TARBAT DISCOVERY CENTRE Newsletter 2011112 f1 .00

From the Chairman

Welcome to this addition of our newsletter. I hope that you will see from the other contributors that life continues apace although all visible signs of archaeology have for the time being disappeared. The investigations and analysis of the many finds continues under the guidance of world-wide experts and will continue to educate and shine a light on the lives of the inhabitants of Tarbat 1500 years ago.

Thisyearfindsmeinabetterframeofmindthanayearago-foralongtimelfeltabitlikePrivateFraserofDad'sArmy(we'reall doomed)with my predictions of possible imminent closure of the Centre. Well, thanks to the individual generosity of many - and two families in particular, we have managed at the very least to postpone this event and during our 2010 appeal, a total of 30K was reached and that enables us to replace our re- serves. ln addition we were helped in the last financial year in that we had no real items of major expenditure. This combined with my reluctant decision not to employ a seasonal student (the downside was even more work for Michele!) meant an overall saving in expenditure of some 8K, meaning that the Centre more or less broke even that year. However, logic strates that we cannot be lucky all of the time and sooner or later we are going to have to spend money on something - already Historic are suggesting that we undertake an extemal refurbishment (at our expense of course) and my reply to them suggested that our annual insurance bill of over 2.5K for the building was enough of a liability to be going on with.

All this meant that we entered 201 1 with our reserve fund substantially intact and the delaying of council cuts in our secto r until2Ol2means that we have at least bought ourselves some more time. lt is securing additional income that is the perennial problem - when I first became involved with the Centre ten years ago, our revenue support grant from the now defunct Ross & Cromarty District Council was 32K and next year that amount will have gradually reduced to 12K. So you don't have to have an economics degree to see where most of our problems come from.

It was never anticipated that the Centre could survive on visitor generated income alone and I believe that the Cenhe still has a very uncertain future as a stand-alone organisation. Apart from forming closer relationships with other sites and promoting the Pictish theme, what we really need is a major partner with whom we can build a sustainability package. ln an ideal world that would be Historic Scotland and the National Museums, but I'm afraid that is not how the system works in this country and I am sure that the budgets of both are also under pressure. lf you look at our website or the visitors book, you will see that the comments about us are all positive and the spontianeous remarks in letters to us from local children are very revealing and I do genuinely believe that the'word is spreading'.

201 I has started off quietly as far as individual visitors are concemed but the numbers, particularly in June have been boosted by several diverse groups, all of whom have thoroughly enjoyed their visit here - to be told personally by an American visitor to Scotland, that in his travels over here, his visit to the Centre was the highlight was especially encouraging!

I still feel that as the knowledge of the site expands, we need to do more to explain to the visitor just what is under their feet when they land in our car park. I am aware of some visitors who having read about the monastery and workshop site, have some pre-formed impression of being able to see something - okay maybe not along the lines of Pompeii, but rather more than the present sward of green grass! So we need to befter interpret that area (which by the way is now a fully Scheduled National Monument) and at the very least some signage and perhaps a site model would help -suggestions more than welcome.

Work continues apace with local exhibitions, among which is one dedicated to the life of Professor Thomas Summers West CBE, FRS one of the most important analytical research chemists of his day - literally a legend everywhere but in his own home village - just how Scoftish is that? We opened this display along with a launch of his book "Family Fisherman and their Boats" on the evening of the 30th of July at which his son and two daughters and many of the local villagers were in attendance. -the Centre would like to place on record our thanks to the West family for their do- nation of all sales of the book to the Centre's fund appeal.

Hopefully fate will continue to smile kindly on the Centre in the months and yearc ahead and we look forward to welcoming you here again - in the meantime, many thanks for your continuing interest and support.

Best wishes,

Tony Watson. Monasticism and the body: Diet, health and 7-10 years age at death). This child may have survived long enough for the bone to start the healing process but probably the injury disease in medieval monastic communities. died from a short while later due to the presence of active bone healing.

Shirley Ann Curtis PhD Gandidate The University of Liverpool lntroduction ln 2009, I reported on the latest findings of my research on the skeletal remains from . This research was canied out at the Uni- versity of Bradford under the supervision of Dr Janet Montgomery. The burials provided a wonderful opportunity to leam more about the Pictish and Medieval inhabitants of Portmahomack directly through their bones and teeth.

