The Embedding Heritage Craft project has a clear aim to support sustainable and creative economies in the Outer Hebrides. This is achieved through engaging with the rich archaeological and artistic heritage of the islands.
Inspired by archaeological research, the project delivers activities, workshops and resources focused on the production of antler crafts. The goal is to ‘train the trainers’. This supports locals to share antler-working skills with residents and tourists. This way, participants can embed heritage crafts sustainably within their communities.
We trialled our Craftwork project in 2021. We gained funding to return in 2022 and have worked with the Grimsay Community Association (GCA), Cothram, Storas Ubhist, Taigh Chearsabhagh and Sgoil Lionacleit throughout 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. We also collaborate with other island service providers including campsites, hotels and craft stores.
The aim is to harness local heritage, nature, knowledge and resources. Our goal is to create long-term, self-supporting economic, educational and conservation opportunities created from archaeological excavations.
Why are we doing this?
- Skills development: To provide skills training that can be passed on within local communities.
- Income generation: Heritage crafts can support the islands’ creative economies e.g. through selling products and artwork, running paid workshops and events, and contributing to tourism more broadly.
- Heritage education: To highlight and increase knowledge of the rich archaeological and cultural heritage of the islands.
- Sustainable production: Red deer shed their antlers annually, making antler a sustainable and locally available craft material. It requires few resources and little energy to work, whilst producing little waste.
- Conservation: This craft generates income from red deer antler. It also supports the conservation of the species on the islands.
What have we done?
July 2021: Our antler craft workshops, developed at Glastonbury festival were taken up to the islands. We collaborated with a local antler craft person, Annie, to discuss the potential to support and expand this activity.
September 2022: The team spent a week running introductory workshops across the islands. Simple antler craft techniques were introduced – with charms, needles, pins and rings produced. We discussed deer with the Stòras Uibhist and their gamekeeper.
November 2023: We ran antler working workshops for school pupils transitioning to Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula. In these workshops, they created their own antler key rings. We hosted a ‘Museum SOS’ evening at Ceann na h-Àirigh Heritage Centre, Grimsay. This event highlighted how archaeological science has been used to further understanding of archaeology in the Outer Hebrides.
February 2024: The team visited the islands in late February. We conducted 4 days of antler craft workshops at Ceann na h-Àirigh. Twenty participants, aged between 14 to 60, learned to create antler items inspired by archaeological finds from the Western Isles. They even used reproductions of Viking-age tools, based on finds from Bornais on South Uist. Over the course of the week, they made 17 combs, 11 rings, 8 needles, and 5 pins. Additionally, they crafted 2 shuttles, 2 woggles, 1 pendant, and 1 bracelet!
Summer 2024: During the summer, we created a ‘lookbook’ showcasing archaeological antler artefacts from the islands. It included information about the sites where they were found. This was shared with workshop participants, and other community partners to inspire future projects.
November 2024: we headed to the islands for the next step of developing a craft community. We ran a series of ‘Train the Trainer’ events at Ceann na h-Àirigh. Both new and returning learners attended. Returning attendees used these sessions to develop their craft skills further, troubleshoot any problems and gain experience in training others.
Participants got creative and experimented with their new skills to create useful items such as crochet hooks and dice. In addition to antler working, everyone had the chance to learn how to spin wool by hand. They used newly-crafted antler spindle whorls!
October 2025: We delivered another week of craft and workshop training on the islands. Skill sharing with those new to antler craft allowed our experienced island antler craft team to further build their workshop skills. We provided advice on new skills, products, ideas, marketing and resource management.
Still to come…
We are collaborating with UistFilm to create a short film. It will highlight the positive impact of heritage crafts. It will promote the Outer Hebrides as a creative hub. Watch this space!
Special thanks to:
- Grimsay Boat Museum/Ceann na h-Àirigh
- Cothrom
- Sgoil Lionacleit
- UistFilm
For more information on antler working and deer on the Scottish islands, see our other blog posts:
Wild Things? Developing sustainable food systems in prehistory.
Deer on South Uist: past, present and future
What is antler? Why is it useful?
Guerilla Archaeology 