Excavation of a Medieval Cemetery at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh
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Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 128 (1998), 1047-1077 Excavatio medievaa f no l cemeter t Holyrooya d Abbey, Edinburgh Susan Bain* with contributions by J D Bateson, J Clark, C Hazel, T O'Sullivan & R S Will ABSTRACT A small archaeological excavation was undertaken at Holyrood Abbey in the spring of 1995 when human remains were uncovered constructionby west workthe Abbey to of the church. These formed part of the medieval cemetery and can be dated to the 14th/'15th century. A ditch pre-dating the cemetery representmay earlyan boundary Abbeythe to precinct. Building debris, including glass and window cames, is attributed to damage incurred during an attack by English forces in 1322. The project initiatedwas and funded Historicby Scotland. INTRODUCTION Holyrood Palace Abbeth f Holyroodhousd o e ylone an th geastere f o ridgth t d f a e o nen e li e glacially deposited material which extends from the craggy hill occupied by Edinburgh Castle in the west, to the foot of Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags, in the east (illus 1). The upper reach of this ridge carrie medievae dth l High Street and, below that, Canongate. Toda thal y al visibls ti f eo e ruineAbbee th th e foundatione dyar th navd e choiran eth f ,o s transepte th pard f an so t octagonal chapter house. These remains of the Abbey are dominated by the later medieval royal Palace of Holyroodhouse, which has incorporated the south-west tower of the Abbey church immediate (illuTh . 2) s e environ f thesso e building gardenw no e ssar and, beyond that, royal parkland. The Abbey was endowed by David I in 1128 and was one of several Augustinian houses founde Scotlann di e 12tth hn di century . From s foundationit histore Abbee th ,th s f yo ywa closely tied to the affairs of the royal houses of Scotland. This made the Abbey wealthy and influential, and the abbots sometimes held important political posts (Archibald Crawfurd, for instance appointes wa , d Lord High Treasure 1474) n t alsi ri t o bu mean, t thaAbbee a th ts ywa prime targe invadinf o t g English armies. Durin Ware g th Independencf so e Holyroo saves dwa d from the excesses suffered by some other Scottish religious houses by siding with the English. In 1296 Edwar dI reside t Holyrooda d where Abbot Adam swore orden allegianci o m t r hi o t e ensure the return of Abbey lands which had been seized (Bryce 1914, 13). However, Fordun reports that in 1322 the army of Edward II 'sacked and plundered the monasteries of Holyrood Glasgo* w University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD), Gregory Building, Universitf o y Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ BAIN: MEDIEVAL CEMETERY AT HOLYROOD ABBEY I 1049 ILLUS 2 Site location within the environs of Holyrood Abbey. (Based upon the Ordnance Survey map © Crown copyright) in Edinburgh and Melrose, and brought them to great desolation' (Harrison 1919, 11). The damage seems to have been quickly repaired, for five years later Robert Bruce held a parliament t Holyrooda Abbee .Th y probably suffered minor damage during subsequent English incursions in 1355 and 1385. In the 15th century Holyrood became a favoured royal residence and burial place. James II was born there in 1430, crowned there seven years later, and married at Holyrood in 1449. severae Initiallyth f o l e gueson , t house Abbee th probabls f so ywa y reserve r royadfo l uses a , indicated by an entry in the Treasurer's Accounts of 1473 for 'ane glaswright in the Abbey for a windo Quenie th wn i s chalmire' (Harrison 1919, 15)t fro earle Bu m. th y 16th century, extensive 1050 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 1998 building programme lated Jame Jamey y an sb rb , begasIV sV creato nt extensive eth e Palacf eo Holyroodhouse which remain royasa l residence today. e neighbourinTh g burg f Canongato h s grantee Abbewa th e o t dy shortly aftes it r foundation Abbe e nave th f Th .e o y serve parisa s da h churc Canongater hfo e yara th d n do an , nort hchurce sidth f eo h becam parise eth h burial ground (see Gallagher, this vol, illus 4). Abbee lootes Th burneyd wa dan d Eare e 1540 twicf Hertford'th th o l y n esb i s troops, durin e 'Rouggth h Wooing f Henro ' y VIII ruinoue Th . s choi transeptd an r s were eventually demolished in 1570, leaving only the nave to serve as the parish church. Restoration and improvements wer ecoronatio e carrie 163th