July 2010 - Archaeology of Inchmarnock research project short-listed for British Archaeology 2010 award Headland’s work on the recently published Inchmarnock Research Project has been short-listed at the 2010 British Archaeology Awards in the category of ‘Best Archaeological Project’. The project, directed by Dr Chris Lowe, was undertaken over the period 1999 – 2006 and published in 2008 in the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Monograph series. The results of the project – involving a programme of survey and excavation of multiple sites throughout the island – provide an insight into what life was like in a small island monastery off the west coast of Scotland in the last quarter of the first millennium; meanwhile, its large assemblage of inscribed slate provides clues to its status and its cultural connections.

For further details of the 2010 British Archaeology Awards, click here - the British Archaeological Awards Ceremony will take place at the British Museum on Monday, 19th July.

Copies of the Inchmarnock monograph are available from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, price £30 (£25 to Fellows).

April 2010 - The New Ross Bypass site investigation work is underway and is producing interesting results. The route runs along a 13.6 km corridor and around 30 Headland staff are working on a number of sites along the route. To read more about the project click here
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April 2010 - Headland recently won a £250,000 contract to undertake archaeological investigation in advance of road improvement to the A2 in Northern Ireland. To read more about the project click here
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March 2010 - Headland recently won a £250,000 contract to undertake archaeological investigation in advance of road improvement to the A2 in Northern Ireland. We are delighted to announce that Headland Archaeology were winners at the Construction News Specialists Awards 2010 in the ‘Site Preparations & Services’ category’. The winners of the Specialists Awards, supported by the NSCC, were announced on Thursday 4th March, to celebrate the finest specialist contractors and construction projects today. The awards, hosted by stand up comedian Rufus Hound, were presented at the prestigious 5 star Hilton Hotel, on London's Park Lane. Attended by over 600 leaders in specialist contracting in the construction industry, these awards brought together the key players in the industry and the ones to watch.
Nick Edwards, editor of Construction News magazine commented: "In times like this, the difference between success and just surviving can be just about getting that little bit of competitive edge. That’s what Specialists Awards is all about. Showing in the expertise you bring, in the quality you ensure, in the innovation you create, you are the beating heart of the industry through good times and bad." www.specialistsawards.com

Feb 2010 - 'Building Scotland' conference Headland Archaeology's Tim Holden will be speaking at the 'Building Scotland' conference held on the 3rd and 4th March at The Assembly Rooms, The Mound, Edinburgh. For more information download the pdf here: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/buildingscotlandregistration.pdf

Jan 2010 - Headland UK opens new office in England. We are pleased to announce that Headland Archaeology Ltd has just completed the acquisition of Archaeological Investigations Ltd (Hereford). This is an exciting step for both companies which secures jobs and expands Headland’s geographical reach. We can now provide an enhanced service for our clients that combines local expertise with a more comprehensive range of capabilities. We are particularly pleased that Andy Boucher and his staff (formerly AI) will continue to bring their extensive regional and professional knowledge to all existing and future projects. Teamed up with Headland’s Project Manager Mike Kimber we look forward to providing a stronger and more competitive service for our clients.

Jan 10 - Headland shortlisted for awards. Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd has been shortlisted in the Specialists Awards 10, one of the most important awards for specialists subcontractors in the UK construction industry. The event is organised by Construction News with the support of the National Specialist Contractors Council. We are delighted that we have been shortlisted for the Site Preparations and Services award. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on the 4th March 2010 at London Hilton, Park Lane. Read more>>

Jan 2010 - Headland Archaeology's Cork office have won a new road project worth 1.5 million Euros. The work will be part of the New Ross Bypass and illustrates Headland's continuing expertise in undertaking major road schemes, from testing right through to post-excavation and publication. Read more about the project here.

Jan 2010 - Headland UK's graphics team has grown, with new illustrator Julia Bastek joining the company. The graphics team are responsible for producing illustrations for in house reports, but also undertake external commissions, including everything from small finds drawings to the design and typesetting of publications.

