact that vegetation is having and increase knowledge of this mysterious, unstudied site.
“We have a variety of interesting opportunities for anyone from the local community interested in volunteering with the project.
“Even if digging isn’t your thing, there’s topographic survey to get involved in plus archival research and the chance to participate in place-name research.
“Here we’re hoping to help reveal more about the intangible heritage of the hillfort and its surrounding environs.”
The project will be running for three years with the first spades breaking turf this autumn for a two week excavation from September 7 to 19.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the project should go to www.pkht.org.uk/projects/kings-seat to express their interest.