Update Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope research at the University of Brad- ford revealed wonderful results. Dietary reconstructions on the Pictish Fig.1. Blade wound on SK.65. Photo: Author's own. monks and medieval layfolk revealed a clear difference in what types of foods were consumed. The monks' diet included cereal foods (e.9. Results so far have suggested that Pictish-Medievat life Portma- wheat, barley) and meat from cattle and sheep, but no significant intake in homack was far from easy. Extreme wear, stress and severe trauma of fish. Conversely, the layfolk diets included cereal foods also, but a on the bones suggest hard labour, nutritional and environmental significant amount of fish consumption. This suggests a clear diachronic stresses and exposure to violence and disease. is anticipated that change in diet during these periods. However, this posed more ques- lt this research will contribute to a greater understanding of what life was tions. For example, what could be the reason for such an increase in fish like for people living in medieval monastic communities. There is much consumption in the later medieval period yet not in the earlier Pictish more of the story to tell, so watch this space! phase: population and/orfishing trade increase? Fasting practices, such as those set down in the Benedictine Rule, proscribed meat (but allowed Acknowledgements: fish) for three days of the week. Such fasting practices may not have Many thanks to Professor Martin Carver and the Tarbat Historic Trust been adhered to, or indeed heard of, by the Pictish monks at Portma- for granting me access to the skeletal collection and to Cecily Spall for homack, hence the lack of marine resources in their diet. her continued help and guidance. Thanks also to Michele Cadger for Current Research all her help and inviting me to write this article. Finally, thanks to my So, we know about the diet of some of the early inhabitants at Portma- supervisor at the University of Bradford, Dr Janet Montgoffiery, and to homack, but to learn more about the lives of these people and of me- my current supervisor Dr Jessica Pearson at the University of Liver- dieval monastic communities in general, a larger research project was pool. needed. In October 20'10, I began my PhD research, at the University e: [email protected]

