Perth and Kinross abounds with remarkable sites of cultural significance and regionally distinct vernacular buildings. Together this rich and diverse historic environment forms an incredible material record of lives shaped by landscape, lived across millennia in the catchment of the River Tay, its connected rivers, and the Leven south of the Ochils. These tangible heritage assets reflect and provide reminders of our shared intangible cultural heritage and how this has evolved over time in response to and as a result of societal, environmental and technological change.
Effective management of the historic environment requires informed decision making based on good information and sound advice, which the Trust provides through the delivery of the Archaeological Planning Advice service to Perth & Kinross Council as well as many of our other schemes and projects such as the development of a regional archaeological research framework for Perth and Kinross (PKARF).
The archaeological sites, monuments and landscapes of the area also form a significant resource in terms of research, green tourism and in defining a sense of place through connection to the land and its past. Developing and supporting opportunities for people from all ages and backgrounds to engage with and learn about the past is therefore of significant importance to the Trust and for more than a decade we have successfully delivered citizen science archaeology projects and heritage events. These initiatives have not only promoted and raised awareness of this rare resource for the benefit of both residents and visitors to the area, but also contributed to our understanding of past human activity in Perth and Kinross. Community archaeology projects are in great demand and we continue to explore new projects to engage communities in their ancient past whilst our Archaeological Planning Advice service and PKARF work towards its long-term management.