Hamish Darrah BA MsC FSA Scot
SUMMARY CV
Tertiary Education and Qualifications
University of the Highlands and Islands 2014-2018, BA (Hons) Archaeology. First Class. My focus of study was Scottish prehistory, specifically the Iron Age.
MSc in Experimental Archaeology at University College Dublin (2020-2021). First Class. My dissertation was on exploring the poorly understood phenomenon of tangentially split oak plank manufacture in prehistory. This subject was explored through a case study of the Early Iron Age settlement site, the Black Loch of Myrton, Dumfries and Galloway.
As of October 2023, I am undertaking a PhD studying Late Bronze Age toolkits and tool use through a Collaborative Doctoral Partnership between the University of Leicester and National Museums Scotland.
Career Summary
As an archaeological wood specialist, my main areas of study are in tool mark analysis on wood and timber conversion practices. I also undertake microscopic tree species identification for archaeological wood and charcoal. I am continually developing wider expertise in the analysis of archaeological wood and in dendrochronology, the latter as a technician to support Coralie’s dendro work.
My work as a part-time green woodworker and coppice worker enhances my understanding of the use of traditional hand tools and techniques. My understanding of historic woodworking and woodland management is deeply embodied in my archaeological practice.
As an experimental archaeologist and green woodworker I have undertaken commissioned projects for the Centre of Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture, Dublin and the Scottish Crannog Centre in the construction of two woven hazel roundhouses. These roundhouses are based directly on archaeological evidence from Deer Park Farms, Co. Antrim and Buiston Crannog, Ayrshire.
My current PhD research regarding toolkits and tool use in the Late Bronze Age in Scotland and Northern England is highly relevant to my work as a wood specialist. I am undertaking training in wear analysis on tools and furthering my expertise in experimental archaeological techniques. This training and research is enhancing my understanding of how tools leave impressions on archaeological wood and practices regarding the shaping of wood in the past.
Since joining Dendrochronicle
I have been working with Dendrochronicle on a range of projects since October 2019. The first project I participated in was a HES commissioned historic wooded landscape study for Caerlaverock Castle Wood, Dumfries and Galloway. I have assisted in Coralie’s SESOD (SE Scotland Oak Dendrochronology) research project by sampling timbers and preparing samples for analysis, and in numerous other Dendrochronicle projects investigating timbers in historic buildings, including for HES at Stirling Castle, where I undertook detailed recording and analysis of shipping marks in roof structures to complement the dendrochronological studies on date and provenance.
I have undertaken training at Kew Gardens in wood species identification under the microscope. This has enabled me to analyse significant waterlogged wood assemblages from medieval sites in Scotland and to undertake wood IDs in support of our dendrochronology projects.
I am a qualified chainsaw operator with Emergency First Aid at Work certification.
Membership of Societies
- Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
- ICOMOS UK – serves on the wood committee.
- Native Woodlands Discussion Group.