Food & Agriculture in Prehistoric & Medieval Scotland with Maureen Kilpatrick

Today I am speaking with Maureen Kilpatrick of Guard Archaeology, a Scottish archaeology firm that has dug sites all over Scotland, but today we are focusing on one site called Guardbridge, in Fife, where the timespan the finds ranged from is astounding: from the Stone Age to the 13th century. Several finds were food-related.The site is amazing – there’s an Iron Age fort, there are field demarcations, evidence of food and how it was processed and cooked, as well as lots of evidence of the community moving from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled farming one.We talk about the material objects found on site, such as saddle querns, axes and ploughing tools, food remains like emmer wheat, barley, cockles and the indestructible hazelnut, non-slip pottery and the surprisingly late appearance of oats, amongst many other things.Those listening to the secret podcast get some bonus material where we discuss whether modern agriculture with its mechanised ploughs is a help or a hindrance to archaeologists these days.Read the full report: ARO61: Guardbridge, Fife: A multi-period settlement with a multi-vallate fortFollow Guard Archaeology in X/Twitter @GUARD_ArchaeolSeason 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.The mixing and sound engineering were done by Thomas Ndinas of The Delicious Legacy podcastIf you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here. Things mentioned in today’s episodeARO55: Excavations at the site of Bell’s Pottery, Stafford Street/Kyle Street, GlasgowBBC News Article: 'Whole prehistory of Fife' found in one field, experts sayServe it Forth Food History Festival EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!Ludlow Food Festival 2026My appearance on the Offscript podcast as part of their Albion seasonPrevious pertinent podcast episodesBronze Age Food &amp; Foodways with Chris Wakefield &amp; Rachel BallantyneNeil’s blogs and YouTube channel:‘British Food: a History’The British Food History Channel‘Neil Cooks Grigson’ Neil’s books:Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential HousekeeperA Dark History of Sugar<a href="https://w