Saturday, December 3, 2011

Work Continues on Core Inventory of Historic Scottish Battlefields

Scotland’s most important battlefields are continuing to be officially identified, after Historic Scotland announced the second of its three batches for inclusion in “The Inventory of Historic Battlefields”.

The project has now recorded nearly 30 of the nation’s most important battle sites, including Culloden and Bannockburn.

To be included in the Inventory, the battlefield must be of national importance for the contribution they make to Scotland’s archaeology and history.

The eleven new sites identified include battles fought in Aberdeenshire, Fife, Highlands, Midlothian and South Lanarkshire.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs said: “It is crucial that we ensure our battlefields are protected, for the contribution they have made to our history and heritage, and to future generations.
 
“Our battle sites are a popular attraction for tourists from all over the world, and represent a huge educational resource. They allow us to understand the evolution of Scotland, through appreciation of key historical figures and their role in shaping our culture.”

Ms. Hyslop said a new heritage centre would be completed in 2014 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.