Brandanii Archaeology and Heritage is run by me, Paul RJ Duffy,

I’ve been luck enough to have worked in archaeology and heritage since 1990; from extensive travels in the UK, Ireland and abroad as a freelancing archaeologist in my 20’s, to working for Glasgow University’s Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) between 2002 and 2009, to running my own archaeology and heritage consultancy today . During this time I learned much about the design, delivery and management of both commercial and research projects and developed a wide range of communication skills, from on screen presentation for the BBC 2 television series ‘Two Men in a Trench’, to the development of a varied teaching portfolio.  For a few years, I also offered my skills to assist medico-legal investigations in the UK as a forensic anthropologist and archeologist.

In 2008 a rapidly growing young family prompted a lifestyle decision to locate out of Glasgow and take up a contract with the £3m HLF funded Discover Bute Landscape Partnership Scheme, managing the archaeological and heritage components of the £300,000 Archaeological Research Project. Over 130 key projects were delivered in 3 and a half years with over 6000 attendee/volunteer days recorded. The programme was highlighted as ‘outstanding’ in the independent assessment of the overall DBLPS project, and has been cited as a case study in national heritage policy development documentation.

By the end of the DBLPS project in 2012, it was clear that Bute was for us, and thus Brandanii Archaeology and Heritage was founded. From these beginnings  Brandanii has grown into a successful archaeology and heritage consultancy, offering support, guidance, project management and delivery for a range of organisations and clients. Funds generated through this work have in turn allowed me to offer voluntary time to direct fieldwork as part of unfunded local projects, to train enthusiastic local residents, and to talk to local schools, Glasgow University students, island residents and non-residents about the archaeology and heritage of Bute.  Research projects with the University of Leeds have also enabled me to maintain opportunities for collaborative engagement between the local community and national organisations and institutions.