Studying Abroad in Scotland
A Journey of Discovery
By: Mandi Nash
One of the greatest opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in any field is the opportunity to study abroad. This allows students to engage in different cultures and see how their field is approached in different parts of the world. This past summer, I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Scotland to study archaeology by doing fieldwork, completing research in map rooms and archives, and evaluating museums. I went with a team of two professors and nine other students, making us a team of twelve! We spent about a week in the Scottish Highlands and a week and a half in Edinburgh, Scotland. Not only did this trip take me out of my comfort zone and teach me about historical work in Scotland, but it also helped me find a love for archaeology that I didn’t even know that I had!
The week that we spent in the Scottish Highlands was easily my favorite part of the trip. Our first full day in Scotland was an adventure day at the Firbush Outdoor Centre along the shores of Loch Tay. We were able to choose our activity for the day, and I chose to learn to sail! It was a fun experience that I don’t think I would have had if I had not gone to Scotland. The first half of the week was spent at the Acharn Stone Circle near Kenmore. We spent a full day at the circle taking pictures, sketching, and measuring dimensions. In the beginning, I was very concerned about sketching, as I’m not what you would consider an artist, but it went very smoothly! The following day was spent back at the Acharn Stone Circle, but this time, we were doing archaeological mapping. This was a very cool experience because we mapped not only the stone circle but also a stone hut that we discovered on the hill the day before. It was a surreal experience to be part of an actual historical discovery and to map it for the first time for publication!
The second half of our week in the Scottish Highlands was spent working at the Scottish Crannog Centre. Our group spent the first day taking a tour of the Centre, then we dressed up and gave the tours ourselves! We were divided into groups and assigned specific sections of the tour. Two of my colleagues and I gave the tour of the clothing area; this included telling the public about spinning, weaving, and dying of wool. This was a neat process because we got to meet people who were truly passionate about their roles and got to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a touring museum. On the second day, we had an opportunity to see the location of the new Crannog Centre and help with the building project. While there, we were able to talk with Hamish and Jim, two of the crew in charge of building the crannogs and the stonework. They were both very knowledgeable, and Hamish even shared some information about his experimental archaeology degree.
Once we were finished in the Scottish Highlands, we went to Edinburgh and spent the remainder of our trip in the city. We stayed in the dorms at the University of Edinburgh and spent our time in the city researching and evaluating museums. The days in the city were less structured, with the exception of our research days. We spent one full day at Historic Environment Scotland conducting research. The research process in Scotland is very different than in the U.S. In order to see any sources from the archives, materials had to be specifically requested. I enjoyed researching crannogs at Historic Environment Scotland and actually spent one of my free days researching there again. We also spent one afternoon studying in the map room. We had the opportunity to look at and interact with historical maps of Scotland and learn about the National Library of Scotland’s online map library. The majority of our time in the city was spent evaluating small museums. I visited and evaluated the Museum of Rural Life in Glasgow, the Royal Yacht Britannia Museum, the Scottish Crannog Centre, and the John Knox Museum.
Overall, my study abroad trip to Scotland was an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. My trip contained so many special moments, memories, and learning experiences. Most importantly, my study abroad trip opened my eyes to stepping outside of my comfort zone and allowing myself to fall in love with archaeology, a field that I never thought I would want to explore. While taking the trip overseas to Scotland was a leap of faith and nerve-wracking in its own way, I will forever be thankful that I took the leap. If you or anyone you know is considering taking a study abroad trip, I encourage you to go for it. Your future could be found on the other side of your comfort zone!
All Photos: Courtesy of Mandi Nash
