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For 245 years, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has stood firmly at the centre of Scotland’s intellectual and cultural life. Since its founding in 1780 by David Steuart Erskine, the 11th Earl of Buchan, and its incorporation by Royal Charter in 1783, it has played a defining role in shaping how Scotland’s history is researched, preserved, and shared. That influence is not abstract. It is built into the very fabric of Scotland’s national institutions.
A legacy built on discovery
From its earliest days, the Society’s members (known as Fellows) began collecting and curating artefacts that captured the story of the nation, from the celebrated Lewis chess pieces to Bronze Age weapons, Pictish silver, and the everyday objects of Scotland’s past. By the mid-19th century, thousands of visitors – including Queen Victoria – were flocking to see these objects, drawn by a growing fascination with Scotland’s heritage, and in 1851 a landmark agreement transferred the Society’s collections into public ownership, a pivotal moment that laid the cornerstone for what would become the National Museum of Scotland. What began as a learned society’s passion for collecting and understanding the past became, quite literally, the beginnings of the nation’s museum.
That tradition of research and discovery runs through some of the most significant moments in Scottish archaeology. From 1927 to 1930, V Gordon Childe FSAScot, then Abercromby Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, oversaw the excavation of Skara Brae in Orkney and reported his findings across three volumes of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the Society’s annual peer-reviewed journal of Scottish history and archaeology. His findings revealed one of Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic villages, now part of the UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney, and were published through the Society’s pages long before Skara Brae became the global landmark it is today.
At the Society, we recognise that discovery does not stop when an artefact has been found, and that new insights into the past can be revealed decades later as investigative techniques develop. For example, in 1953, crofter Donald John Mackay was cutting peat near Kirtomy in Sutherland when his ten-year-old daughter Babette spotted a tangled mass of hair turned up by his spade. It proved to be a 3,000-year-old horsehair hat, now Scotland’s oldest recognisable garment and among the earliest evidence for domestic horses in Britain and Ireland. Decades later, a Society research grant (funding applications are currently open, with deadlines of 30 April and 30 November each year; see http://www.socantscot.org/grants-prizes/grants) enabled professional costumier Lilja Husmo to reconstruct it in 250-300 painstaking hours. Husmo, who has designed and made costumes for museum displays and the hit TV series Outlander, presented the findings of her reconstruction project at the Archaeological Research in Progress conference in 2025, a recording of which is available to watch for free on the Society’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/c/Societyof AntiquariesofScotland).
Publishing the past
The Society has published extensively on ancient Rome’s most northerly frontier, too. The Antonine Wall runs 60km (37 miles) across central Scotland from the Firth of Forth to the River Clyde and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Decades of reports on the Wall have been published in the Proceedings, from excavations at Rough Castle in the 1950s through to geoarchaeological analysis of its turf ramparts as recently as 2022. In 2012, the Society published Lawrence Keppie FSAScot’s The Antiquarian Rediscovery of the Antonine Wall, and in 2023 this title was made available as an open-access e-book (https://doi.org/10.9750/9781908332240), making centuries of scholarship available to anyone with an internet connection. That continuity of research, from one generation of scholars to the next, and that commitment to open access, is exactly what the Society exists to protect and extend.
A significant focus of archaeological investigation in Scotland over the last 15 years has centred on the Picts, the early medieval people who lived in northern Scotland from around AD 300 to AD 900. The Society has been at the forefront of sharing what archaeology has revealed about this once mysterious population. Excavations at Portmahomack in Easter Ross, led by Professor Martin Carver FSAScot and Cecily Shakespeare FSAScot between 1994 and 2007, revealed what is still the only Pictish monastery ever to be excavated, complete with a workshop for producing vellum manuscripts (see CA 205 and 321). The Society published the full excavation results as a printed monograph in 2016, and as an open access e-book in 2019 (https://doi.org/10.9750/9781908332165). Research has shown that incredible gospel books were produced at Portmahomack, and an experimental archaeology project funded by a Society research grant is now investigating whether or not the Book of Kells was one of them.
