Beth Spence Email & Phone Number

I manage the historic collections in Historic Environment Scotland''s Central region. The collection is diverse and spread across a range of nationally significant sites across Argyll, Stirling, Perth, Fife and Angus. I work with conservators, researchers and our Interpretation and Learning teams to ensure that the collections are displayed, stored and interpreted to a high standard from both conservation and access perspectives. I co-ordinate programmes of environmental monitoring, salvage planning, condition checking, documentation and research focused projects, along with Museum Accreditation submissions and returns for larger sites. I deliver the collections management for re-display and investment projects. I also contribute to the management of unallocated archaeological material stored and conserved by HES and to wider industry discussion around the treatment and guidelines for archaeological material in museum collections.Previous to my move into conservation and collections work, I was employed as an archaeological Project Officer. I directed archaeological projects from initial investigative fieldwork through excavation, post excavation and publication phases of work, developing a broad knowledge of Scottish archaeological and historical material culture. I was responsible for directing teams of up to 15-20 people on long term excavation projects, liaising with clients and local historical environment curators, and creating risk assessments and methodologies for project work. I worked with a diverse range of colleagues and contractors, from artefact specialists and conservators, excavation staff of various experience levels within a project team, or groups of volunteers, students, and school groups on community projects.My artefact training also afforded me the opportunity to work on more delicate objects, both in the field and as lab excavations. In addition to project reporting, I have also completed several specialist artefact reports pertaining to small metal assemblages and regularly contributed to post-excavation research designs for finds assemblages recovered during field projects.