Residents are being encouraged to get involved in a fortnight-long archaeological excavation.
Next month, archaeologists and historians will be exploring the ancient King’s Seat Hillfort, which sits overlooking the River Tay in Dunkeld.
Over the past few years, the site has been excavated to reveal more about the area’s Pictish past.
Only basic plans for the surviving earthworks exist, meaning little is understood about the hillfort, including why it was there, what it was used for, and how old it is.
No previous archaeological excavations have taken place on the site until now.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust said: “We will be returning to King’s Seat this September and have a great team of community volunteers signed up to dig in to their heritage.
“In 2018 we had 49 volunteers making up the site team including secondary school pupils on work placement and university students on archaeological fieldwork training.
“Investigations focused on the uppermost enclosed area of the hillfort, the ramparts and the inside of the middle terrace revealing more dating evidence and clues to how different parts of the site were being used. The first two seasons have unearthed an amazing selection of early historic metalworking artefacts and possible slingshot ammunition.
“Fragments of crucibles, stone and clay moulds used for smelting and casting metal objects were identified, suggesting the site was hugely important in the production of prestige metalwork and may even have been a centre of production in the early historic Pictish period (600AD-900AD).”
The trust is working with Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society and AOC Archaeology to excavate the site with the help of the local community.
It is hoped the excavations will produce more information on the site and help piece together a story on the community’s ancient history.
The archaeologists will be at the excavation site from September 3-14, excluding September 8 and 9.
Residents and visitors will be able to take guided tours of the King’s Seat Hillfort on most excavation days at 11am and 3pm.
