Bringing the Past and the Future Together in the Highlands and Islands

This week the team at Highland Archaeology Services Ltd, will mark the fourth anniversary of the company's foundation, an occasion on which they will be celebrating a continuous and rapid growth, from 12 successfully completed projects in 2004, to 50 in 2007. These projects have included both the company's most ambitious individual project so far – a major investigation ahead of the construction of a new golf course at Castle Stuart, Inverness and two community archaeology projects: one on the Black Isle, near Rosemarkie, and at Applecross where the archaeologists and the local community are building on their work in 2006 alongside Channel 4's Time Team.

Highland Archaeology Services Ltd was established in 2004 by Director, John Wood, previously Regional Archaeologist for the Scottish Highlands. John has over 30 years' of varied professional and academic experience in archaeology. Archaeologists Benny and Emma Malone and Cait McCullagh make up the remainder of the HAS Ltd.Team and together they draw on the expertise of a network of highly skilled and qualified field archaeologists and specialists throughout the Highlands and Islands, providing a wide geographical coverage that enables them to respond effectively, quickly and with particular local knowledge and insight to archaeological and heritage requirements throughout the region.

'Since we started trading in 2004 our profile as a locally based unit, investigating, increasing the understanding of and preserving the Highlands and Islands' rich archaeological heritage for and alongside the communities in our region has increased greatly. We are delighted to be able to continue to serve a large and varied range of clients. Our success has meant that we can also continue to make use of the latest technology and digital photography, field recording, survey grade GPS and total stations are all utilised in our projects.' says Director, John Wood.

As well as providing professional support for a wide variety of private and public sector clients, assisting them to meet archaeological planning conditions and environmental assessment requirements by providing desk based assessments, field evaluations, watching briefs, landscape surveys and records of historic buildings, the team at HAS Ltd are also keen to continue working with community groups and societies to develop partnership projects offering the chance for local people to take part in real excavation and survey. We can help with interpretation, skills building and meeting professional standards, as well as project funding and management, the loan of equipment and access to specialist assistance.

As John Wood says, 'People in the Highlands and Islands have always had a great interest in and understanding of the importance of their archaeological heritage. As the area experiences increased development we see Highland Archaeology Services Ltd. as an important resource for both developers desiring to act responsibly and respectfully to make sure that this heritage is recorded and preserved and also for communities seeking to gain a greater understanding of how to care for and manage their heritage resources, sustaining these for many generations to come. Our role is to ensure that the importance of the past is acknowledged today, in order that it might continue to be investigated and celebrated long into the future. It really is an exciting time to be working in archaeology in our region.'.

If you would like to find out more about the work of Highland Archaeology Services Ltd. or if you would like to make an enquiry about any of their services, please do contact John at Highland Archaeology Services Ltd, 7 Duke Street, Cromarty, IV11 8YH; 01381 600491, or visit the HAS Ltd. website at www.hi-arch.co.uk