ASF - Events
The American-Scottish Foundation &
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Presents
The Isle of Lewis
Chess Pieces
EXPOSED!
Talk and Reception
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 6-8:30pm
Join Dr David Caldwell and Dr Simon Gilmour for a fascinating exploration of how the last word has not yet been said about these iconic Scottish treasures.
Despite almost 200 years of study and debate, the Lewis Chess Pieces continue to raise intriguing questions and reveal new insights. Drawing on his extensive research, Dr Caldwell will explore what we know, what remains uncertain, and what these extraordinary objects can tell us about medieval Scotland and the wider world in which they were created.
The evening will also look to the future, exploring how the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’s proposed national Heritage Hub will support new research, collaboration and discoveries about Scotland’s past, including the continuing story of the Chess Pieces.
A passion for our heritage and a preparedness to ask questions are the perfect starting point for this compelling excursion into Scottish medieval history and archaeology.
Order Tickets below or call the ASF office on (929) 499-9025 or email: americanscottishfoundation@gmail.com if you have any questions
 ASF Member Tickets $45 
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Non Member Tickets $55
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 Become a Member of the American-Scottish Foundation and attend the Lewis Chess Pieces Exposed! on Us. |
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Presenter Bios
David Caldwell MA PhD FSA FSAScot
l was born in 1951 and grew up in Ardrossan on the Firth of Clyde. He graduated with an MA in archaeology from Edinburgh University in 1973 and was awarded a PhD by the same institution in 1982 for a thesis on the early use of guns in Scotland. He spent 38 years working for National Museums Scotland. When he retired in February 2012, he was keeper of two of the five curatorial departments—Scotland and Europe in addition to Archaeology. Over the years, he has tackled a broad range of archeological and historical projects, mostly in Scotland but also in Turkey, Ghana, and Chile. He directed major research excavations at Finlaggan, Islay, the Centre of the Lordship of the Isles in the 1990s, recently published as a monograph by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. His other publications include The Lewis Chessmen Unmasked (National Museums Scotland, 2011), Islay: Land of the Lordship (Birlinn, 2017), Mull and Iona A Historical Guide (Birlinn, 2018), and The Battle of Pinkie 1547: The Last Battle Between the Independent Kingdoms of Scotland and England (Oxbow Books, 2023). Dr. Caldwell was President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland from 2014 to 2020 and is now an honorary fellow of the Society. He has also served as President of the Society for Post=Medieval Archaeology and been a member of the board of the National Trust for Scotland. He lives in Burntisland in Fife.