Joe Fitzpatrick, a volunteer archaeologist, discovered a bronze spear butt dating back over 1,500 years at the East Lomond hillfort in Fife, Scotland. The spear butt, covered in Pictish inscriptions, is considered one of the most significant archaeological finds of 2024.
They were moving forward in a line across the 10 sq metre trench, volunteer excavators elbow to elbow with academics, and Joe Fitzpatrick was at the far edge.
Fitzpatrick, who has always had a passion for history, got involved with the regular community dig at the site of the East Lomond hillfort, beside the village of Falkland in Fife, as a retirement activity. He is one of a growing legion of citizen archaeologists, eager volunteers who are sustaining projects across the country even as volunteering more generally is in decline.
“Community involvement has really ramped up in the past 10 years,” he says. “There’s the excitement of uncovering the past on your doorstep. These volunteers come from all walks of life and you meet some fantastically educated people.”
Archaeology Scotland History Pictish Volunteer
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