n i r t 3fo d ou nave Charlef th no e d becaman sI ea richly decorated chapel adaptes royalwa t I .thi o dt s role agai 168n Catholia i s 7a c chaper fo l James VII 175n I .nav e re-roofeds 8th ewa , replacing timberea d structure with stone flags. This proved a disastrous decision; the weight of the roof was too much for the underlying structure vaultine th d an g collapsed. Since the churce nth remaines hha ruinda . A more detailed account of the history and especially the development of the Abbey is given by Gallagher (this vol). PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS onle Th y previous excavations were carrie Offic191n M i d 192 H Workt f 1an o e y d4 ou b th n si course of clearance and consolidation works (Oldrieve 1912, 329). These revealed the footings of 13th-centure th y choi transeptd ran s whic beed hha n demolishe 1570n di t alsbu ,o foundationf so an earlier building, probably the primary 12th-century church of the Abbey. About 25 burials were expose churchsoute e easth th d f ho dan t o . These were probably medieva dat n somli d ean e appeared to have been disturbed by the construction of the 12th-century church. EXCAVATIO 199NN I 5 This excavation was commissioned by Historic Scotland when human remains were exposed by construction of a stairwell leading to a sunken Victorian boilerhouse in the area west of the Abbey churc Palacnorte d th h an f h o eexistin n (illuA . s2) g generator roo demolishes mwa d prior stare th archaeologicaf o to t l work; then topsoi removes wa l d under archaeological supervision usinB JC bg smooth-edgea ya d ditching bucket aree Th a. excavate confines d wa y m 2 b o dt 4.5 m, being the area required to construct the stairwell. Burials exposed outwith this area were also recorded t onl uppermose bu , yth t remains were removed preveno t , t possible damage. During the excavation temperatures frequently dipped below freezing. Frost damage to the exposed problem a bon s ewa , despite coverin site geth with plastic sheeting when i t n worno s kwa progress. Burials, once exposed, were excavated as quickly as possible to prevent frost damage, but also to minimize their exposure to the public gaze. SUMMARY OF THE EXCAVATION RESULTS Six phases were identified in the archaeological record. The earliest element is a large pit or ditch, possibl yprimara y precinct boundar Abbee th yo t y (Phase 1). Thibackfilles swa d wit hvarieta y materialf o s including soirubbld an l e (Phas ; these2) e fills contained some midden materiad an l also disturbed human remains. At some subsequent point, building debris, including broken window glas lead sdan cames spreas ,wa d acros sitee sth , obviously resulting from damage th o et Abbey (Phase 3). Numerous burials, crowded and intercutting, were subsequently cut through Location of Section and deeper excavations ILLU S3 Pla sectiod possible nan th f no e early boundary ditch (Phase 1-2). 1052 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTEAND, 1998 this layer (Phas t leasa individual 1 ; 5 t e4) s were present. After burials stoppe thin di s area, foundation a 17th-centur f o s royae th yf l o buildin apartmente on g— wer t s— int e ecu o th cemetery, truncating some graves (Phase 5). Finally, some time after this building was demolished earle inth y 19th century boilerhouse th , generatoa d ean r room were constructe aree th a d dan landscape gardea s da n (Phase 6). PHAS EARE: E1 Y BOUNDARY DITCH (IEEU) 4 & S3 earliese Th t excavated featur larga s ee wa flat-bottome ditcr o t hdpi (75). Unfortunately, within the limited area of excavation neither the extent nor shape of the feature were revealed. Furthermore feature th ,truncate s ewa 17th-century db y foundation wese th to st (Phas d an ) e5 by the construction of the boilerhouse to the south (Phase 6). A slot trench (1m wide by 4.5 m long) reveale dee fillem d 1 mixep y an d do b t tha feature p du tth rubblesoi d s an lewa , containing midden material and also some disturbed human bones (illus 3). e interpretatioTh f thino s featur problematis i e c given tha extens it t shapd an t e remain unknown. A pot sherd of Yorkshire type fabric within the lowest fill (74) provides a terminus post quern of c 1250 for this deposit. The pottery from the remaining fills includes Scottish East Coast White Gritty Ware Yorkshird san e type fabrics, bot 13th/14th-centurf ho y date (see Will, below). Thus feature th , e itself probably pre-date 13te sth h indeecenturys wa t i dditca f I . hy thema t ni have forme westere dth n boundar Abbee th f yo y precinct.