Sep 2009 - ‘Lost’ excavation emerges - September sees the launch of ‘Clothing for the Soul Divine’: Burials at the Tomb of St Ninian’. Funded by Historic Scotland and produced almost entirely in house by Headland’s team of specialists, from archive assessment to typesetting, it marks another successfully completed major publication project by Headland. More information can be found here.

Sep 2009 - Headland Specialists support Scottish Archaeology Month - Saturday 19th September, Dr Dan Atkinson will be helping groups of school-age children record the anchors of Leith as part of the global Big Anchor Project (http://www.biganchorproject.com/

Sep 2009, Learn to survey harbours at St Abbs Harbour, or join a guided tour of the headland with a joint effort with staff from Headland Archaeology and the National Trust for Scotland. (http://www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk/?q=node/89).

Aug 2009 - Ireland-UK East-West Interconnector - The contract has been awarded to Headland Archaeology for providing marine archaeology consultancy to EirGrid on the proposed electricity sub-sea interconnector between Ireland and the UK. The project is being delivered jointly by Irish and UK subsidiaries of Headland Group Ltd.

Aug 2009 - Headland graphics team leading the industry in archaeological illustration - UK and Irish teams publish on the best use of digital technology and specialist illustration.

Jun 2009 - City of Adelaide Laser Survey - Undertaken by maritime specialist and in-house survey team on behalf of the Scottish Maritime Museum. The survey will provide a full archaeological record of the vessel and help inform engineering strategies in advance of possible deconstruction or removal of the vessel from the current slip in Irvine.

May 2009 - N6 results now available to everyone - Site Director Brendon Wilkins and Osteoarchaeologist Susan Lalonde have just published the results from a large early medieval settlement/cemetery excavated on the N6, at Carrowkeel, Co. Galway. Published in the Journal of Irish Archaeology, the cemetery contained 132 individuals and unearthed the earliest dated evidence for the origins of Killeen burial in Ireland – the segregation of infant burials from other members of the community.

May 2009 - Irish battlefield report goes to publication - The Journal of Irish Archaeology is to publish Damian Shiels' paper on Irish post-medieval battlefield sites. The paper entitled 'Identifying and Interpreting Ireland’s post-medieval conflict archaeology’ will be a key resource for any future investigators in this field.

May 2009 - Headland exhibiting at major Renewables Exhibition - Visit our stand (V14) at the All Energy 2009 Exhibition, AECC, Aberdeen. http://www.all-energy.co.uk/

Apr 2009 - Archaeology on the Trams - As part of the ongoing Edinburgh Trams Project Headland are currently excavating a series of skeletons adjacent to South Leith Parish Church on Constitution Street, Edinburgh. Download pdf here

Feb 2009 – Completion of Geoarchaeological Review for English Heritage - Dr Scott Timpany has recently completed a review for English Heritage on the marine deposits along the coastline of southern England from the Severn to the Thames Estuary. The report aims to provide a summary of the various deposits and geoarchaeological works, which have taken place across this area of southern England. The conclusions of which will form part of the national research agenda. The report is due to be published by English Heritage in 2009.

Feb 2009 – Wind farm to proceed after full consideration of archaeological issues - Energy company E.ON has been given the go ahead for its wind farm at Camster, Caithness. The wind farm lies to the north of The Grey Cairns of Camster, an important prehistoric site, but early consultation and Headland's methodology for assessing impact on the setting of archaeological sites were central to its success. www.eon-uk.com/renewables

Jan 2009 - Headland's Maritime Specialist invited to join national research panel - Dr. Dan Atkinson, has been invited to sit as Co-Chair for the Maritime & Marine Panel of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). The Panel aims to develop a national research agenda for the future of maritime archaeology in Scotland. http://www.socantscot.org/scarf.asp?Menu=

Jan 2009 – Scoping document commissioned for National Archaeological Archive, Ireland – Headland have joined forces with Eneclann Ltd, University of Bradford and UCC to prepare a scoping report on the proposed development of National Archaeological Archive.

