ACFA (Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists)

 

ACFA comprises holders of the Certificate of Field Archaeology from University of Glasgow.  Membership is also open to those with similar or greater archaeology qualifications and associate membership to those who have demonstrated an interest and experience in field survey.

With over thirty years of experience our membership, of varied backgrounds mostly retired, are active field archaeologists surveying, publishing reports and taking part in voluntary excavations. Interests include archaeology, local history, rock art and settlement history.

ACFA has three rock art teams, Glasgow North working north of the Clyde, approximately from Gairloch to Rutherglen; Glasgow South working south of the Clyde, approximately from the South Lanarkshire border to the area between the White and Black Cart rivers, and the Clyde to the upper Irvine Valley; Glasgow West working mainly in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.  We are also interested in surveying elsewhere as opportunities present themselves. Current examples of these would include (but are not restricted to) Glen Lochay, Pitlochry, the Pentlands.

Three aspects in particular draw us to this project; firstly, the value for interpretation purposes of the Scotland-wide dimension of the project; secondly, the sheer mystery of their purpose, and what light the project might throw on this aspect; and thirdly, to locate and record currently unknown rock-art panels. We welcome the opportunity to address the rock art distribution enigmas and to perhaps qualify, eliminate or direct attention to the many unresolved or currently undetectable sites which appear in the record and frustrated aspirant searchers over the years. In terms of additional activities, we would be particularly interested in publications, surveys of other archaeological evidence nearby, and the recruitment of individuals from the locality both to participate in projects and to join ACFA.

 

Training in Faifley with ACFA (November 2017)

Community Teams

Public engagement lay at the heart of Scotland's Rock Art Project, and our research was informed by the work of our dedicated Community Teams. You can find out more about our Teams on this page!

Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife (ELF)

Find out about what motivates the ELF (Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife) Team by visiting their profile here. 

North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS)

NOSAS members are active across the North of Scotland and as a group have a diverse range of knowledge and expertise. This experience includes the execution of a regional project recording rock art in Ross-shire. Members have been actively involved in the Scotland's Rock Art Project since it started and have significantly contributed to it's development. NOSAS are primarily based in Highland region, but are active throughout Northern Scotland.

Kirkcudbright Team (Dumfries and Galloway)

Meet the Kirkcudbright Team and read about their interests and why they are involved in ScRAP! 

Whithorn Team (Dumfries and Galloway)

Find out about what motivates the Whithorn Team from Dumfries and Galloway by visiting their profile here. 

Rock Art Bute

Being an island community archaeology has always played an important part of the social activities on Bute. Read more about their involvement with ScRAP in this section. 

Strachur

The Strachur group was the first team to be trained in order to undertake rock art recording fieldwork for ScRAP. Learn about their interests and motivation to collaborate with ScRAP here.