Fast-forward to this year, and publications related to the Picts continue to capture the imaginations of archaeology enthusiasts around the world. In March, the Society published findings of over a decade of excavations at Rhynie in Aberdeenshire, led by the University of Aberdeen’s Northern Picts project, that fundamentally reshaped the understanding of Pictish Scotland. The monograph by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot began life as an open-access e-book (https://doi.org/10.9750/9781908332394) but, recognising the continuing value of print material, the Society turned to the wider community to help bring a physical version to life. A crowdfunding campaign raised over £18,000 from more than 400 supporters, ensuring that this nationally important research was preserved in print and deposited in UK national libraries. These copies sold out in less than a fortnight, and, at the time of writing, a second print- run is under way. Many of these backers were Fellows of the Society, who came together with other enthusiasts to share knowledge of Rhynie’s past – although now a quiet rural village in Aberdeenshire, it was once a Pictish royal centre with trade connections stretching across Ireland and mainland Europe (CA 281).
Our publishing programme across Scotland’s past does not stop with the Picts, however. Finlaggan on Islay was the ceremonial and administrative heart of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. A major excavation between 1989 and 1998, directed by Dr David Caldwell FSAScot, who later served as President of the Society, uncovered its remarkable story. After nearly 30 years of analysis, the Society published the full results in 2025, revealing for the first time the existence of a previously unknown castle at the site and confirming Finlaggan as the centre of a quasi-independent state of political and cultural importance, with evidence of a palatial complex and a large and imposing great hall (CA 431). The book is available as both a printed volume and an open-access e-book, with an additional 200-page catalogue also released online (both available at https://doi.org/10.9750/9781908332356).
From Neolithic Orkney to a medieval island kingdom and beyond, the Society has spent nearly 250 years researching, funding, publishing, and sharing Scotland’s story. That work does not stop. But the lack of a permanent and public-facing home makes it increasingly difficult to maintain the organisation’s high standards or to achieve the reach it requires. A heritage hub is the Society’s answer.
A hub for change
Today, the Society connects around 2,800 Fellows worldwide: a global community of scholars, archaeologists, historians, and enthusiasts united by a shared commitment to understanding Scotland’s past. It reaches an estimated five million people annually through media and digital channels, recorded lectures, and open-access publications, and, alongside its work with Fellows, the Society delivers important national heritage projects across Scotland:
• Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) is a national resource (primarily funded by Historic Environment Scotland) that sets priorities for archaeological research, supporting scholars, heritage professionals, and community groups to share knowledge and shape future research.
• Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) is a national resource (primarily funded by Historic Environment Scotland) that sets priorities for archaeological research, supporting scholars, heritage professionals, and community groups to share knowledge and shape future research.
• Dig It! is a hub for Scottish archaeology (again mainly funded by HES), which enhances the presentation of archaeological information through various initiatives and online articles, and advertises free or low-cost public events from across the sector (see http://www.digitscotland.com).
• Research in Action on Church Heritage (ReACH) responds to growing concerns about Scotland’s at-risk church buildings and their contents, helping to better understand, protect, and plan for their future. This initiative (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Pilgrim Trust) is delivered in partnership with Scotland’s Churches Trust.
• Make Your Mark is a campaign that aims to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland and includes a volunteering platform that connects people with opportunities across Scotland, supporting organisations working in history, culture, and nature. It is hosted by the Society, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and partner contributions, and is overseen by a working group of major stakeholders in the heritage, voluntary, and equalities sectors of Scotland.
These projects are for everyone, not just academics or specialists. From grassroots initiatives to national programmes, the Society strives to engage communities at every level, enabling people to connect with Scotland’s past in meaningful and lasting ways. We represent an independent voice for heritage, advocating for its value, safeguarding its future, and continuing to uphold a clear and enduring mission: that Scotland’s past is for everyone to research, share, enjoy, and protect, at home and abroad.
