Collection: Tarbat Discovery Centre

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Tarbat Historic Trust was set up to find a viable end use for historic St Colman’s Church in Portmahomack. Site investigation led to the discovery of significant Early Christian remains in the form of a Pictish monastery and Early Medieval Church, and so St Colman’s Church was renovated to tell the story of this internationally significant site and the history of its local setting. Some of the principal artefacts recovered during excavations are loaned to Tarbat Discovery Centre by National Museums Scotland for long term display. The management of the items on loan from NMS is governed by a written agreement. Ultimate curatorial responsibility for these items rest with NMS, whilst the Trust must ensure that all conditions with regard to security, display, insurance and environmental conditions are met.

  The museum also has its own collection of items that have been donated by the public or allocated by Treasure Trove in the years since the Trust was formed. These pertain largely to the social, archaeological and natural history of the Tarbat Peninsula. They span objects from the Neolithic through to the 20th Century. The collection also contains a number of items specifically related to the history of Tarbat Old Church.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2020

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Many of the items currently on display are sourced from the archaeological excavations carried out in Tarbat Old Church and the adjacent Glebe Field from the 1990s onwards. Following the excavations, the assemblages were declared to the Treasure Trove Unit and subsequently assigned to the National Museums Scotland (NMS). Some of these items were in turn loaned to the Trust. This means that ultimate curatorial responsibility rests with NMS, whilst the Trust must ensure that all conditions with regard to security, display, insurance and environmental conditions are met.

  These items include early Christian carved stone monuments, artefacts relating to manufacture such as crucibles and moulds, styli, polishing stones and environmental remains including animal bone and charred grains. Some replicas of carved stones and metalwork are also loaned to us. In addition the Centre houses the Human Remains recovered during the excavations.

  The management of the items on loan from NMS is governed by a written agreement. Loan agreements will be reviewed on a yearly basis.

  The Trust’s Permanent Collection contains some prehistoric and medieval material including a carved stone ball, a stone macehead, arrowheads, ceramics and replica Viking ring money. The human remains recovered during mains water works in the Balnabruach area are also housed here. However, the majority ofthe collection dates to the post-reformation period and is specifically related to the history of Tarbat Parish. These relate to a variety of subject areas includingagriculture, fishing, medical, commerce, military, social & domestic, religion and education. This includes an archive of photographs and documents from the 20thcentury.

  The Collection also contains a number of items specifically related to the history of Tarbat Old Church, including Communion cups, a Christening bowl, plate, tokens and bibles.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2020

  Licence: CC BY-NC