of Liverpool, which is based on the lifeways (diet, health, disease) of w: http ://l iverpool . acad em ia. ed u/S h i rl eyAn nC u rti s/Abou t two important medieval monastic communities: Portmahomack, Scot- land and Norton Priory, England. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope (diet), osteological and palaeopathological (health and disease) analy- Tarbat Discovery Programme Update ses will be canied out to leam more about what life was like in medie- val monastic communities. Did religious (e.9. fasting practices), eco- Gecily Spall nomic (subsistence strategies) and/or cultural (status/labour division in Field Archaeology Specialists Ltd dieUhealth) influences leave a mark on the bones of these people? We are about to embark on the second year of specialist work on the Results so far Tarbat assemblages and we hope to build on the significant discoveries It's very early days but preliminary examinations on the Portmahomack made in the past year. With continuing and generous support from skeletons have yielded some very interesting results. Previous oste- Historic Scotland lots of new work is planned for the next 12 months or ological analysis (King 2000) reported evidence of trauma (e.9. frac- so. tures) and disease (e.9. osteoarthritis). New examinations suggest Animal bone additional palaeopathological evidence, including an adult male who The results of the Tarbat animal bone analysis have been received and had possible treponemal disease (e.9. syphilis); another adult male give us an important view on how the monastery farmed its livestock and with a pulmonary infec{ion (possibly Tuberculosis) and a young adult what wild animals were exploited. The majority of the thousands of ani- male with scurvy. Preliminary examinations have also revealed evi- mal bones recovered during excavation have been identified as from dence of a possible blade wound to the skull (Fig.1) of a child (SK.65 - domestic stock and mainly cattle. The cattle were often slaughtered as mature adults although some calves were identified and this is typical of Work this year dairy farming. The second most important livestock was identified as Other specialist work planned this year includes the cataloguing of sheep or goat. Unsurprisingly the skeletons of sheep and goat appear over 500 crucible and mould fragments, of 80 boxes of iron-working almost identical with only a few critical indicators which distinguish the slag, over 500 stone objects and specialist cleaning of iron tools ready two. Where it was possible to make the distinction goat was more com- for drawing and photography. Scientific analysis of members of the mon suggesting that the monastery herded goats as a secondary monastic community is also planned to identify where they spent their source of meat, dairy products and skins. Pig also contributed to the childhood and will be undertaken by Dr Janet Montgomery, Durham probably diet and converted leftovers and waste into useful meat and University. The results will help us better understand how the monas- perhaps a source of bristles. tic community came together at Portmahomack and what culturat influences individuals may have brought with them. Wild animals included rare examples of wolf alongside deer, fox, otter, beaver and seal which may have been hunted or trapped for their pelts. The analysis of the over two thousand fish bones from the excavation porpoise Whale, and dolphin were identified and were probably will go ahead this year and will be undertaken on behalf of the project beached animals which were exploited for meat and for blubber to be by Dr James Barrett, MacDonald lnstitute, Cambridge University. The used in oil lamps. Birds included goose and chicken, which may have exploitation of deep-sea fish varies enormously during the first millen- supplemented other meat, but would have also provided feathers used nium AD and it seems that fish were not greatly exploited by the in- as down quills, and for while bones of capercaillie and sea birds, razor- habitants of the monastery. By contrast the medieval occupants of gulls, bill, shag and gannet, provide an insight into the surrounding land Portmahomack did and big shell middens of musset, limpet and win- and sea-scape during the life of the monastery. kle, also produced lots of fish bone including cod, ling and flatfish. The results of both the fish and the animal bone reports wil! feed into work Glass-working at the monastery by Shirley Curtis on understanding past diets of the people of Tarbat. Our understanding of the Tarbat monastic workshops is improving as the specialists report their findings. Analysis of waste pieces and frag- ments of glass objects has provided useful information. A small blue Ghanges to our Trustees glass stud appears to have been made from reused Roman glass and ln the latter half of 2010, Dr lsabel Henderson, OBE resigned from the joins the Roman g6mstone found in the workshops as evidence for Board after years of service to the Centre. tsabel's contribution was trade in Roman materials centuries after original manufacture. Analysis highly valued, not only for her recognised expertise in Pictish art but of yellow glass waste has found that a common recipe known from also for her yeqrs__o!_persuading contacts to come and give talks o_n Britain and mainland EuropE was also known at Tarb-at. Rather than many diverse subjects in the lecture theatre here and for her sound reused Roman glass the yellow glass may be a 'Celtic' recipe providing common sense in the many and varied meetings held over the period. insight into the knowledge and skills of the artists at Tarbat. Thanks for everything lsabel and best wishes to you and George. Pottery Also Ieaving at the same time was Dr. David Clarke, Keeper of Ar- Over two thousand sherds of medieval pottery were recovered during chaeology at National Museums Scotland. We knew that David excavation and specialist work has been completed on the assemblage wished to sever his connection with the trust as he neared retirement by Derek Hall. The pottery has been identified as mainly of a type from NMS and he encouraged Dr. Martin Goldberg within his depart- known as Scottish Red ware which was produced all over the mainland ment to be our "first port of call" with the National Museum and to probably in river valleys. Scientific analysis of the sherds atong with a become a trustee. David was very much involved over the years en- clay sample from near the Burn of Arbol! at Toulvaddie has suggested couraging NMS to stay involved with the Discovery Centre through the that the pottery from Portmahomack may have been produced locally. extended dig and the ongoing post excavation analysis as well as Among the pots identified were unusual forms imported from Yorkshire ensuring continuing displays of the finds. Our thanks to David for atl such as a fragment of facemask jug, a jug decorated with pottery faces, his efforts on our behalf behind the scenes and our wishes for a long and aquarnanile fragments from vessels used at the table for hand- and happy retirement! washing. The date of the pottery places medieval occupation close to Tarbat old church firmly in the 13th to early l oth century. Recognising the need to enlarge and "freshen-up" the Board, we in- vited Dr. Sally Foster and Professor Neil Price of Aberdeen University to join us and we were delighted when both agreed. We look forward to their specialised knowledge assisting the Centre in the years ahead. Also joining us is Cait McCullagh, a loca! archaeologist who is cur- rently undertaking her PhD in subject matter close to Tarbat's areas of interest. Cait has been involved in many projects in the Easter Ross area and will be a valuable addition to the Board.