A hidden institution
Edinburgh is a city defined by its history. Its streets, buildings, and landmarks tell stories that stretch across centuries, drawing millions of visitors each year. Yet within this vibrant cultural landscape, the physical presence of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland remains largely invisible. Tucked away in an inaccessible top-floor flat within the National Museum of Scotland complex, the Society operates out of sight, physically removed from the very audiences it exists to serve. The premises are particularly challenging for those with mobility difficulties, further limiting who can engage with the Society’s work, and, in the current space, we cannot host visitors, convene in-person events, or provide a dedicated place for Fellows travelling from across Scotland and around the world. Opportunities for sector collaboration, engagement, and public programming are constrained, and this lack of dedicated space means the Society is unable to fulfil its potential, or its responsibility, to share Scotland’s past as widely and openly as it should.
We know that public interest in heritage is growing, driven by a desire for identity, belonging, and deeper understanding. Scotland’s heritage sector holds extraordinary expertise and knowledge, yet much of it is dispersed across hundreds of small organisations facing rising costs, shrinking funding, and limited capacity to build resilience. At the same time, the people who will become future stewards of heritage expect it to be inclusive, accessible, and digitally connected. Audiences want more than static displays: they want participation, dialogue, and connection.
Without stronger ways to share knowledge, innovate, collaborate, and build capacity across the sector, there is a real risk that hard-won understanding of Scotland’s past could fail to reach the next generation. The future safeguarding and sharing of Scotland’s rich heritage can no longer be taken for granted. Now, with its 250th anniversary approaching in 2030, the Society is embarking on an ambitious effort to help support the future of the sector. A £1.5 million campaign aims to secure a permanent home and establish Scotland’s first national heritage hub.
Not Just a home for the society
The building that the Society seeks to acquire is not simply a permanent home. It will be a national resource for Scotland’s heritage. As an anchor for learning, research, and collaboration, and a base for national heritage projects, the hub will complement the role of the National Museum and other major institutions. It will create a distinctive space focused on heritage connection, research access, public participation, and sector-wide collaboration. By bridging the gaps between heritage organisations, including grassroots groups, signposting the public to sites nationwide, providing a platform for new voices and perspectives, enabling the dissemination of knowledge, and expanding digital access, the hub will reach far beyond its physical location.
There, academics, visitors, and anyone curious about Scotland’s past will be able to explore their heritage, report finds, and engage directly with the work of protecting and sharing Scotland’s history. The heritage hub will ensure that Scotland’s story is not only safeguarded but actively shared with new audiences, inspiring new generations of scholars, communities, and custodians to carry that story forward and steward the discoveries that are still to come.
The vision for this independent national heritage hub for Scotland is as follows:
• A Base for National Endeavours: the Society’s projects (Dig It!, ScARF, ReACH, and Make Your Mark) will have the anchor building they need to deliver additional benefits, while Scotland’s Treasure Trove Unit, which processes all finds reported by members of the public, will gain the public accessibility it requires to fulfil that role more effectively.
• A Home for Fellows: inspiring spaces for Fellows to meet, research, collaborate, and share knowledge through talks and seminars.
• A Connector for the Sector: building partnerships and collaborations with heritage organisations, academic institutions, and cultural bodies to strengthen sector impact and reach.
• A Centre of Innovation: enhancing digital presence and capabilities to reach a wider and more global audience.
• A Portal for Public Discovery: signposting visitors to Scotland’s wider heritage sites and introducing their stories; supporting visitors in tracing their roots and understanding Scotland’s heraldic traditions in partnership with the relevant organisations.
• A Hub for Learning and Debate: encouraging open discussion, diverse perspectives, and critical thinking about Scotland’s past and its relevance today, including strengthened advocacy to protect Scotland’s heritage through the Society’s independent voice.
