Archaeological Adventures in the Outer Hebrides

A vivid and richly illustrated account of one couple’s extraordinary contribution to the understanding of Scotland’s prehistoric past.

Author: Gerald Ponting

When Gerald and Margaret Ponting moved to the Isle of Lewis in the 1970s, their fascination with the Callanish Stones sparked a decade of discovery. Their fieldwork led to the re-identification and restoration of key stones, the rediscovery of lost features, and the promotion of the awe-inspiring Major Southern Lunar Standstill phenomenon. Their efforts earned national recognition and helped shape how the site is understood today.

But the story doesn’t end at Callanish. Through his regular column in the Stornoway Gazette, Gerald championed the preservation of local artefacts—most notably the Shulishader axe—and helped bridge the gap between academic archaeology and community engagement. With over 110 photographs and a foreword by Archaeologist and Urras nan Tursachan board member Dr Alison Sheridan, this book is both a personal memoir and a vital record of Hebridean heritage.

‘It was only in the Seventies, when two spirited incomers – Gerald and Margaret Ponting – began to make serious, serious study of the Callanish Stones that there was a real advance in scholarship’ —author and journalist John Macleod

‘The book is a cracking read… Gerald’s work demonstrates how vital it is to bridge the gap between “academic” and professional archaeology… and the local communities’ —Dr. Alison Sheridan, FRSE, Vice President of Archaeology Scotland

ISBN: 978-1-917834-00-1

Published: 2025

Illustrations: 110 images 

Pages: 256

Size: 240 x 170 mm (portrait)