Robin Turner (green jacket), meeting Prince Charles at Dymocks

Falkirk ‘Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011’

I’m Robin Turner, and I look after the architectural, archaeological and landscape survey parts of RCAHMS, and also the recording part – getting records into the Canmore database and out to the public. I’ve been interested in archaeology since I was at primary school, and went on my first dig in 1969. I was hooked, and spent all my school holidays going on digs in Britain and abroad, before going studying archaeology at university. As well as working in field archaeology (digging) I also spent almost 20 years in archaeological conservation and management with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).

One of the best things I’ve ever been involved in was at the small Scottish town of Bo’ness, on the south side of the River Forth. It used to be a thriving industrial town but became increasingly down at heel in the later 20^th century. As part of the NTS Little Houses  Improvement Scheme, we transformed Dymock’s Buildings –a derelict group of ugly-looking buildings –into something that the town could once again be proud of, and I was responsible for ensuring that a detailed archaeological record was made of the standing buildings and also of what was under them.

Dymocks N Street facade before Copyright Robin Turner

Dymocks N Street facade after Copyright Robin Turner

As well as unravelling the very complex story of the buildings, from their origins on reclaimed land in the 1650s to their 20^th-century uses, we excavated beneath them and found the remains of an amazing salt pan: in the 1600s the south side of the Forth was a centre for heating seawater and making salt. The buildings are now in community use, but there is occasional public access where local people and visitors can find out about the story of the buildings. But the best bit is what our work did for the community. The buildings were transformed from being an eyesore to being something that people could admire and be proud of. The community went on to renovate the Hippodrome – one of the earliest picture houses in Britain. In part because of these initiatives, the community’s civic pride has been greatly enhanced.

Archaeology is not about things: it’s about people: people in the past, but people in the present too, and in the future. Through their work, archaeologists can change people’s lives.

Dymock’s Building: NTS Booklet cover. Copyright The National Trust for Scotland

This is what I’ve chosen for Day of Archaeology, but why not tell us your favourite archaeological sites in Scotland on Twitter using #MyArchaeology.

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