• A Catalyst for the Sector: an affordable space in a prime position where heritage professionals, community heritage groups, volunteers, and researchers can host exhibitions and share experiences.
• A Place to Support the Future: fostering the education and professional growth of emerging heritage specialists.
A new path through an old gateway
The opportunity to bring this vision to life lies just around the corner. A B-listed building at the junction of Bristo Place and Bristo Port in central Edinburgh has been earmarked, offering a rare chance to establish a permanent home in one of the most historically significant areas in the city. This is no ordinary property. It sits on ground that has witnessed centuries of Scottish history.
In 1503, Margaret Tudor entered the city here to marry King James IV, marking the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between Scotland and England. The area was also part of the Flodden Wall built in 1515 to defend the city, and mere metres away the National Covenant was signed in 1638, a pivotal moment in the nation’s religious and political history. For centuries, this corner of Edinburgh has been a gateway, a place where people, ideas and events converged to shape the nation’s story. Now, it could become a gateway to Scotland’s past and future.
What makes this moment exceptional is the rare alignment of opportunity, timing, and purpose that is unlikely to arise again. At the heart of Edinburgh’s cultural quarter, directly beside the National Museum of Scotland, the proposed heritage hub would sit in a powerful and complementary relationship with the nation’s flagship museum. It would reveal the stories of the communities involved in uncovering the museum’s artefacts: the people who make, record, interpret, and research Scotland’s heritage. The prime location, within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and at the centre of one of the UK’s busiest cultural corridors, brings unparalleled visibility and reach, while the building itself uniquely combines public space with income-generating flats, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The urgency is real. The current owner, keen to see the building become part of a lasting social and cultural legacy, has offered it at a fixed price of £2.1 million until January 2027. The President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Diana Murray CBE HonFSAScot, explained it best when she said: ‘For centuries, this small corner of Edinburgh has been a gateway to Scotland’s past. We now have a rare and time-limited opportunity to secure this building and open our doors properly for the first time in our modern history, ensuring that Scotland’s past belongs to everyone, at home and across the world.’
The Society has committed £600,000 from its own reserves, leaving £1.5 million to be raised by January 2027. If the purchase is not secured within that window, the building will almost certainly pass into commercial use, and the opportunity will be lost. With the timeline aligning closely to the Society’s 250th anniversary in 2030, the moment is both time-critical and historically significant, a chance to create a permanent home as the organisation enters its next chapter. Securing the building is the essential first step in unlocking a second phase of restoration and development, with further funding for this phase already in sight.
An exceptional and rare philanthropic opportunity
The Society is inviting trusts, individuals, and corporate partners to become part of this transformative moment. At the heart of the campaign is an exceptional and rare proposition: a Primary Donor may name the building, with their name, coat of arms, or corporate logo displayed on its exterior in a prominent position. As well as any significant gifts, the Society warmly welcomes contributions of all sizes, and a carefully structured programme of tiered giving, inspired by Scotland’s historic metalworking traditions, offers permanent in-building recognition across a range of levels. Major donors will be recognised within the boardroom in a similarly distinguished way, inscribed into Scotland’s story, with their generosity becoming part of the nation’s enduring history. Qualifying donors who do not already hold a coat of arms will be supported by the Society in preparing a petition for a grant of arms to the Lord Lyon King of Arms, embedding their contribution within Scotland’s heraldic tradition. All petitions are considered independently by Lord Lyon on their individual merits.
Every donor will also be formally recognised in a special edition of the Proceedings, ensuring their contribution is permanently recorded for generations to come, and, at every level, supporters are our partners in a shared national endeavour, their generosity shaping the Society’s future and securing a lasting place in Scotland’s story.
Deborah Roe FSAScot joined the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2025 as Head of Fundraising. With an MSc in Archaeology and excavation experience across the UK and Europe, her skill-set combines archaeology, business development, and charity fundraising.
