About OScA

Emily’s doctoral research highlighted the lack of, and need for, a centralised and easily accessible database of community outreach activities in the Scottish archaeology sector. OScA, and the accompanying publication (coming soon), presents data-driven research with the goal of contributing to the advancement of community archaeology within Scottish sector. The metrics contained within this dataset presents opportunity to characterise community archaeology in the Scottish sector.

The data presented on OScA has been collected from Discovery and Excavation publications from 2000 onwards, through key term searches. This website presents the first phase of OScA, which synthesises the data from 2000. OScA aims to be a living resource which can be added to (see contribute page!) and developed based on the wants and needs of the sector.

This project was supported by alumni and friends of the University of Edinburgh through the Student Experience Grants scheme.

OScA Aims

OScA aims to act as a database and archive of archaeological based activities in Scotland which have involved the public in any form.

OScA aims to provide metrics on outreach activities in Scotland.

OScA aims to facilitate practitioners to network and make connections across Scotland.

OScA and Scottish Archaeology

Several strategies exist within the Scottish archaeology sector which encourage greater public participation in archaeology including the Scottish Archaeology Strategy and Historic Environment Scotland’s Our Past, Our Future.

However, there are currently no methods of measuring the implementation and effects of such strategies through data-driven approaches. Without such synthesis of data, there is no base line of activities, which are essential to inform the development of new practices, strategies and methodologies. OScA aims to address this gap with an archive of activities from 2000.

OScA addresses several of aims of the Scottish Archaeology Strategy which endorses community engagement through each of its 5 ‘high level’ strategic aims:

Aim 1 – Delivering Archaeology, Objective A – “Through communication and innovative practice, to foster a culture of collaboration and ambition locally, nationally and internationally.” OScA encourages collaboration between community initiatives, funders and professional organisations by displaying details of partnerships and opportunities for involvement.

Aim 2 – Enhancing Understanding, Objective B – “To make knowledge discoverable, accessible, referable and reusable now and for future generations.” This database synthesises information on community outreach into an accessible resource. By categorising data into searchable terms and map, the database presents data in an accessible and usable manner.

Aim 3 – Caring and Protecting, Objective D – “To ensure the management of collections in museums and archives supports their accessibility for learning, research, creativity and participation.” This database acts as an archive of community projects, spanning 20 years in Scotland. The publishing of OScA creates an accessible archive for researchers, facilitators and interested individuals to generate metrics and trends on outreach in Scotland.

Aim 4 – Encouraging Greater Engagement, Objective C – “To increase and improve the presentation and interpretation of archaeological information.” OScA allows for this database to be presented as open access. This increases the opportunities for the public to examine data, as well as creating new opportunities for the interpretation of the data.

Aim 5 – Innovation and Skills, Objective A – “To develop and promote the supply of training and learning resources and opportunities at all levels to equip current and future generations”. OScA categorises outputs of projects, including formalised training plans, training resources, school resources and school involvement. This database, and the accompanying report, provides metrics on how many community projects offer such resources and skills developments.

About Emily Johnston

Emily is a doctoral student at The University of Edinburgh, thesis title: Examining Community Engagement in Scottish Developer-led Archaeology (supervisors Prof Jon Henderson and Dr Tanja Romankiewicz). Her research examines the current state of community engagement in Scottish developer-led archaeology, considering the values generated for the different stakeholders, and looks towards future methods for implementation. See her full profile here.

Emily is the Student / Early Careers Representative on the Scottish Archaeology Strategy Committee (2023-present), and Ordinary Member of CIfA Community Archaeology Special Interest Group (2023-present). She is the Outreach Officer for the Holyrood Archaeology Project and Young Archaeologist Club leader.

Accreditations: PCIfA; FSAscot