A celebration for the archaeologist who broke new ground on ancient Scotland

The life’s work of an archaeologist who transformed the understanding of ancient Scotland will be celebrated this spring.

By Alison Campsie
Monday, 24th January 2022, 4:55 am

Dr Anna Ritchie, 78, from Edinburgh, is highly regarded for her work on both the Neolithic and Pictish era, with several breakthrough excavations to her name.

Her achievements will be marked with a conference in her honour in March, with the event organised by The Scottish Society for Northern Studies (SSNS) and the Pictish Arts Society (PAS).

Dr Ritchie said she was “speechless” when she learned of the event.



Archaeologist Dr Anna Ritchie at work at the Knap of Howar, Orkney, in the early 1970s. Picture: Contributed


Dr Ritchie made her name in the 1970s with two excavations in Orkney. The first, in 1971, identified the first known Pictish settlement in Scotland at Buckquoy and the second, just two years later at the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray, discovered houses older than those found at Skara Brae.

More:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/a-celebration-for-the-archaeologist-who-broke-new-ground-on-ancient-scotland-3538301