Flourishing times ahead say archaeological society

Oct 2 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

THE Lanark and District Archaeological Society recently held a successful annual general meeting, attended by 26 people, in Lanark Library.

Chairman David Hill thanked everyone for coming and pointed out that the Society had enjoyed something of a renaissance in the past few years.

After the chairman's report, secretary Ed Archer outlined the events of the past year. He drew attention to the success of the lecture programme, dwelling on several of the highlights.

One of these was the talk by Ken Fawell at last year's agm on the excavation at Hyndford Mill, near Lanark. He pointed out that the Clydesdale Mill Society had made significant progress in unravelling the history of the Mill in the past year.

Ed also spoke about the talk by Tony Pollard on the archaeology of the Battle of Culloden and how Tony's discoveries had in effect rewritten the history of this iconic battle.

After a brief comment on the finances of the Society, provided by Malcolm Gair, the office-bearers were elected. The new office- bearers are: Chairman, Dr John Young; Vice-chairman, Leigh Ann McCormick; Secretary, Ed Archer; Treasurer, Malcolm Gair; Ordinary Committee Members John McCormick, David Hill, Krystyna Korsak, Douglas Ritchie and Neil Simpson.

Following the meeeting, Ed Archer gave a lecture on his trip to Uzbekistan. Ed gave a brief account of the history of Uzbekistan from the time of Alexander the Great to the present day. He also showed how important Uzbekistan was as a city on the Silk Route from China to the West. The lecture concentrated on the town of Bukhara and Samarkand – iconic cities of the silk route. In the lecture how showed that Islamic culture was in the Middle Ages more advanced than Western Europe up to the 16th Century. This was aptly shown in the fantastic pictures of mosques and madrassas (religious schools), many dating back to Tamurlane, one of the greatest Mongol rulers. Apart from the amazing mosques with their turquoise tiles.

Ed also showed picture of an early 15th century astronomic observatory created by Ulugh Beg - grandson of Tamurlane. However, much like today, Islamic extremists hated him. He was beheaded and his observatory destroyed.

The next lecture is by Professor Ted Cowan, on the Scottish Wars of Independence, is on Monday October 20, Lanark Library at 7.30pm.