We also recognised that we needed a greater representation locally and two of our most trusted volunteers, Willie McRae and Douglas Fragment of face-mask jug decoration and foot from pottery aqu- Gordon have also joined us. Both are enthusiastic towards local his- manile. tory and have contributed in the past to local exhibitions on that theme - a very warm welcome to both. book is selling very well including via wholesale to several fisheries and It was also felt that the community should be the first to know what is maritime museums on the East Coast" happening here and an approach was made to the Local Communi$ Council with the aim of having a permanent representative from there at all our meetings. We are pleased to say that Hamish Mackenzie has tiaken on that role and we look forward to working with the Community Council to the benefit of both the Centre and the village.

Exhibitions 2011-12 Sprlng/Summer 2011 -'Befotc the Rald' Filmed in Portmahomack in 1942143 'Before the Raid' was a documentary propaganda film produced by the Ministry of lnformation's Crown Film Unit. Portmahomack became a fictional Norwegian fishing village under Nazi occupation whose inhabitants were forced to hand over their daily catch whilst they themselves starved. The fishermen Ruth, Tom and Ann West at the opening of their Father's eventually overthrow their oppressors and retake control of the village. Exhibition

ln 2010 we applied for grant funding from Museums Galleries Scotland .FAMILY FISHERMEN AND THEIR BOATS' and Generations Working Together to have the original 67 year old Paperback - 55 Pages Nitrate film cleaned and produced as a DVD. We had previously f4.95 + 81.00 P&P acquired copies of the script and numerous production files from the Tarbat Discovery Centre National Archives. After researching and compiling the material throughout most of last Winter the final exhibition covered the Spring/Summer 2012 - 'The Pyle Family' background to the film from its initial concept, letters from the William Pyle was born in Glasgow in 1864. He graduated from production staff to Crown Film Unit, the Norwegian involvement, Glasgow University in 1886 as a Bachelor of Medicine and Master of memories and photographs of local people and the 1943 release and Surgery and in 1888 became the first resident Doctor in Portmahomack, showing of the finished film in the United States. To date we have sold where he practiced for 51 years. 1894 he established a Cholera nearly 250 copies. Hospital in Portmahomack. ln 1908 he was one of the founding members of the now well known Tarbat Golf CIub and was elected Chairman of the sub-committee charged with finding the land on which 'BEFORE THE RAID (1943)'- 40 Minutes the course should be established. He subsequently became the Club's DVD - All regions Secretary and Treasurer and was also a Member of the Board of Tarbat B&W Old School. ln 1955 his son Dr Jack Pyle opened the newly built golf 87.50 + €1.00 P&P course Clubhouse. Tarbat Discovery Centre Many of William's children, grandchildren and spouses have been Summer/Autumn 2011 -'Thomas Summers llleet' involved in medicine and all have maintained links with Portmahomack Thomas Summers West was born in Peterhead in'1927 and moved to over the years. Portmahomack at the age of 5 where he was educated at Tarbat Old Summer/Autumn 2012 - 'Shipwrecks off the Tarbat Coast' Primary School and Royal Academy. Thomas came from a long ln a collaboration between the Discovery Centre and veteran diver line of fisher folk and he regularly helped on his father's lobster boat. ln George Brown (Vice Chairman of lnverness Sub-Aqua Club), this 1946 Thomas went to Aberdeen University from where he graduated exciting exhibition will not only provide information about local maritime with a First Class Honours degree in Chemistry. He then went on to history, but will feature undenryater film footage of the wreck dives near become one of the countries foremost Analytical Chemists achieving Tarbatness. Although there is now little or no evidence of any of the Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the prestigious lmperial College of 1gth Century wrecks, there are numerous remains from WWll. London University in '1965. His research team became world renowned for their pioneering work in analytical atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. Tom was the Directorofthe Macauley Soil Behind the Scenes at the Museum Research lnstitute from '1975 until his retirement in 1987. This year we have been fortunate to receive a number of new personal archives at the Centre all of which make for fascinating reading. We He and his wife Margaret spent much of their retirement researching the are now gradually piecing together a fairly comprehensive picture of family history which resulted in Tom's book' FAMILY FISHERMEN AND the social history of Tarbat Parish spanning at least two centuries. The THEIR BOATS'. On his death in January 2010 his ashes along with his material is currently being scanned, transcribed and digitised and will wife Margaret's were buried in in the Old Tarbat Churchyard beside his be available to view next season. We are also compiling a new parents. Tom's son (also Tom) very generously gave the publishing genealogy database which include graveyard memorial and any other rights for the book to the Discovery Centre to help us raise funds. The information we have relating to individual families.