Dr Murray Cook
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Dr Murray Cook
@stirlingdigger.bsky.social
Archaeologist from Stirling interested in Romans, Picts and all things Scottish!
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
Obviously, it’s been a tough day for the BBC. Big organisations, working under big pressure, will sadly make errors

But I still feel huge pride in hosting a BBC podcast, and having previously spent 11 years making a world-renowned children’s show that no other broadcaster would have made
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
my latest blog is some late Halloween fun....a cautionary tale about the need to do research! Stirling and Aberdeen's Hotel of Death!
open.substack.com/pub/stirling...
Stirling and Aberdeen's Hotel of Death!
Some late Halloween fun and a cautionary tale on the need to do research!
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
Did you know Mary Shelley once had to correct Sir Walter Scott for crediting her novel, Frankenstein, to her husband? 🔍

For one day only, see this story on paper at the National Library:
➡️ Mary Shelley's letter to Sir Walter Scott
➡️ Rare early editions & items from our archives
➡️ and more!
November 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
Train worker hero credited with saving lives in the Huntingdon knife attack named as Samir Zitouni.
November 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
It is that time again. And that time where its up to you, to help make our collective lives better. Poverty Impact Report 2025 is anonymous and we so need this information to help.

Please answer if you are employed in - or have been employed in UK Archaeology

survey.app.do/archaeologis...
BAJR SURVEY PIR III: ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
Inflation, energy costs, fuel costs and food are becoming increasingly expensive - this anonymous survey will help to understand the level of Financial Crisis we are in as archaeologists - as individu...
survey.app.do
November 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A great occasion and a tour de force presentation from @nts-archaeology.bsky.social on the amazing Pioneering Spirit project!
Great conference yesterday at Cowanes Hospital and Holy Rude church in Stirling. Amazing lunchtime guided walk around the graveyard led by Murray Cook @stirlingdigger.bsky.social Thanks to all involved.
November 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
Looking forward to speaking at the #StirlingRocks conference tomorrow about our #PioneeringSpirit whisky project with a wee dash of Stirlingshire sites thrown in to the mix.
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM
My latest blog is all about Balfron's first ever research dig....Woodend Motte! open.substack.com/pub/stirling...
RESULTS....Excavations at Woodend Motte, Balfron. If not a motte..then what?
Initial results from Balfron's first ever research excavation!
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
Earlier this year, we worked with a lovely family to record Private Walter Scott of the Sutherland Highlander's story, and made a digital record of objects that belonged to him.
Caitlin takes a look at Private Scott's life and the history of rum in the regiment here: argylls.co.uk/spirit-of-th...
October 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
The piece where I get to say everything that's bugging me about the world of detecting & archaeology & ask - why are we not more concerned about this?

(Thank you to everyone who read through drafts & offered thoughts, advice and ideas.)

#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺

bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/27/t...
The system is broken, so why are we not more concerned?
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Abstract The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) – the detectorist-facing branch of archaeology – whic…
bigbookoftorcs.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
My blog explores archaeology and heritage events round Stirling! open.substack.com/pub/stirling...
The Diary - upcoming news and events from 27th October onwards.
off to Eyemouth for my latest ever swim!
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Featuring me!
Such a good day! Many thanks to @stirlingdigger.bsky.social for letting us trample around in his trench. You're a star!
Indypodcasters Fiona and Lynne's video diary of taking part in an archaeological dig searching for evidence of William Wallace's camp before the Battle of Stirling Bridge!

#williamwallace #battleofstirlingbridge #scottishhistory
youtu.be/Hofp9hETYPs?...
October 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
My brother is skull and skeleton now
empty of mind behind the brow
in ribs and pelvis empty space
bone-naked without a face…

—William Montgomerie, “Epitaph”
For 2nd Officer James S. Montgomerie of the S.S. Carsbreck, torpedoed off Gibraltar, 24th October 1941
#poem #WW2
asls.org.uk/publications...
October 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;
The tane unto the t’other say,
“Where sall we gang and dine to-day?”

“The Twa Corbies”, first published in Scott’s MINSTRELSY vol. 2 (1810), is a darker, grimmer, #Scots version of the English ballad “The Three Ravens”
October 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
My latest blog is all about Scotland’s first map!

open.substack.com/pub/scottish...
Bending Scotland to suit the Roman Empire.....our First Map.
The Geography of Ptolemy and why sometimes experts are wrong!
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Was this my Boromir moment…. One dues not simply walk round Abbey Craig without thinking about vitrified hillforts?
Delightful Autumn guided walk up Abbey Craig with the legendary @stirlingdigger.bsky.social exploring the geology of the area. Thanks to Stirling Tourism for organising the event .
October 17, 2025 at 5:56 AM
My latest blog explores medieval fish traps and salmon over exploitation and the inevitable conflicts!

stirlingarchaeology.substack.com/p/stirlings-...
Stirling's Medieval Salmon Wars
Overexploitation of our fishery stock
stirlingarchaeology.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
Our next Quiet Time is this Saturday (18th October) from 9.30-10.30am.

This is aimed at people with additional sensory needs.
Video screens, interactives and sound will be turned down and a quiet space will be available outside the museum.

For more information: argylls.co.uk/events/quiet...
October 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
We are now on our Winter Season hours and the museum will be open from 9.30 until 5pm, 7 days a week. We will welcome our last visitors into the building at 4.30pm each day.

The only planned closures during these months will be Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
October 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Dr Murray Cook
At the museum, we remember, 'The Forgotten War' and the men who served with the 1st Bn in Korea.
75 years ago today, the Battle of Hill 282 took place - a notable event in Argyll history.
Caitlin's blog focuses on the Argylls in Korea, and you can read this here: argylls.co.uk/never-forget...
Never Forgetting the ‘Forgotten War’ – The Argyll Sutherland Highlanders Museum
argylls.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM
my latest blog...results from what may be the last hillfort built in Scotland and the birth of Kippen!

substack.com/@stirlingarc...
The Birth of Kippen....Results
Recent Results from our dig at Keir Hill of Dasher
substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:13 AM
I’ll be digging in Cowane’s House, Stirling all next week… 22nd to 27th September 10-3. The house will be open to visitors! Come for a nosy. We’re also doing a late night Thursday opening for those who work during the day!
September 16, 2025 at 2:48 PM
All are always welcome on our digs! What will you find?
Still buzzing from being a (small and unskilled) part of @stirlingdigger.bsky.social 's dig at the weekend that may have located the actual road that #williamwallace took to the Battle of Stirling Bridge!!
September 16, 2025 at 10:54 AM