Jan 2009 – Headland fund Post-Doc at Aberdeen University – Headland Archaeology Ltd has funded a post-doctorate at The University of Aberdeen as part of their post-ex programme for the A4/A5 road improvement scheme in Northern Ireland. Headland Archaeology’s commitment to research see’s Dr Jane Wheeler using pollen techniques to show us what the former landscape would have looked like at archaeological sites excavated along the route.

Dec 2008 - Contract awarded: M80 completion, Stepps to Haggs Glasgow - Headland has been awarded the contract for archaeological monitoring during construction. Works are due to start in January 2009. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M80_motorway)

Dec 2008 – Project commencement: Dublin Light Rail System EIS - Headland begins work on the Cultural Heritage chapter of the EIS for this major infrastructure project in the centre of Dublin. The project is one of several undertaken for the Railway Procurement Agency in recent months. (http://www.rpa.ie/en/projects/Pages/default.aspx)

Dec 2008 - Completion of three Substantial Irish Roads Projects - Recently submitted final reports and publication text mark the completion of four major National Roads Authority projects - the N17 Tuam Bypass,  the N52 Tullamore Bypass, the N6 Galway – to Ballinasloe Scheme and the N25 Waterford bypass. 

Nov 2008 – Scott Timpany joins SELRC steering committee - Dr Scott Timpany has joined the Severn Estuary Levels Research Committee (SELRC) steering group as Publications Officer. The group is committed to promoting the wealth of archaeological research undertaken in the Severn Estuary and bringing it to the public arena. http://www.selrc.org.uk/index.php

Nov 2008 – National architectural survey in West Cork and Galway completed - Work is now complete on the major survey of hundreds of significant buildings undertaken for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) in west Cork and Galway. These results will be published by the NIAH on the internet and in book form.

Oct 2008 – Landmark in Early Monastic Studies – This month saw the publication of the academic monograph ‘Inchmarnock: an Early Historic island monastery and its archaeological landscape’.  The project was funded entirely by Lord Smith of Kelvin and managed by Dr Chris Lowe, one of Headland’s Directors. This landmark publication represents the culmination of a seven-year research programme into the archaeology of this Scottish west-coast island (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inchmarnock).

Oct 2008 - Assessment of Nationally Important Wrecks– In conjunction with the University of St. Andrews, Headland’s maritime specialist, Dr Dan Atkinson, undertook the survey and assessment of a nationally important shipwreck off the Isle of Barra in the outer Hebrides. The 16th- or early-17th century trading ship, probably Dutch-built, is one of the oldest known wrecks in Scottish waters. Recommendations will be made to Historic Scotland regarding the future recording and conservation of the wreck.  

Jun 2008 - New Directors Appointed – We are pleased to announce the appointment of five new board members. In Ireland we welcome Ross McLeod and Damian Shiels and in the UK, Andrea Smith and Simon Stronach. All are currently senior managers with Headland. David Betts of McCreath and Co. has taken on the role of Financial Director at the Group board level.

Jun 2008 - Company Restructure – After 12 years’ trading as Headland Archaeology Ltd we have restructured the group. It now comprises a holding company (Headland Group Ltd) and two equal subsidiaries (Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd and Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd). The revised structure and newly appointed directors will bring a renewed energy to the boardroom enabling the regional offices to adapt and respond better to the local economic climates. 

Jun 2008 – Headland complete Waterways Ireland survey - Headland have completed a major survey mapping all architectural, engineering and industrial heritage sites on some of Irelands major waterways, including the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal, the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Grand Canal Barrow Line and the Barrow Navigation.

Apr 2008 - Fieldwork completed on schedule:  M74 Completion,  Glasgow. Under the HAPCA name, Joint Contractors Headland with Pre-Construct Archaeology successfully completed one of the largest ever archaeological projects in the UK. With a contract value of over £5m, the programme excavated industrial sites along the route of the new road. These were completed, on schedule, after a 9 month period with up to 100 staff. (http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/projects/m74-completion/m74-dig)

Mar 2008 – High Profile Heritage Project: Irish Battlefields – Headland has begun work on this collaborative project with Eneclann Ltd, Dublin. This groundbreaking project will describe and map all locatable battlefields in the Republic of Ireland, covering over 1000 years from the 8th century to 1798.