Scotland's Rock Art Project (ScRAP), which was developed by Horisk for Historic Environment Scotland, has been shortlisted in the Public Sector category of The Herald Scottish Digital Business Awards 2018.
There are over 2,700 prehistoric rock carvings known in Scotland. Little is known about the rock carvings, and they remain one of the most poorly understood and undervalued aspects of our heritage in Scotland. Most information about the carvings is currently archived in the National Record of the Historic Environment. As this information has been gathered over more than a century using different recording methods, it is inconsistent, often inaccurate, and not suitable for detailed research based on statistical and spatial analysis.
The ScRAP project aims to conduct detailed research on these carvings, and to enhance local, national and international awareness of this unique aspect of our heritage.
The project involved
- providing a database and tools which can support the project team and volunteers in organising the rock art survey and gathering and validating research grade data
- exchanging data with Scotland’s national archive
- providing an engaging website (www.rockart.scot) to educate and inform the public about this often overlooked part of our heritage. The graphic design of the site was led by our design partners Resolve Creative.
Principal investigator Dr Tertia Barnett said "Horisk have created an invaluable new resource for community co-production of rock art data. The website and data input system are very user-friendly, despite their complexity, and will underpin research and understanding of Scotland’s rock art now and into the future.”
Managing Director, Brian Horisk said "We’re really pleased that our work on this project is being recognised by the Herald Digital Awards. ScRAP is an important project for Scotland's unique national heritage, and developing the digital tools for the project posed quite a few complex challenges for our team. It’s an honour to be shortlisted for this award along with some of the most innovative and successful companies in Scotland"
