afternoon talks @ 1500

Eternal Connections: Using science and art to engage with Muslim communities

In the late 1990s, three small fragments of Islamic glass - believed to be from a drinking beaker - were found during excavations carried out at Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries. The Arabic inscription decorating one of the fragments includes part of the word ‘eternal’, suggesting that it could be an extract from the Qur’an. The glass dates to the 12th or 13th century, and may have been made in modern-day Syria, Iraq or Egypt. All were centres of Islamic glass making during this period.

Though tiny, the fragments throw light on Scotland’s contact with the wider world during the medieval period. The glass may have ended up at Caerlaverock Castle as a result of trade. Or it may have been brought back as the property of returning crusaders. It is believed to be the first and only glass of this type and origin to be found at an archaeological site in Scotland.

Following a successful bid to the AHRC’s Capability for Collections fund, these fragments were the focus of the Eternal Connections project. Delivered in three phases throughout 2022, the project used heritage science equipment to stimulate discussion and creative practice around the heritage of Scotland’s Muslim communities. In the first phase, the glass was analysed and accurate 3D models of each fragment were created.

In phase two this data was used by an artist to create a digital reconstruction of what the complete original beaker may have looked like. For the final part of the project the results of the first two phases were used to deliver a series of collaborative, creative workshops with two Scottish Muslim community groups.

This project provided an opportunity to find new ways of understanding and imagining the contemporary and historic connections between Scotland and Islam, and to engage with a community not traditionally associated with the historic sites that our organisation manages.

Speakers Bio

Lynsey Haworth, Historic Environment Scotland, Collections Access Manager

I studied Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Reading, followed by an MLitt in Museum and Gallery Studies at the University of St Andrews. I later completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Preventive Conservation.

I have 15 years’ experience working in the museum sector, over a decade of which I have spent in the Collections Team at Historic Environment Scotland. In this time, I have been lucky enough to travel all over Scotland to the fantastic historic sites we care for, including Stirling Castle, Iona Abbey and Skara Brae, and have worked with a wide range of artefacts.

In my current role as Collections Access Manager, I am responsible for overseeing the organisations Museum Accreditation programme, managing training opportunities within our team, and creating collections-based content for internal and external communications and social media, learning activities and events.