Merlin and Glenlivet heritage archaeology projects vie for top award

The Drumelzier’s Hidden Heritage project was carried out by the Arthur Trail Association and GUARD Archaeology, together with volunteers, local heritage groups and specialists, as they sought to pin down the village’s links to an ancient story that claimed King Arthur’s magician was buried nearby.  

Meanwhile, The Pioneering Spirit Project, led by the National Trust for Scotland and The Glenlivet, revealed the story of the industrialisation of whisky production in the Scottish Highlands during the nineteenth century from its roots in illicit stills in the hills. 

Drumelzier’s Merlin legend was recorded in the twelfth century when it was written down in the Life of St Kentigern, and later incorporated in the 15th century Vita Merlini Silvestris and the Scotichronicon.  

The protagonist was called Lailoken - the name Merlin was invented later for the Anglo-Norman version of the story - and he was reputed to be a hermit and holy man of the Old Gods who sparred with St Kentigern, also known as St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, when Christianity came to Scotland.  

Archaeologists and volunteers probe Drumelzier's secrets (Image: Guard Archaeology)  The story was assumed to have originated from a wandering medieval minstrel who had weaved random nearby landmarks into a local version of a tale which was widely known across medieval Europe.  

But during fieldwork in 2022 tantalising links which back up the story were uncovered by the teams who dug and scoured the surrounding countryside for clues.  

A geophysics survey revealed that there is an archaeological feature resembling a grave near to the reputed location of Merlin’s Grave at Drumelzier.  

And excavation of Tinnis Castle, another local site associated with Drumelzier’s legend, found that the underlying hillfort was occupied around the late sixth and early seventh centuries AD, precisely when the story was set and which has the hallmarks of a lordly stronghold of the time. 

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GUARD Archaeology CEO Ronan Toolis, said: “Given how many hillforts there are in this neck of the woods - almost all of which are much earlier Iron Age settlements - it seems a remarkable coincidence that a medieval storyteller attributed this tale purely by accident to the one hillfort nearby which dates to exactly the same time as the story is set, especially when early medieval hillforts are exceptionally rare.  

“The new archaeological evidence does not prove that the local tale was true - it’s a story not history - but it does demonstrate that the legend originated in Drumelzier itself.’ 

‘Like tarmac, TVs and telephones, it should come as no surprise that this iconic legend was invented in Scotland too,’ continued Dr Toolis, ‘This award nomination is testament to the enthusiasm and hard work of the 43 volunteer participants drawn from across Scotland, half of whom had never taken part in a dig before, while the others, drawn from the Peeblesshire Archaeological Society and the Biggar Archaeology Group, have investigated a swathe of local sites over many years.’ 

Together with the team of GUARD Archaeologists, the specialists from the National Museums of Scotland, the universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, St Andrews and Stirling and other organisations, and the Arthur Trail Association, this project’s volunteer participants have shed new light upon the Dark Age cultural heritage of southern Scotland. 

Foundations for the original site of The Glenlivet Distillery, at Upper Drumin (Image: NTS) Moving from holy spirits to ones of a more earthy nature, the Pioneering Spirit project, worked to uncover the hidden history of whisky-making in the Scottish landscape, from its illicit beginnings to the rise of industrial distilleries. 

‘Previously, most of our archaeological investigations have been on land belonging to the National Trust,’ said Derek Alexander, NTS Head of Archaeology, ‘Examining the remains of illicit whisky bothies at Mar Lodge, Torridon, Ben Lomond, and Ben Lawers, but Upper Drumin belongs to the Crown Estate Scotland, meaning that we were working closely with their Countryside Ranger for this strand of the research.  

“Over the last three years, a team of NTS archaeological volunteers and locals have undertaken around a month’s worth of excavation on the site, with illuminating results.’ 

Foundations for the original site of The Glenlivet Distillery, at Upper Drumin, were uncovered, including the remains of the still room where George Smith set up his first legal distillery in the courtyard of his farm in 1824.  

Three fire pits were used to heat the water boiler, wash still and spirit still. The positions of a large oak vat, probably used to cool the mash liquid before fermentation, survived sunken into the floor along with the position of two spirit receivers.  

Artefacts recovered included copper piping and offcuts, numerous drinking glasses, clay tobacco pipes and a part of an official Excise padlock. 

The Pioneering Spirit project benefited greatly from the input of volunteers and from partners at The Glenlivet, who have been able to provide invaluable insights and knowledge into the whisky making process. 

These awards are voted for entirely by the public, and anyone is free to choose the projects, publications, and people they would like to win.  

Voting closes on 10 February 2025, and the winners will be announced on 1 March as part of the Current Archaeology Live! 2025 Conference. 

The Drumelzier’s Hidden Heritage project was a collaboration between the Arthur Trail Association, local heritage groups, volunteers, Magnitude Surveys and GUARD Archaeology Ltd, funded by SSE Renewables Clyde Borders Community Fund, Fallago Environment Fund, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Dr Euan MacKie Legacy Fund, Glenkerie Community Fund, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Hunter Archaeological and Historical Trust, and the Strathmartine Trust.