The military road network built by General George Wade and expanded by Major William Caulfield transformed the rugged Scottish Highlands, linking key barracks and spanning over 400km with around 40 bridges. AOC recently laser-scanned five bridges along the Inchnacardoch Road, clearing scrub and creating detailed 3D models to enhance the Highland HER, and support ongoing monitoring. Click here to explore these incredible structures and their history on the interactive map and 3D models for this top pick for 2024!
Explore the top stories of 2024, ranging from 18th century military bridges to a royal statue with Roman origins or 3D recording of a west coast cave. Plus the amazing prehistoric landscapes of Yorkshire and Inverness.
Standing in Trinity Church Square since the 1820s, the statue of King Alfred, sculpted by James George Bubb, holds fascinating secrets—including a fragment of Roman sculpture in its right leg. AOC Archaeology recently created a detailed 3D model of this historic piece, enriched by insights from Chris Constable, Borough Archaeologist for Southwark. Explore the model and uncover its story by clicking here!
Nestled on the Knapdale coast, St. Columba’s Cave boasts a history of human occupation spanning from the Mesolithic to the Early Christian period, with local lore linking it to St. Columba’s journey to Iona. In 2023, AOC Archaeology conducted a photographic survey and analyzed human bone fragments in the cave, uncovering new insights into its rich past, with support from Historic Environment Scotland. Click here to find out more!
Archaeological investigations for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in East Yorkshire uncovered a rich tapestry of history, with finds and features spanning the Prehistoric, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon periods. This project offered a unique chance to explore and document the archaeology of this fascinating landscape. Click here to explore an interactive map of all the sites in this landscape as part of this exciting project!
Inverness, known for its medieval roots, also has a rich prehistoric past. Excavations for HMP Highland uncovered Late Bronze Age and Iron Age roundhouses, part of a larger settlement on the city’s east side, adding to decades of discoveries across the region.
Nearby sites like the Iron Age hillfort of Craig Phadrig, domestic settlements at Torvean, and the craftworking hub at Culduthel highlight Inverness as a center of activity in prehistory. Finds at Seafield, Beechwood, and UHI Campus reveal a network of roundhouses, smaller structures, and metalworking evidence dating back to the Iron Age and beyond.
These discoveries, combined with reconstructed landscapes and 3D models, bring thousands of years of Inverness’s history vividly to life. Click here to explore the story.
