Edwardian archaeological papers of two eminent Scottish Antiquaries
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A collection of early 20th century archaeological material connected to two notable Scottish antiquaries will be offered in our 23rd June Fine Art & Antiques auction. The collection, comprising notebooks, handwritten notes, sketches, photographs and related ephemera, provides a rare glimpse into the working lives and field research of Andrew Henderson Bishop (1874-1957) and Mungo Buchanan (1845-1923), both prominent figures in Scotland’s early archaeological community.
Dating primarily from the Edwardian period and the years immediately before the First World War, the group of documents reflects a time when archaeology in Britain was still developing as a discipline and much important fieldwork was undertaken by dedicated amateurs. The material illustrates how enthusiasts such as Buchanan and Henderson Bishop documented their discoveries through careful note-taking, sketching and correspondence long before modern archaeological recording standards were established.
At the heart of the lot is a collection of notebooks and loose papers relating to field investigations across Scotland. Among the most intriguing items is a sheath of typed notes dated 1911 discussing Bara Man’s Cairn, known in Gaelic as Carnan a Bharraich. This cairn, located on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, has long been associated with prehistoric burial traditions and local folklore. Accompanying the typed material is a group of handwritten notes entitled The Oban Caves, attributed to the French archaeologist Marcellin Boule. These papers are housed within an embossed leather document folder, itself a handsome Edwardian object that underscores the scholarly character of the archive.
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The collaboration between Buchanan and Henderson Bishop is further represented by two notebooks sent by Buchanan to Henderson Bishop at Thornton Hall in 1909 and 1910. Entitled Examination of Beattock Hill Forts, and labelled Numbers 1 and 2, these volumes contain observations relating to the ancient hillforts near Beattock in Dumfriesshire. A further folder of loose notes headed “No.3” suggests the project was intended to continue, offering evidence of ongoing investigations and correspondence between the two men.
Another notebook in the collection bears the simple title Tiree on the front cover, with Buchanan’s name and the date 1912 written inside. This reference connects directly to one of the most dramatic episodes in Buchanan’s archaeological career.
While conducting excavations on the island that year, Buchanan uncovered a Neolithic skeleton that later proved to show signs of rickets - one of the earliest known examples of the disease identified in archaeological remains. The discovery caused considerable local controversy, and the excavation party was reportedly driven off the island by angry residents who subsequently reburied the remaining human remains. The single body recovered from the site was transported to the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, where it remains today.
Other papers within the archive relate to Balevullin Sands, another Tiree location rich in archaeological material, and include loose sketches and working notes. Adding an unexpected human dimension to the collection is a 1914 newspaper clipping reporting that Buchanan had been arrested as a suspected German spy while examining a Roman wall, illustrating the heightened tension and suspicion around wartime.
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The archive also contains thirteen additional notebooks relating to archaeological sites in France and elsewhere in Europe. Many include sketches of worked flints, pottery vessels and other artefacts, reflecting the careful observational methods used by early 20th researchers. Some of the notebooks contain only sparse notes, suggesting they were intended for field use or preliminary observations rather than finished publications.
Supplementing the notebooks are a variety of related ephemera, including photographs, stamped and addressed envelopes, receipts and miscellaneous papers. Together, these fragments help reconstruct the practical realities of archaeological research in the Edwardian era—travel arrangements, correspondence between colleagues, and the everyday logistics behind scholarly work.
Both men represented in the collection were important contributors to Scotland’s archaeological heritage.
Buchanan was a corresponding member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and authored several scholarly papers for the Society. His reputation grew steadily, and he was placed in charge of the archaeological section of the 1911 Glasgow Exhibition. In 1919 he was appointed curator of the Carnegie Museum in Pittencrieff, Dunfermline, a role that allowed him to continue developing public interest in archaeology.
Henderson Bishop, meanwhile, balanced his archaeological pursuits with a successful commercial career. As proprietor of Cooper & Co. Stores Ltd in Glasgow, one of Scotland’s leading grocery chains, he nevertheless maintained a deep scholarly interest in prehistoric archaeology, particularly the Mesolithic period. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1909, he built an enormous private collection of artefacts. In a remarkable act of generosity, Henderson Bishop later donated more than 22,000 objects to the Hunterian Museum, including prehistoric gold, carved stone balls and a rare intact Late Bronze Age metal vessel dating to around 1650–1050 BC.
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Beyond their documentary value, the collection captures the personalities and adventures of two men who helped shape the study of Scotland’s ancient past. For collectors, historians and institutions alike, this archive represents not only a body of research material but also a tangible link to the formative years of archaeological scholarship in Scotland.
The collection is included in the Books & Written ephemera section of our 23rd June Fine Art & Antiques auction. The full catalogue will be available approx two weeks prior to the auction, and we will be open for viewing on Friday 19th 10am-6pm, Saturday & Monday 10am-4pm, and on the sale day from 9am.
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