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Leaders, Lecturers & Tour Managers

Peter Yeoman

Peter Yeoman has worked as an archaeologist throughout the UK for 50 years, directing and publishing major excavations, while also writing a number of books. He took a BA Hons in Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Leicester, graduating in 1981. Throughout the 1990s he was County Archaeologist for Fife. Until recently Peter was Head of Cultural Heritage and then Principal Heritage Researcher at Historic Scotland, working across their 340 properties, along with the management of World Heritage Sites.

Peter led research programs which underpinned major interpretation projects at James V’s Renaissance Palace within Stirling Castle, as well as at Edinburgh Castle, and Iona Abbey where he led the development of an award-winning permanent exhibition.

He now works independently to pursue his own research interests and to provide heritage consultancy services. His expertise is widely recognised across the heritage sector, and served until recently on the Treasure Trove Panel for Scotland. Since 2015 he has been leading cultural tours at home and abroad. He joins ASA in 2026 as a leader for our tour of historic Scotland.

 

Affiliations
  • Fellow of the Societies of Antiquaries of London and Scotland
  • Full member Chartered Institute of Field Archaeologists
Publications

Books

  • Medieval Scotland (1995), Batsford/Historic Scotland series
  • Pilgrimage in Medieval Scotland (1999), Batsford/Historic Scotland series.

Guidebooks

  • Official guidebook for Stirling Castle and Palace (2011): this assimilates ten years of new research to produce a lively and richly illustrated text, providing an understanding of the Castle as the dramatic setting for the magnificence of the 16th century Stewart court, as well as its key military history.
  • Official guidebook for Iona Abbey (2013).
  • Official guidebook for Edinburgh Castle (2014).

Reports

  • Historic Scotland Archaeology reports: Managing editor of a major series of reports, including the project to publish the 1960s excavations of the Whithorn bishops (2009).
  • Excavations at St Ethernan’s Monastery, Isle of May, Fife, 1992-7 (2008) TAFAC Monograph 6.
  • Excavations within Edinburgh Castle in 1988-91 (1997), Soc of Antiquaries of Scotland, Monograph 12

Other publications

  • ‘Proposals for the redisplay of the early medieval sculpture at Whithorn: a case study’, in Able Minds and Practised Hands: Scotland’s Early Medieval Sculpture in the 21st Century eds Cross and Foster 2005, Soc Med Arch Mono 23.
  • ‘Excavations on the May Island, and Other Early Medieval Churches and Monasteries in Scotland’, in The Archaeology of the Early Medieval Celtic Churches ed Edwards, N 2009 Soc Med Arch Mono 29.
  • ‘A house-shaped shrine in a Carolingian setting, as depicted in the oldest portrait of St Columba in Cod Sang 555’. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 146, 153–165 .(2017) https://doi.org/10.9750/PSAS.146.1215
  • ‘Pilgrimage Archaeology’ chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Later Medieval Archaeology in Britain, Christopher Gerrard & Alejandra Gutiérrez (ed), Oxford University 2018

A recent blog

Awe and wonder in an age of reason – taking visitors to the Ness of Brodgar excavations – The Ness of Brodgar Excavation

Upcoming tours